The SLS&E line was completed to North Bend in the summer of 1889. There is existing paperwork, an old hotel register, which notes that first official train arriving in the town Snoqualmie. From last end of track, just east of Preston. (If I recall correctly, this document is in the Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum archives, in North Bend.) The portion on east of North Bend, through Tanner, to a station named Sallal, was finished very early winter of 1890. That was it's far eastern end, west of the Cascades. This is the site of a present day truck stop at Exit 34. There are old rails which were actually buried underneath I-90, during it's last construction, just east of Tanner.

During the late 1880's years, up to 1890, there was a lot going on in the upper Snoqualmie Valley. More than logging and farming. You'll find that there was speculation on minerals as well. (The names involved were a who's who of Seattle area notables- Burke, Gilman, Denny, and more.) This was not just about precious metals. But iron ore. Coal. This helped drive on construction of the RR. You'll find out about people such as Peter Kirk. Namesake of Kirkland, Washington. That town was to become "The Pittsburgh of the West." In anticipation of that, coke ovens and a RR spur were even built on the hill above the water fall. Now part of that is under the Snoqualmie Parkway, and within Snoqualmie Ridge.

Snoqualmie Lumber Company was indeed the Snoqualmie Falls Lumber Company. There was an incorporated town, with school, etc, etc, named Snoqualmie Falls, on the hillside just north of the mill site. That town lasted into the late 1950's. I remember visiting family friends there. The Milw line passed right through the mill. By it's office, through the upper parking lot.

The last BN train I chased on the branch, slide is dated January, 1989. I do not recall how many months more they ran thereafter.

A very good resource for reading- Go to your library. Order the book: "A Report On Washington Territory." This was published by the SLS&E in 1890. You'll find a good deal of the who, how, etc. Right from RR itself. Which is obviously going to be fairly accurate.

George wrote: "Only the portion of the branchline from Tanner to the MILW mainline @ Cedar Falls was operated by BN, as was trackage rights to Maple Valley."

The agreement actually had two phases. The above noted is part one. Which allowed BN to regain their own tracks. Through North Bend, to Snoqualmie. They installed a connector track at Tanner, between the Milw and their own line. (Prior to this installation, there was no connection.) That connector remained as a short stub, after the rest was removed. Part two allowed BN to drop the former NP line completely, and run all the way to Snoqualmie Falls via Milw. This started in 1973.

Oldtimer Al