Videos from Tacoma convention!
View videos of the three train rides from the Tacoma Convention. Visit and experience just a few of the activities available to attendees at the 47th Annual LCCA Convention in Tacoma, WA.
The first day was a full one with the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad followed by a drive through the warm, yet cool (depending if you were in the shade or not) of Mt. Rainier National Park. The train ride was wonderful and the views from the coach window of the mountains were spectacular. At the Museum, we had time to view actual logging buildings and look back at the lives of loggers and society of that period. Following a delicious barbecue lunch in the picnic area of the railroad's park and an up close and personal look at four geared locomotives all in one place - the Shay, Heisler, Willamette and the Climax - we were off by bus to see just a part of the famous Mt.Rainier National Par,, and get a close up look at the peak from Paradise Point. Our first video shows in more detail what we saw.
Thursday was the second of our train excursions for the week. This one, the Rails and Waterfalls featured in the Northwest Railroad Museum train and the Snoqualmie Falls. The Northwest Railroad Museum stresses education and what train travel was like before the super highways. The beautiful Victorian depot holds a lot of train books for both adults and children. We boarded the train at the Snoqualmie depot and headed out to the falls, traveling along the old line that wound through the woods until we reached the falls. The perspective from the train was one of looking down at the falls. We later boarded the bus and rode around to the viewing platform where we could see the fall and the mist if made in the river below. These falls are higher than Niagara, but did not have the amount of water flowing over that Niagara has. Traveling back to the hotel we stopped at the Almond Roca factory store for some made-in-Tacoma Almond Roca Candy. Bus load after bus load converged on the store, ate its samples, and bought Almond Roca at discounted prices. What a great way to top off a day of train travel and waterfalls.
The last of our train trip days, we wrapped up with the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad. This old logging line out of Chehalis WA traveled to old Milwaukee Road, later purchased by Weyehaeuser Timer Co. and now owned by the Port of Cjehalis. We were joined by the Make-A-Wish child, six year-old Tommy and his family. His opportunity to ride in the engine's cab that morning produced a BIG smile from Tommy and smiles from everyone who saw him. Another highlight was the photo run-by, for those wanting to get off the train and take pictures or videos as the train came around the bend, putting on a show for us.
The video for this third trip is being prepared and will be added when ready. Check back often.