The Northwest Railway Museum offers a fun and educational excursion into the past through the School Train program.  This program is designed for 4th graders and targets 4th grade Washington State History and Social Studies requirements, but is adaptable for students in other age groups (for pre-school age students or younger, please see information on Pre-school Train tab above).  School Train departs from the Snoqualmie Depot.

School Train operates each spring for three two-hour sessions each day.

2013 Schedule Program Dates

Tuesday April 23rd

Wednesday April 24

Wednesday May 15

Friday May 17

Tuesday May 21

Available Times:

Session 1: 9:30am - 11:30am OR 10:00am - 12:00pm

Session 2: 11:00am - 1:00pm  school groups only

Session 3: 12:30pm - 2:30pm homeschool groups & families

Our 12:30 session is targeted, but not limited to, home school groups.

Each session is two hours long, and does not include time to have lunch, so please plan accordingly.  (Picnic tables are available on site at the the Museum, and at the two city parks close by.)  Sessions are limited to 100 participants, including adult chaperones.  Some sessions are full, so please call for up to date information. 

The School Train fee is $6 per passenger.  Full payment is required by April 1, 2013 for all session dates. The program will run rain or shine. Be advised, there are no refunds.

School Train begins with an introduction at the Gazebo, across King Street from the Snoqualmie Depot.  Please arrive at the Gazebo 15 minutes before your session start time.  Participants will be divided into groups to rotate through a hands-on exploration of artifacts and primary source documents to gain a better understanding of how "railroads changed everything."

Students will receive a worksheet to complete during the activities. This is intended to help students focus on the activities, as well as offer information they can take with them back to school. 

All groups will rejoin for the highlight of the program: an excursion aboard the Museum's interpretive railway, the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad.

A supplemental materials packet will be available online in the spring.

To make a reservation or for more information, please call Jessie Cunningham, Educator, (425) 888-3030 ext. 7204 or email  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   

Above: A group of enthusiastic students enjoying School Train.

Above: Museum docent Bill Walker gives a presentation about how a locomotive works  during School Train.

Below: Two School Train volunteers pause for photos during the locomotive cab tour.

The Pre-School Train Program is specifically oriented to toddler and pre-school age children. There will be activities (session participants will be split into groups to rotate through the activities) including story time and an art project, followed by a 25-minute scenic train ride on the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad. 

Date:

2013 SPRING PRE-SCHOOL TRAIN

2013 Dates:

Each session is 1.5 hours long, and does not include time to have lunch, so please plan accordingly.  (Picnic tables are available on site at the the Museum, and at the two city parks close by.)  Sessions are limited to 80 participants, including parents & adult chaperones.  

The Pre-School Train fee is $6 per passenger.  Full payment is required to hold your space. The program will run rain or shine. Be advised, there are no refunds. 

To make a reservation or for more information, please call Jessie Cunningham, Educator, (425) 888-3030 ext. 7204 or email  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   

Can't make the May date - but would like a preschool train program? Contact the Educator (contact info above) - we can create a weekday program just for you, minus the train ride.

Thank you for your interest.

Above: A child works on a puzzle during Spring Pre-School Train 2007.

Below: Train tables are always popular!

Don’t have the time or budget for field trips? Experience Northwest railway history through mobile hands-on lessons — let the railway come to your classroom! 

Lesson 1: Local Railroad History

The arrival of the railroad in the Northwest had a significant impact on life in the region. People were able to move in and product was able to move out. Learn all about the impact railroads had on early Washington State history through hands-on activities:

-- Replica freight cars and examples of freight help students learn what came into and out of their community by rail.

-- Lesson can be tailored to your community.

-- Students can work in groups to determine which items belong in each freight car, then take turns placing the items in the car (explaining their reasoning to the class).

Lesson 2: Working on the Railroad 

Building railroads was a major undertaking and a lot of hard work. Learn all about what tools and items were used to build the first railroads:  

-- Historic tools and implements give students first hand knowledge.

-- Lesson can be tailored to the focus of your classroom lesson and learning goals.

-- Students can handle artifacts, learning about what it was like to be a worker laying track. 

-- Great supplementary lesson to learning about the transcontinental railroad!

Lesson 3: General Railroad History 

Railroads and railroad technology had a major impact on life in the United States. Learn all about the impact using photographs and artifacts from our Museum’s collection:  

-- Historic photographs tell the story of the railroad.

-- Lesson can be tailored to the focus of your classroom lesson and learning goals.

-- Students can handle large photographs and artifacts, learning about movement of people and/or products in history. 

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Visits are available September thru April.

Fee: $45, $20 for each additional classroom presentation (on the same day). Scholarships are availale.

Please schedule at least 2 weeks in advance.  

Call or email to schedule your visit from the Educator today!

Jessie Cunningham, Educator, Northwest Railway Museum: 425)888-3030 x 7204 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Above & Below: These model freight cars teach students what came into and out of their community by rail.

Above: Historic photos help students learn about history.