The Northwest Railway Museum wants everyone to be able to experience the joy of a working railway. Here is what the Museum currently offers to help make the facilities accessible.
ADA Accessibility Boarding the Train – Lift
The Snoqualmie Depot, North Bend Depot, and Railway History Campus are each equipped with a chair lift to accommodate those who need accessibility assistance getting on and off the train. Please call for information regarding additional accommodation. If more than 4 people in your party need lift assistance, please contact Museum Visitor Services at least 24 hours before your visit so that the Museum can ensure appropriate staffing and space are available. Museum staff and volunteers are happy to assist you in boarding the train whether you need the lift, a helping hand, or just a little extra time.
Please note, Puget Sound Energy’s Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Museum does not currently have a wheelchair lift available.
Wheelchair Lift at the Snoqualmie Depot
The train will load and unload majority of passengers while stopped within the Snoqualmie Depot yard. When ready to load passengers in need of the lift, the train will pull ahead and stop with the accessible coach in the middle of King Street.
This allows visitors to wait under the shelter of the Depot roof until their turn to board. It also prevents anyone needing to navigate the current walkway between the two Depot tracks which is incredibly unfriendly to wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers.
Wheelchair Lift at the Railway History Campus
At the Railway History Campus, the wheelchair lift stays parked near the siding track during the day. When needed, it is rolled up onto the platform so passengers who need it are able to board and deboard the train at the same time as everyone else.
During special train operations like steam trains the train may have a different stop location due to refueling needs and the length of the train. When this happens, crew is instructed to stop and allow all passengers – including those in need of the lift – to deboard first, and only then reposition for refueling.
Wheelchair Lift at the North Bend Depot
There are two paved crossings near North Bend Depot. The closest is immediately in front of the depot. The second is all the way down the block at Main Avenue South. Currently, the Museum recommends your group arrive 15-20 minutes early so you can cross the tracks before the train arrives for your departure time. When in station, the train blocks the crossing in front of the depot building. The Museum is hopeful that this will change within the next year or so as work proceeds on the park.
The wheelchair lift stays in a small shed to for security and only gets pulled out when Museum staff are present on the weekends. It should be already out near the depot stairs, but if not, please inform Museum staff inside that you will need it.
The train crew boards and deboards visitors needing the lift at the same time as everyone else.
ADA Accessibility Aboard the Train
The Museum always ensures at least one coach on the train set is compatible with the wheelchair lift via a sliding doorway on the side of the car – even during the holidays when the Museum has two different trains operating simultaneously.
However, please be advised that all of the Museum’s passenger coaches are over 100 years old and were not originally constructed with modern day ADA accessibility in mind. The doors and aisles can be quite narrow and some doorways have 3-inch steps down. Depending on an individual’s mobility limitations, they may not be able to move between coaches.
ADA Accessibility on Museum Grounds
Use caution when crossing any Museum train tracks. The crossings are level, but many crossings still have small gaps between the rail and the wood.
The parking lot at the Railway History Campus is made of interlocking paving stones. It is navigable for wheelchairs and walkers but is a bumpy ride. There are currently two ADA parking spaces near the entrance to the Museum parking lot.
The Train Shed Exhibit Hall has paved pathways that meet ADA requirements. The Chapel Car viewing platform and 001 Caboose walk-through are only accessible via stairs.
The Snoqualmie Depot has a wooden boardwalk currently undergoing replacement, some boards may be wobbly until the work is completed. Along the rear side of the building, a ramp guides visitors to the upper boardwalk which allows access to the public restrooms and freight room exhibits. The lawn in the Depot yard is uneven, but generally passable. Watch out for tree roots!
Sensory Information
Trains are loud! Whether you are aboard the train or at one of the boarding locations, ear plugs are available upon request and are free of charge.
The Train Shed Exhibit Hall usually sees fewer visitors from 2-4pm on weekday afternoons. Weekends are the busiest times with crowds and train operation.
The Museum’s volunteers sometimes use these quieter weekdays to do exhibit work inside the Train Shed. If sudden sounds of power tools are a concern, please check with the front desk upon arrival to find out if there is currently any ongoing work in the building.
Sensory Guide
The Northwest Railway Museum is happy to offer a visual guide which outlines what to expect during visits to different areas of the Museum. Click the image or here to view.
Aide Accompaniment
Professional aides are permitted a complimentary ticket if the person they are aiding is visiting the Museum or riding the train.
Service Animals
Fully trained service animals are welcome aboard the train and inside Museum facilities! They must provide a service directly related to a person’s disability and be well behaved.
Emotional support animals (ESAs) are not allowed on the train or inside Museum facilities. Misrepresenting an ESA as a trained service animal risks being asked to leave the Museum or train, especially if the animal displays poor behavior. Poor behavior includes but is not limited to: barking, being disruptive, not being housebroken, growling, snapping, and otherwise acting aggressive towards other animals or people in and around Museum facilities.
Well-behaved pets on leash are welcome in outdoor Museum spaces, which includes the Snoqualmie Depot yard, the Railway History Campus grounds, and the Centennial Trail. Please keep your pets safely away from train tracks and clean up after them.
Free & Low Income Opportunities
Museums 4 All
The NRM is a part of the Museums 4 All program, a program that reduces admission prices for families that qualify for EBT or state benefits. With proof of EBT, Train Shed admission is reduced to $2 per person. Train Rides (excluding holiday programs, special events, and steam programs) have a discount of $10 off per ticket. The Museum cannot accept Museums 4 All via online sales, please call Visitor Services to book advance tickets over the phone instead.
The Snoqualmie Depot location is open 7 days a week and is free to visit! The Depot grounds are always open for a visit.
Also available is the Centennial Trail for a walk alongside historic trains, it is always open and always free!
KCLS Passes
Reserve free Train Shed Exhibit Hall admission tickets through King County library’s museum passes! The passes only cover Train Shed admission and cannot be used for free or discounted train rides.
Free Wednesday Train Shed Exhibit Hall Admission
For the remainder of the 2025 operating season, the Train Shed Exhibit Hall will have free admission available to all visitors. No reservation required!
Museum Programs & Field Trips
The Museum’s field trip programs: School Train, Trackside, or Outreach, can be altered to fit your group’s needs. Reach out to the Museum Educator to book a trip and discuss how to have the NRM suit your needs!
Contact
The Museum is always striving to improve its offerings to its guests. If you see a need not addressed here, please reach out. The Museum staff want to hear from you!
