Pumpkin Patch on Rails

Two things that children love, train rides and pumpkins, are being combined in October by Lake Whatcom Railway.

The Pumpkin Patch on Rails will be presented by the volunteer-operated railway Oct. 14 and 21. Passengers will take a short ride on 100-year-old train cars to Mirror Lake, enjoying scenic fall colors while being serenaded by live banjo music. When they arrive at Mirror Lake, they will be able to ride an antique hand car and take home a large, carvable pumpkin. The Pullman cars were built between 1910 and 1912 and formerly used by the Northern Pacific Railway.

Trains will depart from Wickersham Station, just off State Route 9 and four miles south of Acme, at 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Oct. 14 and 21. Passengers must arrive 30 minutes before departure.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $12 for children ages 2-17; babies and toddlers younger than 2 are admitted free. Discounts are available for families of four or more. Tickets are available online at www.lwrr.eventbrite.com or people may print an order form at www.LakeWhatcomRailway.com for mailing. Tickets have sold our early in previous years.

Lake Whatcom Railway is dedicated to the preservation of railway history. Funds collected go toward the restoration and preservation of this American legacy. Wickersham Station is less than 30 miles east of Bellingham via SR 542 and SR 9 and just 20 miles north of Mount Vernon via SR 20 and SR 9. For more information, call 360-441-0719 or visit www.LakeWhatcomRailway.com.