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Mt. Rainier Launches ‘Bridge the Gap’ Campaign Following Fire

Washington’s Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad has raised over $200,000 in the two months since a bridge on its line was destroyed by fire. Courtesy Photo. 

Mt. Rainier Launches ‘Bridge the Gap’ Campaign Following Fire

Washington’s Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad has raised over $200,000 in the two months since a bridge on its line was destroyed by fire. The railroad is raising money to “bridge the gap” and help cover the costs of cleanup and the eventual rebuilding of the 400-foot-long trestle. 

The bridge was located between Mineral and Morton, Wash., and caught fire on the evening of April 30. Although it was not part of the section of the railroad that currently offers excursions, officials said they hope to use the trestle in the future for both freight and passenger service. The cause of the fire is under investigation by local law enforcement, and railroad officials have alleged that it was intentionally set. 

As of July 9, the railroad’s “Bridge Fund” had $207,709. More than $2,400 has been spent on tree clearing and track work around the trestle site. About $7,100 has gone toward legal expenses. Road access was established to the site, which will assist in demolishing the remains of the bridge. A local demolition company has volunteered to help with that effort, saving the railroad thousands of dollars. However, disposing of the creosote-soaked timber is expected to be costly. RailStar Engineering, LLC has donated engineering services to assist with the future rebuild. It is unclear how much the bridge reconstruction will cost. 

“It’s slow, hard, expensive work—but it’s happening,” railroad officials stated on social media. 

—Justin Franz 

This article was posted on: July 15, 2025