The night of Sunday, November 4, the Iron Horse B&B in the former Milwaukee Road bunkhouse at the South Cle Elum Rail Yard caught fire. Fortunately, no one was injured.
Fire damage is extensive. The fire destroyed the roof, attic, and the interior of the second floor. The rest of the building experienced smoke and water damage. An electric utility pole fell on the building and may have started the fire.
The Iron Horse B&B was like a small Milwaukee Road museum with all the photos and artifacts displayed throughout the building. The upstairs displays are expected to be a total loss, but some of the artifacts on the main floor may be salvageable. No one has been able to go in and investigate yet.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the Martinson family, owners of the Iron Horse B&B, recover from this fire. They plan to rebuild and reopen as soon as they can.
Here are some photos taken by Cascade Rail Foundation Treasurer Mary Pittis the day after the fire.
