Spirit of Washington Dinner Train
Encyclopedia
The Spirit of Washington dinner train was a dinner train
that operated for 15 years out of Renton, Washington
, with trips heading from Renton to Woodinville and back, and then for ten months out of Tacoma
, with trips heading from Tacoma to Lake Kapowsin near Mount Rainier
. On October 29, 2007 the operators of the dinner train announced that they would be shutting down the Tacoma route due to poor ridership.
starting in the summer of 1993, with trips heading from a restored depot Burnett Station on Burnett Avenue in Renton to the Columbia Winery
in Woodinville and back. Before this, it ran from shortly after 1986 to 1993 between Yakima
and Ellensburg
. In the summer of 2007, the Train was forced to change starting locations when the owners of the Woodinville Subdivision, BNSF Railway
, would not extend their contract. BNSF Railway
allowed King County to move forward with improvements on I-405, which broke the link between Woodinville and Renton.
and Snohomish
, negotiations broke down, causing the train to relocate to Tacoma. It operated from August 3, 2007 until October 28 with Tacoma as the starting point. It serviced central Pierce County
, on the line going from Tacoma to Lake Kapowsin near Mount Rainier
and back.
where it will remain indefinitely. The owners have suggested that they would like to see a dinner train go between Vancouver, Washington
and Mt St. Helens or attempt again to go between Woodinville and Snohomish. It is currently stored in Moses Lake, WA, and is for sale - all 10 cars - with an asking price of 5 million. Some equipment has been sold to new owners, such as the Carrizo Gorge Railway
and the Texas State Railroad
.
Dinner train
A dinner train is a relatively new type of passenger train service whose main purpose is to allow people to eat dinner while experiencing a relatively short, leisurely round trip train ride...
that operated for 15 years out of Renton, Washington
Renton, Washington
Renton is an Eastside edge city in King County, Washington, United States. Situated 11 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, Renton straddles the southeast shore of Lake Washington. Founded in the 1860s, Renton became a supply town for the Newcastle coal fields...
, with trips heading from Renton to Woodinville and back, and then for ten months out of Tacoma
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
, with trips heading from Tacoma to Lake Kapowsin near Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier is a massive stratovolcano located southeast of Seattle in the state of Washington, United States. It is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States and the Cascade Volcanic Arc, with a summit elevation of . Mt. Rainier is considered one of the most...
. On October 29, 2007 the operators of the dinner train announced that they would be shutting down the Tacoma route due to poor ridership.
History
The Spirit of Washington dinner train operated for 15 years out of Renton on the Woodinville SubdivisionWoodinville Subdivision
The Woodinville Subdivision is a railroad line that was formerly owned by BNSF Railway and takes its names from one of its original end points in Woodinville, Washington, United States. The line extends approximately in east King County and Snohomish County. The line's ownership has been...
starting in the summer of 1993, with trips heading from a restored depot Burnett Station on Burnett Avenue in Renton to the Columbia Winery
Columbia Winery
Columbia Winery is a Washington State winery located in Woodinville, Washington. The tasting room, main administrative offices and event facilities are located at 14030 NE 145th Street P.O. Box 1248 Woodinville, WA 98072. The winery production facility is located at 2310 Holmason Rd Sunnyside, WA...
in Woodinville and back. Before this, it ran from shortly after 1986 to 1993 between Yakima
Yakima, Washington
Yakima is an American city southeast of Mount Rainier National Park and the county seat of Yakima County, Washington, United States, and the eighth largest city by population in the state itself. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 91,196 and a metropolitan population of...
and Ellensburg
Ellensburg, Washington
Ellensburg is a city in, and the county seat of, Kittitas County, Washington, United States. The population was 18,174 at the 2010 census. The population was 18,250 at 2011 Estimate from Office of Financial Management. Ellensburg is located just east of the Cascade Range on I-90 and is known as the...
. In the summer of 2007, the Train was forced to change starting locations when the owners of the Woodinville Subdivision, BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
, would not extend their contract. BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
allowed King County to move forward with improvements on I-405, which broke the link between Woodinville and Renton.
10 Month Tacoma Pilot
Although the operators had wished to move the train to run between WoodinvilleWoodinville, Washington
Woodinville is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 10,938 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Seattle metropolitan area. There is also a much larger population with Woodinville mailing addresses in adjacent unincorporated areas of King and Snohomish counties...
and Snohomish
Snohomish, Washington
Snohomish is a city in Snohomish County founded by the british, Washington, United States. The population was 9,098 at the 2010 census. The mayor of Snohomish is Karen Guzak, and the City Manager is Larry Bauman...
, negotiations broke down, causing the train to relocate to Tacoma. It operated from August 3, 2007 until October 28 with Tacoma as the starting point. It serviced central Pierce County
Pierce County, Washington
right|thumb|[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] - Seat of Pierce CountyPierce County is the second most populous county in the U.S. state of Washington. Formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory...
, on the line going from Tacoma to Lake Kapowsin near Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier is a massive stratovolcano located southeast of Seattle in the state of Washington, United States. It is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States and the Cascade Volcanic Arc, with a summit elevation of . Mt. Rainier is considered one of the most...
and back.
Cancellation
Due to poor ticket sales after the move to Tacoma, the owners decided to pull the pilot project and close the train down. It is being stored in Clark County, WashingtonClark County, Washington
Clark County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Washington, across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon.Clark County was the first county of Washington, named after William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition...
where it will remain indefinitely. The owners have suggested that they would like to see a dinner train go between Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...
and Mt St. Helens or attempt again to go between Woodinville and Snohomish. It is currently stored in Moses Lake, WA, and is for sale - all 10 cars - with an asking price of 5 million. Some equipment has been sold to new owners, such as the Carrizo Gorge Railway
Carrizo Gorge Railway
The Carrizo Gorge Railway is a freight operator on the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway from Tijuana, Mexico to Plaster City, California , San Diego, California to La Mesa, California and San Diego, California to Santee, California...
and the Texas State Railroad
Texas State Railroad
The Texas State Railroad is a historic 25-mile railroad between Rusk and Palestine, Texas. The start of the railroad dates back to 1881. Its original purpose was to bring in raw materials for a prison iron foundry and to take the finished product out. The railroad grew and eventually expanded to...
.
External links
- Spirit of Washington Dinner Train by Eastside Rail Now!
- Spirit of Washington Dinner Train closes up shop