Upcoming Events
- March 31, 2012:
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Depot News
The museum area of the depot reopened the weekend of July 4. The refinished floors look great and the new interpretive panels are hanging on the walls. See this previous blog post for more about the new interpretive panels.
The depot will be open to the public on Saturdays between noon and 4 p.m. and Sundays between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. through Labor Day (September 5). We also open the depot during special public events. Please come by and visit us!
Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust 20th Anniversary Trek
Over the 4th of July weekend, we worked with the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust to host a community event during their 20th Anniversary Trek from Ellensburg across the Greenway to the shores of Puget Sound. About 60-80 people joined the trek participants for music and food at the rail yard. Trek participants camped in the rail yard before continuing their journey west on July 4th. More about the event has been posted on our blog here.
2011 Rails to Ales Brewfest
Our 4th annual Rails to Ales Brewfest was a success. You can see pictures here. Attendance was down a little from last year, likely due to the difficulty in obtaining hotel rooms because of a softball tournament in town the same weekend. 2011 Rails to Ales Brewfest t-shirts are still available.
Mark your calendars for the 2012 Brewfest on the second Saturday in July!
Concrete Progress in the Rail Yard
In June, volunteers poured concrete for a new dumpster pad enclosure. When complete, this will make the depot parking lot look nicer. They also put a concrete floor in the caboose shack, which brings the reconstruction of that structure closer to completion.
Above – Doug Pittis and Brian Lee smooth the freshly poured concrete for the dumpster pad.
Washington State Parks Discover Pass
Beginning July 1, visitors to Washington’s state parks will be required to purchase and display a Discover Pass. Revenue from the Discover Pass will fill budget gaps created by the loss of state General Fund (tax-revenue) support for parks and state recreation lands. The annual Discover Pass fee is $30, and a one-day pass is $10.
Vehicles parked at the depot and all of the other parking lots operated by Washington State Parks along the trail in Iron Horse Park will be required to display the Discover Pass in the front windshield. There is a $99 penalty for failing to display the pass as required.
Volunteers can earn a free Discover Pass with 24 documented hours of volunteer time on approved projects.
Snoqualmie Tunnel Reopens – More Tunnels to Be Repaired
The Snoqualmie Tunnel is now open again after repairs to stabilize the tunnel. This year, the Washington State Legislature approved $1.8 million in state capital bond funds to repair additional tunnels along the trail for public access.
Now that the Snoqualmie Tunnel is open, shuttle bus service (Bus-Up 90) between the Cedar Falls and Hyak trailheads has started.
Archive
Our volunteers have been making steady progress on a general inventory of our collections. So far they have documented the contents of 60 boxes! The group typically meets on the third Thursday night of each month at the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive building in Burien, WA. Contact Paul Krueger if you’d like to help.
2011 Events
August 20 – South Cle Elum Centennial
We are working with the Town of South Cle Elum to celebrate the incorporation of the town in 1911. The depot will be open for visitors. Food and entertainment will be available. It should be a great family event. Read more about the event here.
September 10 – Annual Volunteer/Community Picnic
Our volunteers and friends from the surrounding community gather every year to enjoy a potluck picnic and conversation. You are invited to attend! The picnic will be held at the depot from noon to 2 p.m.
September 24 & 25 – Milwaukee Modeler’s Meet
Our fourth annual fall meet features a display of Milwaukee Road models on Saturday morning as well as presentations on model, prototype and historic Milwaukee Road topics. We’ll be at the Cedar River Watershed Center near North Bend again, just a short walk from the foundation of the Milwaukee Road Cedar Falls substation.
Saturday the 24th: Modelers are invited to show their Milwaukee Road models from 9:30 a.m.– 1:00 p.m. Clinics will be presented in the afternoon unitl 5:00 p.m.
Sunday the 25th: Clincs about Milwaukee Road history will be presented from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
More details will be posted soon.
October 8 – Milwaukee Road Employees Luncheon
We’ll be holding a luncheon this fall to honor former Milwaukee Road employees and thank them for their service. This is a free event and space is limited – only two people per RSVP and one must have been a railroad employee. Please RSVP to Joe Bohannon.
Posted by Paul Krueger
Cascade Rail Foundation was pleased to host the participants in the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust 20th Anniversary Trek. Trekkers started arriving at South Cle Elum early in the afternoon on Sunday, July 3 after spending the night in the Ellensburg area.
CRF Food Booth [click to enlarge]
A gathering of roughly 120 trekkers and 60-80 others from the community were at the site for music and food. Music for the evening was performed by two local bands, The Blast Ended Skrewts and Mr. E Band. Food was available from both Glondo’s Sausage and Cascade Rail Foundation.
After camping overnight in the rail yard the trekkers were up early, starting breakfast at 6:30 AM on July 4th with complimentary coffee for all provided by CRF.
The museum area of the depot now features new interpretive panels on the walls. The panels provide visitors with a brief history of the Milwaukee Road in Washington, with a focus on the crews that moved the trains and kept the line open.
[click to enlarge]
[click to enlarge]
These panels were funded and developed by Washington State Parks with assistance from Cascade Rail Foundation. Allen Miller also helped with information and photos. Thanks Allen!
These panels are the first step in redeveloping the museum exhibits in the depot. Next we will be working with State Parks to improve the display of artifacts and possibly add some interactive displays.
Those of you who remember the diorama of the Renslow trestle will notice it is no longer in the current museum area of the depot. A new exhibit area in the freight room of the depot is in development that will feature the diorama. We are exploring the viability of making the diorama an operating exhibit, so people can see trains moving over the trestle. Wouldn’t that be great?
Drop by and see us in South Cle Elum. You can see the depot museum exhibit during our regular summer hours (Saturday noon to 4 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and during special events. A Discover Pass is now needed to park in the depot parking lot and other Washington State Parks facilities.
| July 2, 2011 | to | July 10, 2011 |
July 2 to 10th Mountains to Sound Greenway 20th Anniversary March
In celebration of their 20th Anniversary, the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust is planning a nine-day march from Ellensburg to Seattle, including over the former right of way of the Milwaukee Road, now part of Iron Horse State Park. Overnight along the trail, including at the South Cle Elum Rail Yard. YOU MUST REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE. You can participate in the full nine days of the March or sign up to join the Marchers for a day hike. Bike or hike options are available.
Visit mtsgreenway.org for more information.
| July 9, 2011 | ||
| 4:00 pm | to | 10:00 pm |
Saturday, July 9. The 4th “Rails to Ales Brewfest.
Join us for the 4th annual Rails To Ales Brewfest on July 9th, 2011!! Admission is $20.00 in advance and will be $25.00 the day of the event. All proceeds benefit Cascade Rail Foundation and there continuing efforts at the South Cle Elum Rail Yard. Your ticket is good for admission to the event, a souvenir sampling glass, 7 sampling tokens and a day full of live music, food, fun and of course… Beer!! 20 brewers will be represented along with 2 hard ciders and 2 wineries. Open to guests 21 and over. This is strictly enforced and ID is required at the gate. More information at www.RailsToAlesBrewfest.com