Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad continues with launch of new RailCycle route after devastating bridge fire

Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad is still reeling from the fire that destroyed its 28-span wooden trestle bridge between Mineral and Morton on April 30, but the railroad hasn’t lost any steam.

On Tuesday, May 13, Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad announced a new RailCycle route that is now open for reservations.

“Departing just south of Mineral … this new section is longer, flatter and absolutely stunning. Think deep forest, clear streams, bridges and sweeping views of Mt. Rainier’s foothills — it’s easily our most scenic ride yet,” Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad said in a social media post on Tuesday.

Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad planned to announce the new RailCycle route earlier this month, but held off due to the fire, the railroad stated.

As of Thursday evening, an online crowdfunding campaign started by Western Forest Industries Museum, a nonprofit that runs the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad, had raised $189,420.

Additional funds are possibly available to the railroad in a dedicated donation fund established by the Mineral Lake Lions Club, but the amount of money in that account was not publicly available as of Thursday evening.

“We haven’t spent any donated funds yet. Right now, we’re focused on lining up the critical pieces for cleanup and the early stages of engineering a replacement,” Western Forest Industries Museum CEO Bethan Maher stated in an update posted to the crowdfunding site on Monday.

Early estimates place the bridge replacement cost anywhere between $2 million and $10 million, according to Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad.

“That estimate will sharpen as we continue structural evaluation and permitting,” Maher said.

The railroad’s current priority is to obtain emergency permits from the Washington state Department of Fish & Wildlife and the state Department of Natural Resources to clean up the site before the start of fire season, Maher said.

“We’re actively seeking a contractor who can navigate narrow logging roads and help reestablish access to the base of the bridge,” Maher stated in the May 12 update. “That access is critical for safely removing debris — especially the toxic creosote-treated timbers in and around a small seasonal stream. We’re hoping to find a partner willing to work with us on cost so that more of your donations go toward rebuilding.”

Donations will first go towards offsetting the cost of debris removal and responsible environmental cleanup, Maher said.

“If we can secure donated or discounted resources for that work, we’ll stretch those dollars further into engineering and geotechnical studies: the next step toward a realistic rebuild,” Maher said.

Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad is currently asking supporters to contact their elected officials and advocate for resources towards the ongoing fire investigation, cleanup, rebuilding, and recognizing the economic impact of the bridge’s destruction.

“This railroad isn’t just a nostalgic ride in the woods — it’s an economic engine for rural communities in Pierce and Lewis counties,” Maher stated, adding that Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad generated over $9 million in local economic impact last year.

“The return of freight service and continued expansion would multiply that impact — but we need help to get there,” Maher stated.

The rail line that crossed the trestle bridge was not in use when the fire broke out the night of April 30, but Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad was actively working to reopen it for a freight and passenger line between Mineral and Morton.
Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad’s normal passenger trains and RailCycle excursions were not impacted by the fire.

Fire investigators have determined that the fire was “human caused,” but the specific cause of the blaze is still under investigation.

The railroad is posting updates on the fire on its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MtRainierRailroad.

Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad is owned and operated by the nonprofit Western Forest Industries Museum.

The sale of the railroad to Western Forest Industries Museum from its previous out-of-state, for-profit ownership, which closed the railroad in 2020, was finalized just hours before the fire broke out on April 30.

Western Forest Industries Museum operated the railroad under a lease agreement with its previous owner from September 2023 until the sale was finalized last week.

For more information about Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad or to book tickets, visit https://mtrainierrailroad.com/.