Museum moves a Porter tank engine for cosmetic restoration NEWSWIRE

SNOQUALMIE, Wash. — Today, the H.K. Porter steam locomotive located at Bloedel-Donovan Park in Bellingham, Wash., will be re-purposed, restored, and eventually placed on public display at the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie. The City of Bellingham solicited and received three letters of interest from railroad organizations in Washington and Oregon.

For the last 57 years, the No. 9 Porter locomotive has been a fixture near the shoreline of Lake Whatcom. However, it has fallen into disrepair with some of its components vandalized or stolen. The Permanente Cement Company purchased the engine from the U.S. Navy and eventually donated it to the City of Bellingham in 1960.

The Northwest Railway Museum will place the locomotive on exhibit as another key piece in fulfilling its mission of interpreting and preserving Pacific Northwest railway history. The relocation of the locomotive occurs today, Sept. 21st through a museum-funded effort.

“We are thrilled that this piece of Bellingham history has found a permanent home where it will be well cared for,” says Bellingham Mayor Kelli Linville. The Northwest Railway Museum is looking forward to having this piece of railway history added to its collection and to placing it on exhibit.

— A Northwest Railway Museum news release. Sept. 21, 2017.