Railway Depot Signs Go Up in North Bend

Users of the Snoqualmie Valley Trail and visitors to the present North Bend Depot may notice new signs commemorating the sites of North Bend’s two historic railway stations. The markers, with legs made of rail donated by the Northwest Railway Museum and panels with text and historic photos, tell the stories of the two lines which brought visitors, residents, and business to the growing town of North Bend. The sign on the King County’s Snoqualmie Valley Trail near the intersection of Fourth and Ballarat stands near the location of the North Bend depot on the Milwaukee Road’s Everett Branch. This little structure stood from 1912 to 1975, offering at various times passenger and freight service as well as housing for the Section Foreman and his family. The sign at William Taylor Railroad Park gives the history of the first North Bend Depot (1890-1948) built by the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway and later operated by the Northern Pacific.

These pieces of public history were suggested and planned by railway historian and museum volunteer Bill Walker. City funding for the project was championed by North Bend Councilmember Virginia Sweetland. Project Director for design and construction was Greg Watson, and installation was expertly handled by the City of North Bend Public Works Department.