Yacolt Steam Train

In October we went on a trip to Yacolt to take Evan on a Steam Train Ride. All of the excursions include a trip through a 330 foot long tunnel, a trestle crossing the Lewis River and a half hour layover at Moulton Falls. The steam engine that is pulling the old fashioned coach, caboose and open flatcar is an actual historic 1929 ALCO 2-8-2T steam locomotive. It was really impressive, not just for Evan!


We got there with lots of time to spare, this time at least. On our first attempt of catching the train we got a late start and lost our way in addition to that, so we didn't make it in time.

Since Evan seemed set on sitting in the open flatcar, rain or not, I am very happy to say it was a sunny day. The sky was a beautiful blue, and it was so warm that our winter coats were laying next to us (Evan however insisted on wearing his mittens partway through the train ride).
Sitting in the flatbed car turned out to be the best choice of all the cars. The old fashioned coach didn't seem overly exciting, and the windows in it were so tiny that it would be hard to see anything through them. The caboose is also pretty cool, but the flatbed car was a better choice for this beautiful autumn day.

Although Evan was a little wary of it at first, the tunnel turned out to be fun for him! He was also very impressed by the steam engine itself of course, the steam that came out of it and the cool whistling sound it made. It must have been the coolest of all steam engine sounds even I recall hearing. Evan decided that he liked the whole trip so much that he told us very clearly at the end: “Want do it 'gain!”.

Other good aspects of this particular train ride are that it is only a 45 min drive from where we live, and the tickets aren't overly expensive. They even offer special event train rides, such as a train robbery during the summer, as well as Halloween and Christmas train rides, complete with a chance to pick a Christmas Tree during a stop.

We decided that going on a Steam Train Ride in Yacolt will become an annual tradition of ours! Here are the pictures!




Our impromptu family picture! I am so happy to have it! We just don't have enough family pictures, something I want to change in the future.


And here is a picture of me with my big 9 months pregnant belly. I know it´s crazy, but I kind of miss having my big round baby belly already again. I felt the same way after Evan was born. The first time I left Evan with his dad to go to my postpartum exercise class I felt oddly lonely. It´s unbelievable how fast the discomforts that come with pregnancy are pushed to the back of our minds after baby is born! Or maybe it´s just me? Anyways, have fun!