Narrow Gauge Railroads of Washington

Common CarrierLoggingMiningIndustrialTransitOdditiesTourist

Common Carrier Railroads.

Columbia & Puget Sound Railroad.
36in Gauge. Reorganized from the Seattle & Walla Walla Railroad in November 1880 after being purchased by the Oregon Improvement Company. The line primarily hauled coal from the mines near Newcastle and Franklin to the company wharf in Seattle. Financial complications lead to the line being standard gauged in 1897. Newcastle to Seattle, King County. 1880 - 1897(NG)

Ilwaco Railway & Navigation.
36in Gauge. Constructed by the Ilwaco Wharf Company to replace the stage coach line running from their wharf to the north along Long Beach. The railroad operated as frugally as possible, often to the detriment of their service. In 1903 the railroad sold to the Oregon Railway & Navigation Co. and rehabilitated. Nahcotta to Ilwaco and Megler, Pacific County. 1888 - 1916

Seattle & Walla Walla Railroad and Navigation.
36in Gauge. Seattle's first railroad, built in reaction to Northern Pacific's 1873 decision to locate its western terminus in Tacoma rather than in Seattle. The Seattle & Walla Walla began at Steele's Landing on the Duwamish River, and eventually extended for 21 miles to the coal mines of Newcastle, in South King County. Seattle to Newcastle, King County. 1873 - 1880

Walla Walla & Columbia River Railroad.
36in Gauge.

Wallula to Walla Walla, Walla Walla County. 1871 - 1883

Logging Railroads.

Biles Coleman Lumber Company.
36in Gauge. Omak Area, Okanogan County. 1921 - 1948

Mining Railroads.

Apex Gold Mine Railroad.
36in Gauge. First located in 1892, the Apex mine constructed a railroad in 1906 to haul ore from their Concentrator to Berlin station on the Great Northern. Powered initially by horses, the line purchased a Shay locomotive in 1910. The operation struggled until 1937 when the state constructed a road near the mine utilizing the right of way.

Berlin to Apex Mine, King County. 1906 - 1937

Industrial Railroads

Dupont Powder Works.
36in Gauge. Operated 17 miles of railroad track throughout the E. I. DuPont de Nemours Company Powder Works complex with gasoline powered locomotives moving material within the complex as well as connecting with the Northern Pacific Railroad and a wharf at the mouth of Sequalitchew Creek on the southern reaches of Puget Sound. Dupont, Pierce County. 1909-1976

Seattle Coal & Transportation Company.
36in Gauge and 30in Gauge. Operated a 17 mile long tramway and ferry system connecting their coal mine at Newcastle with Seattle. The trip required coal cars be barged across Lake Washington, and then across Lake Union where the steam powered railroad moved them to the coal bunker. In 1880 the railroad became part of Henry Villard's Oregon Improvement Company. Newcastle to Seattle, King County. 1870 - 1880

Transit Railroads

Seattle Center Monorail.
Monorail Constructed to serve the 1962 World's Fair. After the fair shut down, the monorail was transferred to the city of Seattle and operated as part of the municipal transit system. The system continues to operate from Westgate Center to the former World's Fair site, now called Seattle Center. Seattle, King County. 1961 - Present

Oddities

Seattle Center Monorail.
Monorail Constructed to serve the 1962 World's Fair. After the fair shut down, the monorail was transferred to the city of Seattle and operated as part of the municipal transit system. The system continues to operate from Westgate Center to the former World's Fair site, now called Seattle Center. Seattle, King County. 1961 - Present

Tourist Railroads

Seattle Center Monorail.
Monorail Constructed to serve the 1962 World's Fair. After the fair shut down, the monorail was transferred to the city of Seattle and operated as part of the municipal transit system. The system continues to operate from Westgate Center to the former World's Fair site, now called Seattle Center. Seattle, King County. 1961 - Present