Many railroads beyond the "Big Four" have left their mark on the Puget Sound. Due to the constraints of physical space, some local Tacoma lines were not modeled in detail, or had their operations incorporated into our exhibit in a more abstract manner. Below are brief histories of these important contributors.
The Belt Line began in the early 20th century as the Municipal Street Railway, providing trolley passenger service to the industrial tideflats. By 1914, it became a utility operation and doubled its trackage within four years. The creation of the Port of Tacoma in 1918 drove further expansion into the booming shipyards.
Transitioning into freight switching, the name was changed to the Tacoma Municipal Belt Line Railway—though many Tacoma old-timers still fondly refer to it as the "Muni." After the war, passenger operations moved to the Tacoma Transit Company, leaving the Belt Line to focus exclusively on its vital freight switching role under the Tacoma Rail banner.
Incorporated in 1890, the Tacoma Eastern Railroad tapped into the immense timber resources south of Tacoma, reaching Ashford and the entrance to Mount Rainier National Park. By the time it was absorbed by the Milwaukee Road in 1918, it had become a vital artery for both the logging industry and early tourism, famous for the "National Park Limited" passenger service.
Following the Milwaukee Road's bankruptcy in the 1980s, the City of Tacoma purchased the line to preserve freight service. Known for decades as Tacoma Rail’s Mountain Division, the line was defined by its grueling 3.75% grade through the Tacoma "Gulch." However, in May 2023, the City sold the majority of the Mountain Division to Rainier Rail, which now handles all freight operations from Frederickson south to Chehalis.
The remaining portion of the Mountain Division, located entirely within Tacoma city limits, was retained by the City and has since been taken out of service. While these tracks represent a legendary era of Tacoma railroading—including the complex crossings near the Puyallup River—their future is currently under study for potential conversion into a regional trail and linear park.
For more information on the current operators of the Tacoma Eastern route, visit Rainier Rail or check for updates on the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad excursions.
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