EATONVILLE, Pierce County — When my family pulled into a gravel lot next to abandoned train tracks on a crisp fall weekend, we were greeted by an unexpected sight next to a graffiti-covered boxcar: a row of blue-and-yellow Frankenstein bike contraptions. They had hard plastic seats like an amusement-park ride, pedals with a single-speed chain like a bicycle, and train wheels to grip the rails. RailCycle, as this conveyance is called, is the newest attraction offered by the Mt.
Rainier Scenic Railroad, which returned from hiatus in 2023 under new ownership. Tours ($38 per seat) offer a roughly 3.5-mile out-and-back jaunt through farms and fall foliage.
If the mountain is out, there's even a peekaboo view of Mount Rainier herself. As the leaves continue to turn color, a RailCycle excursion is a family-friendly, accessible way to taste the autumnal air while preserving a slice of Puget Sound history. Although the handy mechanics at the Mt.
Rainier Scenic Railroad built the RailCycles from scratch — a trifle compared to restoring steam locomotives — this novel ride has considerable pedigree. In the 19th century, railroad workers invented rail bikes as a convenient way to ride the rails. The first patent for a rail bike was filed in 1869, but they fell out of fashion with the advent of motorized rail carts.
Riding the rails Arrive early enough to check out the vintage model on display in the boxcar that doubles as a gift shop. Fortunately, the bespoke RailCycles are consider.