SNOQUALMIE, Wash. — The Northwest Railway Museum is finally back on track.
The historic train depot in downtown Snoqualmie welcomed riders back for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic this week for a new attraction geared toward kids; "Day Out with Thomas." Children and parents from all over the state flocked to the museum for the chance to meet and ride with the legendary Thomas the Tank Engine.
The exhibit comes complete with different types of Thomas the Tank Engine-themed activities, stories and even a hay maze in addition to the permanent exhibits at the museum.
The museum is one of the only train museums where visitors can ride on the artifacts, offering weekend rides between Snoqualmie Falls and North Bend, harkening back to days past, long before interstate highways.
The train depot dates back to 1890 and was eventually restored to its pristine vintage charm. The pandemic closure cost the museum more than a million dollars last year, according to Executive Director of The Northwest Railway Museum Richard Anderson.
"The museum is particularly delighted to be open because it helps ensure our survival," Anderson said. "We're just so excited to be open and to offer a genuine event."
Tickets are still limited for the museum's first exhibit back, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Railroad Administration and Transportation Safety Administration regulations. The regulations currently require all railways to have persons masked until September.
In total, "Day Out with Thomas" lasts about two hours long, "perfect for kids," Anderson said. The exhibit runs through July 11, and then again from July 16 to July 18. Tickets can be found on the museum's website.