A bridge on the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad caught fire on June 28. It was the second time in just over a year that one of the railroad’s bridges had caught fire. 

The most recent incident occurred at the Boxcar Canyon Trestle. Firefighters were able to douse the flames before any major damage was done, and railroad officials have said it will not impact its operations. The cause of the fire is under investigation. 

In April 2025, another bridge on the railroad was destroyed in an apparent arson. Law enforcement continues to investigate that fire, but no arrests have been made. The railroad has encouraged people with information about either fire to reach out to them or law enforcement. That bridge was not on track used by MRSR’s current excursion operation. 

MRSR operates on a section of the former Milwaukee Road in western Washington. It was established in 1980. After shutting down in 2020, the railroad was transferred to a non-profit organization that has been running it since 2023. 

—Justin Franz