Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad

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Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad
Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad logo.png
MRSR.Mt.Rainier.jpg
A view of Mount Rainier from the railroad line
Overview
Headquarters Elbe, Washington, U.S.
Key people
  • Bethan Maher, CEO
  • Rowdy Pierce, Rail Operations Manager
Reporting mark MRSR
Locale Lewis & Pierce counties, Washington, U.S.
Dates of operation1980present
Technical
Track gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Previous gauge 3 ft (914 mm)
Length7-mile (11-kilometer)
(14-mile [23-kilometer] round-trip)
Other
Website mtrainierrailroad.com
Hammond Lumber Company No. 17 under steam in the summer of 2004 MRSR17.jpg
Hammond Lumber Company No. 17 under steam in the summer of 2004

The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad (MRSR) formerly the Mt. Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum (MRRR), is a steam-powered heritage railroad operating in the U.S. state of Washington between Elbe and Mineral. The railroad travels on trackage that passes through thick forest just south of Mount Rainier. The depot, gift shop and ticket office are located in Elbe. The train travels to the Logging Museum exhibits located in Mineral. The MRRR ran its collection of vintage rail equipment over 7 miles (11 kilometers) of track, part of Tacoma Rail's Mountain Division.

Contents

Background

Rayonier Willamette No. 2, leaving Eatonville, June 23, 2011 June 23 Mineral 153xRP - Flickr - drewj1946.jpg
Rayonier Willamette No. 2, leaving Eatonville, June 23, 2011

The Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad (MRSR) operates over track originating in Tacoma, Washington, on a route founded there over a century ago. In 1887, the Hart brothers constructed a short, 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge railroad originating at 46th Street in Tacoma. [1] In 1890, the railroad was reorganized by another interest as the Tacoma Eastern Railroad, at which time the tracks were converted to 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge and extended a distance of 6 miles (9.7 kilometers). The railroad was acquired in 1900 by yet another group of investors who had financial interests east of Elbe, the Nisqually Coal Fields, thus providing the impetus to extend the Tacoma Eastern from Tacoma to the area where the MRSR runs today. [2] The route was also extended to access stands of virgin timber south of Mount Rainier, eventually reaching Morton.

Despite formal organization under the name Tacoma Eastern, the railroad was controlled by investors far from the Pacific Northwest. The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, also known as the "Milwaukee Road", reputedly had control of the Tacoma Eastern as early as 1901. [2] In the 1890s, the Milwaukee Road's directors desired a connection from the Midwest to the Pacific coast.[ citation needed ] The Tacoma Eastern was an appealing investment for the Milwaukee Road. The Tacoma Eastern remained a subsidiary of the Milwaukee Road, owned through stock interest only, until 1918 when the United States Railroad Administration coordinated the Milwaukee Road's absorption of all its subsidiaries into one unified system.

The Tacoma Eastern, though, continued to exist as an independent entity within the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad system, where it was known as the National Park branch. This segment of the system was one of the Milwaukee Road's most profitable lines. [2] As such, it was preserved amidst the Milwaukee Road's bankruptcy in 1980. The Tacoma Eastern was a viable carrier of lumber from stands of timber owned by the Weyerhaeuser Corporation, whose tracts of land still surround the MRSR today and provide commercial traffic on the line.

History of Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad

In the wake of the Milwaukee Road's 1980 bankruptcy, Tacoma lumberman Tom Murray, Jr., sought to open a portion of the line to tourists. [3] MRSR was then created by Tom Murray to operate historic equipment stored in Tacoma. [2] The Weyerhaeuser Corporation allowed the MRSR to operate its equipment on a seven-mile segment of the line from Elbe to Mineral. Weyerhaeuser maintained control of the track until 1998 when the corporation transferred control of all of its rail interests to the City of Tacoma, into what is now known as Tacoma Rail. This transfer of ownership did not affect the MRSR and its tourist operations, nor the availability of the route to commercial shipment. In mid-2016, due to decline and poor management, MRSR was sold to American Heritage Railways, which also owns the world-renowned Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, rebranding the MRSR as the Mount Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum.

