A 28-span wooden trestle on Washington’s Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad caught fire on the evening of April 30, a significant setback for the tourist operation that reopened in 2023. 

The bridge is located between Mineral and Morton, Wash. While it was not on the portion of the railroad that currently hosts excursions, officials said they hoped to use the trestle in the future for both freight and passenger service. 

“This wasn’t just a bridge. It was the backbone of our future: the critical connection that would allow both freight and passenger service to return to Morton. After years of work, planning, and progress, we were finally on the brink of a new era—ready to restore service, revitalize the communities we serve, and build long-term financial sustainability for the railroad,” Executive Director Bethan Maher wrote the morning after the fire. “And then… it burned.”

On social media, railroad officials alleged that someone had set the bridge on fire, either on purpose or by accident. A call by Railfan & Railroad to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, the agency that would presumably investigate the incident, was not returned by press time. 

Railroad officials are currently raising money to initiate the process of rebuilding the bridge. —Justin Franz 

Editor’s Note: This story was updated to note that Railfan & Railroad contacted the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, not the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.