Mt. Rainier Railroad wants federal regulators to approve its acquisition and operation of 33.59 miles of track between Eatonville and Morton, Washington, and to replace Tacoma Rail as the line’s common carrier operator.
In a filing with the Surface Transportation Board, the company said it reached an agreement with the city of Tacoma’s Department of Public Works, doing business as Tacoma Rail Mountain Division, to purchase the route from milepost 32.0M at Eatonville to milepost 65.59M at Morton. Upon closing, Mt. Rainier Railroad would assume exclusive common carrier service over the corridor, formally ending Tacoma Rail’s common carrier status on the line.
TRMW and Tacoma Rail, described as sister divisions of the city, concur in the change.
Mt. Rainier Railroad is a subsidiary holding of the Western Forest Industries Museum and is not affiliated with any railroad common carriers. The filing notes the museum controls the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad, a non-common-carrier tourist operation. The company certified that its projected annual revenues will remain under $5 million, it will not become a Class I or Class II carrier, and it will not be contractually restricted from interchanging with connecting railroads.
The line is currently inactive, and no shipper has used it for more than a year. There are no shippers to notify of the operator change.
Absent objections, the exemption would take effect Jan. 4, 2026, at which point Mt. Rainier Railroad says it will consummate the transaction and offer common carrier service.
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