American Heritage Railways operated the Mount Rainier Railroad & Logging Museum from 2016 to 2020, when it was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. American Heritage Railways then sought a new owner for the operation before the newly revived Western Forest Industries Museum acquired the railroad in 2022. In 2023, the railroad began offering a rail cycle experience from New Reliance between Elbe and Eatonville. On August 1, 2023, following a deal to run excursions on the Chehalis–Centralia Railroad falling through due to the latter's financial difficulties, it was announced that the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad would resume service. [4]

The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad resumed train operations with a limited excursion schedule in September and October 2023. After a hiatus since 2019, the historic steam engine “Polson 70” proudly pulled two vintage passenger cars, an open-air car, and a specially outfitted baggage car, serving as a concession and gift shop. The excursions included express trips from Elbe to Mineral. These long-awaited excursions mark the first under the new ownership of Western Forest Industries Museum (WFIM), a local nonprofit organization that assumed control of the railroad in August 2022, after its closure by its former for-profit operator, American Heritage Railways. With a storied history dating back to 1980, Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad has played a vital role in the economic prosperity of southern Pierce County, as well as in preserving the region's rich local history. Having served over 1.6 million passengers, the railroad is now poised to embark on a new journey under WFIM's vision. [5]

2025 trestle bridge fire

On April 30, 2025, a trestle bridge between Mineral and Morton caught fire and was destroyed. While it was not on a portion of the railroad being used to host excursions, officials said they had hoped to use the trestle in the future. [6] The 26-span trestle bridge [a] the was 396.8 feet (120.9 m) long, with a 12% curve and a 1.9% grade. [8] An investigation was opened into the cause of the fire, as railroad officials alleged arson. [9] [10]

By July, no suspects had been found though contracts to demolish remaining portions of the span were nearing completion. MSMR posted that over $207,000 had been raised via charitable contributions; the funds are to be used to support the rebuild of the bridge as well as efforts for additional safety precautions. [11]

Operations

Before 2016, steam operations were run based on the availability of volunteer operators, who comprised the great majority of railroad personnel. However, after being purchased by American Heritage Railways in 2016, the railroad's operations were run by professional staff. The MRRR's regular schedule ran weekends from Memorial Day to late October, with special event Polar Express trains from November through December. In May 2020, American Heritage Railways announced that the railroad would cease operations "for the foreseeable future" due to financial losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The final Polar Express train ran from November to December 2019. [12] On September 15, 2022, it was announced that the railroad would resume operations by 2025, including the restoration of track to Eatonville that will add 9 miles (14 kilometers) to the railroad. [13] [14] On August 1, 2023; the railroad announced a resumption of service to begin in the fall season. [15]

Equipment

The railroad has three steam engines, as well as a diesel locomotive in regular service, along with several other locomotives of both types of engines. Most of the railroad's engines are geared steam engines. These specialized types of steam engines Shay engines, Heisler engines, Climax engines and a Willamette engine were used in the early 20th century for logging. Compared to conventional steam locomotives, geared locomotives were better suited for the steep grades, sharp curves and uneven profiles of hastily laid tracks typical of logging operations. Thus, the MRSR sought to preserve and operate historic geared locomotives and related logging technology to present visitors with a sense of a bygone logging era critical to the development of the Pacific Northwest.

