Train rides coming on Museum anniversary

REARDAN - For the first time, the Inland Northwest Rail Museum will offer rides on restored railroad cars during its Seventh Anniversary celebration Saturday, Aug. 12.

To celebrate this milestone, attendees can take rides on two of the museum's restored standard gauge train cars across the museum's standard gauge tracks, known as the Inland Northwest Short Line.

Rides can be taken in a restored Great Northern 974 Café Coach or a SP&S Mt. St. Helens buffet lounge car.

Trains are scheduled to depart at 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Passengers will board near where the 3206-steam locomotive is displayed. The short line runs up the museum property across old Sunset Highway, and parallel to the main rail line where the former Northern Pacific wrecking crane is parked, covering about one third of a mile.

The train will run back to the 3206 and make a second trip up to the crane before passengers depart. Each ride will cover about 1.2 miles.

Some of the most knowledgeable volunteers (Conductors) will be on board each car to provide narration and history of the cars visitors are riding.

Attendees may reserve seating on a specific train car at a specific time for $10 per person in addition to standard admission for non-members via the Rail Museum website.

On the day of the anniversary, remaining seats will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis for $5 in addition to standard admission: Adults $12, seniors & military $10, children 5-13 $6, children 4 & under free.

In addition to full size train rides, admission includes a ride on the two-foot gauge train, model train displays, historical exhibits, restored railroad car exhibits to walk through, display tables and booths from many railroad historical societies, model railroad groups and other museums inside the building.

Refreshments include $1 hot dogs, $1 soft drinks and a piece of birthday cake.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday-Sunday at 27300 Sprinkle Rd North, which is at the junction of U.S. Highway 2 and State Hwy 231 South.