The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad has begun track rehabilitation north of Elbe with the goal of reopening the line to Eatonville (about 12 miles). The railroad has applied for a $28 million federal grant — including $10 million to rebuild a trestle lost to a 2025 fire — which would fund both tourist-excursion extensions and renewed freight service for local mills. Work trains led by Polson Logging No. 70 are replacing ties and reconditioning ballast, progressing roughly one mile at a time, and officials stress safety as the corridor becomes active again.
Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad Begins Major Track Rehab — $28M Grant Sought To Restore Service To Eatonville
A Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad work train, led by Polson Lumber No. 70, crosses the Boxcar Canyon bridge. The railroad is working to reopen the line north of Elbe, Wash., toward Eatonville. MRSR
The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad has begun restoring track north of Elbe, Wash., with the goal of reopening the line to Eatonville—about 12 miles by rail. The nonprofit that owns the railroad has applied for a $28 million federal grant to help fund the work, including rebuilding a trestle lost to fire in 2025.
Project Overview
The proposed extension would lengthen tourist excursions and allow the railroad to resume commercial freight service. Several lumber mills in the Morton area have expressed interest in shifting log shipments from trucks to rail, a move that could reduce road impacts and support local industry. It has been more than 30 years since this line carried local timber.
Funding And The Trestle
About $10 million of the requested $28 million would be used to rebuild a trestle destroyed by fire in 2025 (see Trains.com, Aug. 1, 2025). The railroad will learn this fall whether the grant is approved; if not, officials say another application will be submitted, which would extend the project timeline.
Work along the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad line north of Elbe, Wash., includes tie replacement and ballast reconditioning. The railroad plans to operate freight service on the line once it is rehabilitated. MRSR
Current Work
Crews are replacing ties and reconditioning ballast along the corridor, progressing incrementally — roughly one mile at a time. Work trains are being led by Polson Logging No. 70, a 2-8-2 Mikado built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1922. Once rehabilitated, the railroad intends to operate both tourist excursions and freight service.
Community Impact And Operations
"The goal is to keep building track to extend our tourist train service but also to service the mills and start hauling dimensional lumber again, the profits of which would be reinvested in our nonprofit and our museum operations," said Beth Maher, executive director of the Western Forest Industry Museum, which owns the railroad.
Restoring freight capability could provide an efficient, lower-impact shipping option for local mills and create revenue to support the museum and preservation work. The railroad emphasizes that any freight operations will follow safety and regulatory requirements.
Safety And Public Notice
The railroad is reminding the public that the right-of-way is private property and is becoming active again. "Work trains, maintenance equipment, and steam locomotives may be operating at any time," the railroad warned on its social media page. Because trains have not run this stretch for years and because of river noise, rock cuts, and frequent curves, an approaching train can be difficult to see or hear until it is very close.
For more information on the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad and updates on the rehabilitation, visit the railroad's website or follow their official social channels.
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