The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad is a heritage railroad in operation since 1981. Their main station is in Elbe, Washington. They run down seven miles of track, owned by Tacoma Rail, to a picnic area near Mineral Lake.
- During November of 2006, the Nisqually River washed out an important bridge on the line. A different route now leaves from the shop site at Mineral. Trains will return to Elbe when repairs to this bridge are complete.*
The railroad has three steam engines in regular service, as well as several diesel engines. They run steam engines whenever they have enough volunteers to man them. Steam engines require more volunteers to operate than a diesel engine. Almost everybody involved in the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad is a volunteer.
The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad is a 501c(3) non-profit organization, and is dedicated to preserving the railroad legacy of the Pacific Northwest. Most of the engines are geared steam locomotives. These engines, including Heisler locomotives and Climax locomotives were used in the early 20th century for logging. Geared locomotives were better for steep grades and worked better on hastily-laid track than traditional, piston-powered locomotives, which is why they were used for logging.
All of the railroad's locomotives are serviced out of the locomotive shops in Mineral.
- Rayonier 2, an unusual geared locomotive by Willamette Iron and Steel Works from 1929. She is inoperable. (Awaiting restoration)
- Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad 5, a 2-8-2 obtained in the 1980s. (Awaiting repairs)
- Hillcrest Lumber Company 10, a Climax locomotive, purchased in 1979. This was the railroad's first steam locomotive.
- Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad 10, a Heisler locomotive purchased in 1982 along with number 17. She is inoperable. Number 10 is displayed at Elbe, rather than being stored outside of the shops in Mineral, like the other locomotives.
- Pickering Lumber 11, a Shay locomotive purchased in 1981 and operated beginning in the early 1990s. (awaiting repairs)
- Hammond Lumber Company 17, a 2-8-2T acquired in 1982; restored in 1994 and first used in 1995.
- Rayonier 45, a 2-6-2 obtained in 1998. She is inoperable.
- Rayonier 70, a 2-8-2 obtained in 1992. She is inoperable. (Undergoing restoration)
- Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad 91, a Heisler locomotive obtained in the late 1970s.1
References
See also
External links
|
