A year ago we bought tickets on the Alki Tours Leavenworth Snow Train. We were very excited to be going, but that year at this time our area was having a very, very wet fall and at 6:00 in the morning on the day of our adventure we were called and informed that a mudslide on the railroad tracks between Seattle and Edmonds had resulted in a cancellation of our plans. So this year we signed up again hoping, too not get rained out.
Things worked out much better! Not only did we have less rain, on the Friday (the 21st) before our trip it snowed at our house! This boded well for snow in the mountains! We went to bed with hope in our hearts that tomorrow would bring the long awaited Christmas Train Adventure.
Our friend dropped us off at the train station at Edmonds, saving us having to worry about parking. She also took good care of our beloved dog all day as well. We knew he was in good hands!
Our first view of the Snow Train -- what do you know?! Amtrak! I actually expected an older train, not exactly like the Dinner Train that used to go from Renton to Woodinville, but certainly not a modern commercial train. On the other hand, old trains are drafty and noisy and this was more like riding better than economy on an aircraft. Maybe business class. The seats were wider, with a little more leg room with the normal locked tray table. However, there were electric plugs available (which in this case was the starting point of twinkling Christmas lights. It is not easily seen, but we had a Seattle Seahawks theme in our car.
As we left Edmonds the tracks ran right next to the water. Puget Sound waves lapped almost at the tracks.
We had a Forest Service representative on board who occasionally came through and pointed out interesting information. We rolled past the USS Nimitz that had come home for the holidays and was parked at the Everett Home Port.
We had a variety of minstrels who rotated through the cars including slight-of-hand magicians, barber shop quarters, string quartets, soloists accompanied by their own guitars and comedians.
We started seeing snow along the road even while we were still in Everett, but as we headed through Monroe and all the little communities along Hwy 2 toward Stevens Pass, the depth of the snow increased.
Occasionally there was a siding rail. Since we were the "low priority" train compared to the freight trains, we were destined to be the waiting train if someone else was in a hurry.
This was our last second before we entered the tunnel. The tunnel starts at the large bend on Hwy 2 where the ascent for cars really steepens. The tunnel is 7.8 miles long. From 1929 until the 50's or so it was electrified because there was no way for older trains to seal out much of the diesel fumes. The process of pulling the trains through with electric engines was discontinued when the new ventilation system was installed in the tunnel. After we waited for a freight line to go through, we still had to wait for 15 more minutes while the giant fans blew out the diesel smoke. I thought the electrification was a great idea, but apparently trains had to be separated into a whole bunch of little trains for that to happen.
On the other side of the pass we traveled on and as we approached Leavenworth we saw the first of the large orchards there hibernating away until the warmth of spring reawakens them!
One of our first sights at Leavenworth. There was a low fog, but above that the blue sky was beginning to shine through.
Now all of our friends know that we are not really comfortable in crowds, but we put on our good attitude and dove right in with the rest. We immediately got into the shopping spirit and my husband bought two new hats -- a new brown felt and a black pigskin (very naturally waterproof). He was a happy camper. We did a little stocking stuffer shopping and a good time was had by all.
We were entertained in Leavenworth by a variety of minstrels as well, both young and old.
The sun came out at last and brightened the day.
Good lunch spot!
At 4:30 as dusk started to fall, the hundreds of Leavenworth visitors gathered for the tree lighting ceremony. The large light in the center is as street light. We decided to "gather" over on the east side of town so that we could immediately head off to the train as soon as the tree lighting took place.
The grand moment arrived!
The town lights blazed on as well!
And the train travelers headed briskly back to the station. Yes, they say that some procrastinators get left behind at nearly every trip. It was obvious that train engineers take their schedules seriously.
Boarding to go home!
More great entertainment
Our evening ended returning from the mountains back to the sea, passing Monroe and all the little towns along the way in the dark. I think we may just do that again -- maybe even next year!
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