Can You Hear the Whistle Blowing?

In what may turn out to be one of the biggest announcements this year, the Tacoma Rail's Mountain Division revealed this week that it has signed a 10-month pilot agreement with the Spirit of Washington Dinner Train.

The train's original route--from Renton along the shores of Lake Washington and over the historic Wilburton Trestle--was slated to end due to the expansion of I-405. Now, the popular excursion train will begin its trial route in Tacoma August 3rd and will run through May 31st, 2008. The train's new route starts just south of the Freighthouse Square in downtown Tacoma where passengers will board and begin their three-and-half-hour roundtrip to Lake Kapowsin in Eatonville.

Long-term support from local business and community leaders--including substantial earmarks from Congress in recent budget cycles--have helped make the "Train to the Mountain" a reality.