Depot Museum – Closed in June
Changes are underway in the museum area of the depot.
In June, Washington State Parks will be refinishing the floor of the depot museum. Everything on the floor has been temporarily moved to the cafe.
Also, we are in the process of installing a new exhibit with interpretive panels produced by Washington State Parks. The first visible changes have happened this month. The Renslow trestle diorama was carefully relocated to the freight room where it eventually will be the centerpiece of a new exhibit there. Soon the remaining display cases will be moved and the new panels will be hung.
After the new exhibit panels are up we’ll start working on new displays to be placed under them that will have artifacts and information that relate to the exhibit panels. We’re excited by this opportunity to tell the story of the Milwaukee Road with rejuvenated and expanded exhibits in the depot.
We plan to reopen the depot museum for the 4th of July weekend.
Archive
Our volunteers have been making steady progress on a general inventory of our collections. 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.
Rail Yard Work Party
A group of volunteers including several people from Mountains to Sound Greenway spent a day working in the rail yard this month. They cleared a considerable amount of brush blocking the site lines to the roundhouse foundations.
View of the rail yard from the turntable pit
John Wayne Pioneer Wagons and Riders
On May 21st we again hosted the John Wayne Pioneer Wagons and Riders on their annual cross state ride from Easton to Tekoa. This was their 30th anniversary ride. About 100 people camped at the west end of the rail yard and had the opportunity to enjoy a barbeque at the depot. The following morning CRF provided coffee, juice and donuts from the Cle Elum Bakery.
The John Wayne Pioneer Wagons and Riders hold a meeting outside the depot.
2011 Events
July 3 & 4 – Mountains to Sound Greenway Anniversary March
CRF will be hosting the Mountains to Sound Greenway 20th anniversary march participants on their way from Ellensburg to Seattle. Participants will camp in the South Cle Elum rail yard the night of July 3rd. There will be a community event at the depot that evening with live music. We plan to have the depot open for everyone to enjoy the exhibits. If you’d like to be part of the march, contact Mountains to Sound Greenway to register.
July 9 – Rails to Ales Brewfest
Our major fundraising event is just around the corner. More details have been posted to the Brewfest web site. Make plans to join us or, if you can’t make it, send a friend!
August 20 – South Cle Elum Centennial
We will be working with the Town of South Cle Elum to celebrate the incorporation of the town. Activities will be held in the rail yard and nearby the town park. To contribute historic town photos, etc. contact Mary Pittis at 509/674-5939 or maryp@ironhorseinnbb.com.
September 13 – Annual Potluck Picnic
Our annual potluck picnic for CRF volunteers and friends is scheduled for the afternoon of September 13. Please join us as we celebrate our accomplishments of the past year.
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. More details will follow as we get closer to the event.
NEW DATE 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 at jbohannon@atcolease.com.
Other News
Washington State Parks is reopening Snoqualmie Pass Tunnel on July 5. There will be a community event at the tunnel as part of the Mountains to Sound Greenway Anniversary March.
