1999. The mission of the organization is to develop and operate an outstanding railway museum where the public can see and understand the role of railroads in the development of the Pacific Northwest, and experience the excitement of a working railroad. The museum's collection also includes a variety of railway cars and locomotives that document that development of the railway in Washington from the 1880s through the 1960s, including the Messenger of Peace Chapel Car which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It also includes a 3,000-volume library and archives that focus on the history of railroads in the Northwest, and on technical and other engineering aspects of railroading. Collection Steam locomotives Diesel locomotives Gasoline-Mechanical locomotives Coaches The Northwest Railway Museum maintains 17 passenger coaches of various time periods, manufactured between 1881 and 1952. Most of these cars were built by either Barney and Smith, the St. Louis Car Company, or Pullman. Some of the Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railway coaches operate with one or both of the museum's 2 RS-4-TCs and/or Northern Pacific 924 for use on the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad. Freight cars, industrial, and maintenance of way The museum owns a total of 39 other railway equipment artifacts in various forms, previously operating for a wide variety of railroads. Heritage railroad The Northwest Railway Museum also operates a heritage railroad called the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad. This common carrier railroad allows museum visitors to experience a train excursion aboard antique railroad coaches through the Upper Snoqualmie Valley. Trains operate on Saturdays and Sundays from April through October and in December, and carry over 47,000 passengers per year. It also has a Day out with Thomas event every July. Restoration Center In August 2006 the Museum dedicated the new Conservation and Restoration Center (CRC), phase one of the Railway History Center. The CRC is a place to perform collection care on large rail artifacts including locomotives, coaches, and freight cars. It features , two full length inspection pits, and is used to perform many functions once conducted in railroad backshops. See also List of heritage railroads in the United States References Alexander, Edwin P. Down at the Depot. New York: Clarkson N. Potter, Inc. ,1970. Droege, John A. Passenger Terminals and Trains . New York: McGraw Hill, 1916 External links Northwest Railway Museum website Northwest Railway Museum blog WASteam KCTV Spot Buildings and structures completed in 1889