List of locomotives

Key
Operable
On display
NumberBuilderModelWorks numberBuiltAcquiredLast operatedImage
No. 2 Willamette Iron and Steel Locomotive Works 3-truck geared steam tender locomotive#34192920022018
No. 2 under steam at Mineral, Washington Number 2 - 4 (14535942400).jpg
No. 2 under steam at Mineral, Washington
No. 70 Baldwin Locomotive Works 2-8-2 tender engine#5535519221992
No. 70 under steam at Mineral, Washington Number 70 (14722593525).jpg
No. 70 under steam at Mineral, Washington
No. 10 Climax Locomotive Works 3-truck Climax steam tender engine#1693192819792011
No. 10 in September 2017 Hillcrest Lumber Co. No. 10 - September 2017.jpg
No. 10 in September 2017
No. 11 Lima Locomotive Works 3-truck "Pacific Coast" Shay tender engine#3327192919812001
No. 11 laying partially dismantled in the "House of Gears" Elbe town visit 06.jpg
No. 11 laying partially dismantled in the "House of Gears"
No. 91 Heisler Locomotive Works 3-truck "West Coast Special" Heisler tender engine [16] #1595193019802011
No. 91 under steam at Expo 86 Mount Rainier Scenic RR 91 (32714120216).jpg
No. 91 under steam at Expo 86
No. 10 (PLC): R.J. "Bud" Kelly Heisler Locomotive Works 3-truck "West Coast Special" Heisler tender engine#125219121970's or 1980's1973
No. 10 on display next to the Elbe depot K&HV RR -10 8093.jpg
No. 10 on display next to the Elbe depot
No. 45 Baldwin Locomotive Works 2-6-2 tender engine#27311190619981961
No. 45 in storage at the Polson museum in 2014 Old Steam Engine No. 45 at the POTB railyard next to the Tillamook Air Museum - October 2014.jpg
No. 45 in storage at the Polson museum in 2014
No. 5 H.K. Porter, Inc. 2-8-2 tender engine#6860192419852003
No. 5's distinct Vanderbilt style tender Mt.RainierSenicRR01.jpg
No. 5's distinct Vanderbilt style tender
No. 17 American Locomotive Company 2-8-2 Tank Engine#68057192919802019
No. 17 switching in Elbe, Washington Hammond Lumber Co. 17 - 10.jpg
No. 17 switching in Elbe, Washington
No. 1 "C.F. White" H.K. Porter, Inc. 0-4-2 Tank Engine#681188520131995
Old No. 1 on display at the museum, 2017 Satsop Railroad No. 1 "C.F. White" - September 2017.jpg
Old No. 1 on display at the museum, 2017
No. 7012A [17] General Motors Electro-Motive Division EMD F9 Diesel-electric#21108195619822025
7012A in September 2017 Northern Pacific Railway No. 7012A - September 2017.jpg
7012A in September 2017
No. 7134 American Locomotive Company ALCO S-1 Diesel-electric
No. 41 American Locomotive Company ALCO RSD-1 Diesel-electric#695701941
No. 481 [18] General Motors Electro-Motive Division EMD NW2 Diesel-electric #5336194220012015


All of the railroad's locomotives are serviced at the maintenance shops in Mineral, Washington.

Notes

  1. The trestle that burned down in 2025 was listed in early reports to be a 28-span bridge. See sources in the section for the discrepancy. [7]

See also

References

  1. Miller, Allen (1995). "A Brief History of the Tacoma Eastern Railroad Co". mortondepot.com. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved March 14, 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Id.
  3. "Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad, Elbe, Washington USA". mrsr.com. Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad. Archived from the original on April 7, 2009. Retrieved March 15, 2009.
  4. "Mt. Rainier Scenic steam excursions in Chehalis off; railroad plans fall trips at its own site". Trains. August 2, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  5. "Train Excursions Return to Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad". wfim.org. Western Forest Industries Museum. August 1, 2023.
  6. Lassen, David (August 2025). "Mt. Rainier Scenic copes after devastating fire". Trains . Vol. 86, no. 8. Firecrown Media. pp. 44–45.
  7. KOMO News staff (May 2, 2025). "Drone footage reveals severe fire damage to Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad's trestle bridge". KOMO 4 News . Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  8. "What Happened to the Bridge? Unfiltered Q&A with Bethan" (video). youtube.com. Mt. Rainier Rail. May 3, 2025. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
  9. "Subject identified after fire destroys bridge on Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad". Fox13 Seattle . May 1, 2025.
  10. Franz, Justin (May 1, 2025). "Mt. Rainier Scenic Bridge Catches Fire". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  11. The Chronicle staff (July 14, 2025). "Over $200,000 raised by supporters after Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad trestle bridge burns down". The Chronicle. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  12. "Mount Rainier Railroad to Cease Operations for Foreseeable Future". Nisqually Valley News. May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  13. "Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad Coming Back to Life". The Daily Chronicle. September 15, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  14. "Mt. Rainier Scenic to return in 2024 or 2025, museum official says". Trains. September 19, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  15. Franz, Justin (August 2, 2023). "Mt. Rainier Scenic to Resume Operations This Fall". railfan.com. White River Productions. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  16. "The Heisler Locomotive Project". www.nelsonslocomotive.com.
  17. "LocoPhotos.com - Photo Details". www.locophotos.com.
  18. "Great Northern Empire - Then and Now". www.greatnorthernempire.net.

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46°45′55″N122°11′40″W / 46.76528°N 122.19444°W / 46.76528; -122.19444