Bridge the Gap

On the morning of April 30, 2025, just hours after Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad received executed paperwork finalizing our purchase of the railroad from Tacoma Rail, a devastating fire destroyed the largest historic structure on the line: a 26-span, 400-foot-long wooden trestle located just west of the town of Morton. This trestle wasn’t just a piece of infrastructure—it was the critical link in a long-planned effort to expand rail service, revive freight operations, and reconnect rural communities through sustainable tourism and economic development.

Since reviving Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad in 2022 after a two-year closure under its previous owner, our nonprofit team has worked tirelessly to rebuild what was nearly lost. We’ve doubled the amount of operational trackage, restored vintage equipment, reopened our museum, and cleared miles of right-of-way to enable rail movements between Eatonville and Divide. The destruction of the bridge is a significant setback to those efforts, threatening our ability to fulfill our vision of full restoration and regional service.

We are moving forward with assuming the federal common carrier obligation and pursuing formal shoreline designation, laying the groundwork to bring freight service back to the region. Restarting freight not only supports local industries with cost-effective, low-impact transportation—it also provides a much-needed, diversified revenue stream that strengthens the long-term sustainability of our nonprofit operation. But without this bridge, restoring service to Morton—the eastern terminus and a cornerstone of our expansion—faces major engineering and financial hurdles.

As a nonprofit heritage railroad, we are ineligible for most traditional transportation infrastructure funding, and unfortunately, due to the timing of the sale, insurance isn’t a help. The incident is under active criminal investigation, and we are working closely with law enforcement and industry partners as we assess our next steps. In the meantime, we continue to do what we do best: running trains, preserving history, and serving our community. This website exists to offer meaningful ways for you to help. Whether it’s through a donation, contacting elected officials, or spreading the word, your support helps us bridge the gap—literally and figuratively—and keep this railroad rolling forward.