Model railroad museum pitched for downtown Snoqualmie; developers say it could draw tens of thousands annually

Peter Hambling, who identified himself with the Northwest Bridal Train Museum and Pacific West Train Museum, told the Snoqualmie Planning Commission on March 3 that he and a team are proposing to move a privately built, 3,700‑square‑foot model railroad layout out of a home basement and into a new, ADA‑accessible museum in downtown Snoqualmie.

The project team described a building program that would convert the layout into an approximately 8,000‑square‑foot exhibit area with a 15,000‑square‑foot gallery, a mezzanine for viewing, event space and a plaza facing Railroad Avenue adjacent to Sandy Cove Park. “We’re a nonprofit 501(c)(3),” Hambling said; he said the project will require private fundraising and that he will lead the fundraising effort.

The project team — which includes architect Edward Lalonde of Olson Kundig, operations chief Rob Nelson and scenery artist Todd Gamble — said they are at concept design and consulting a contractor (JTM) on preliminary cost and schedule. Nelson, identified as project operations chief, told commissioners the team estimates at least 30,000 visitors in the first year, with modeled growth to 70,000 a year after one to two years and potential longer‑term growth to 100,000. The team said break‑even attendance is roughly 45,000–50,000 visits annually.

Why it matters: presenters said the museum would add to Snoqualmie’s existing rail‑related attractions and provide program space for school visits and makerspace classes. Mona Davis, senior planner with the Community Development Department, told the commission the project is at a conceptual stage and that the city’s permitting path would include pre‑application and design review steps. Nicole Wiebe, the city’s community liaison, provided information about downtown parking and said the city maintains roughly 300–350 public spaces downtown, noting the team’s plan includes about 50 on‑site spaces.

Supporters highlighted educational programming and hands‑on maker space around the museum; team members acknowledged the core layout would be a mostly “hands‑off” exhibit but described adjacent interactive features for children, a maker area for repair and classes, and an outdoor railcar or caboose exhibit on the plaza. Gamble, the scenery artist, described plans for classes and maker programming.

The team discussed design choices: a largely transparent Railroad Avenue façade, a repeatable steel truss structural system, natural and low‑maintenance materials (concrete floors, blackened steel, treated wood siding and corrugated metal roofing) and a possible iconic water‑tower element at the corner. Edward Lalonde, presenting on architectural intent, said transparency was intended as a civic invitation and to connect visitors visually with nearby railroad exhibits and the riverwalk.

Commissioners asked about interactivity for children, construction schedule, parking and compatibility with the existing Northwest Railway Museum across Railroad Avenue. Vice Chair Kocher asked whether children would have any hands‑on features; Lalonde and Hambling described a combination of a limited hands‑on children’s exhibit, a maker space and outdoor interactive elements so the layout itself would remain protected. Commissioner Mirzak asked about construction duration; the team estimated 18–24 months from groundbreaking. Commissioner Lambert confirmed the proposed building footprint would occupy the site that currently contains a bowling alley and other commercial uses.

The presenters said the team is coordinating with local stakeholders and described interest in cooperating rather than competing with the adjacent Northwest Railway Museum. They also emphasized fundraising is ongoing and that no construction contract or city approvals are in place. Mona Davis said the project would return to city permitting and design review processes after the project secures funding and advances design.

The commission did not take formal action on the proposal at the March 3 meeting. Several commissioners expressed general enthusiasm and requested additional materials and opportunities to visit the existing home layout by appointment.

Ending: The presentation concluded with the commission and staff agreeing the project will return for pre‑application and design review steps as the design and fundraising progress. The presenters asked commissioners to contact staff to arrange visits to the existing layout.