The Western Forest Industries Museum, operator of the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad, has purchased a 3.6-acre plot and a more than 10,000-square-foot building that will serve as its new restoration facility and office space.

The St. Regis Paper Company built the facility in 1955, and it was later owned by the Muarry Pacific Corporation, founded by Tom Murray, who also founded the Mt. Rainier Scenic. The facility was used by other logging companies over the years, but is now owned by the nonprofit museum. The acquisition of the property, and particularly the building, will allow the railroad to move its heavy restoration and maintenance work into the new space, and turn the existing space into a public museum site. Currently, restoration capacity is limited, with work constrained to a single locomotive and critical materials stored in shipping containers. The new facility will provide space for multiple restoration projects, organized parts storage, a vehicle repair bay, machine and carpentry shops, and dedicated office and meeting space.

“This is a meaningful moment for us,” said Bethan Maher, Executive Director. “We are gradually bringing back together pieces of the landscape that defined Tom Murray’s logging operations, now with the purpose of preservation, education, and public access.”

—Justin Franz