2007:   Port of Seattle Commissioners vote unanimously to purchase the railroad intact from Burlington Northern and allow its future use to be decided by a "public process." (December 11)

2007:   PSRC report recommending scrapping of the railroad shown to be fundamentally flawed. (November 13)

2007:   Proposition 1 soundly defeated by voters, forcing politicians to look for more effective and less costly solutions. (November 6)

2007:   New plan announced for Port of Seattle to purchase the railroad. (November 1)

2007:   Dinner train forced to end its popular and profitable run from Renton to Woodinville. (July 31)

2007:   Port of Seattle firmly rejects airport-railroad swap plan pushed by King County Executive Ron Sims. (July 25)

2007:   Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) completes costly ($800,000) report that recommends the railroad be scrapped and replaced by a bicycle trail. (May)

2007:   Eastside Rail Now! launched by Bellevue residents to save the railroad and upgrade it for commuter rail use. (January 2)

2006:   WSDOT mysteriously deviates from its long-standing policy of not cutting rail lines and other utilities for road work and announces plan to permanently sever the tracks at Wilburton Tunnel in Bellevue in conjunction with its widening of the I-405 freeway.

2006:   King County Executive Ron Sims announces plan to replace the tracks with a bicycle trail.

2003:   Burlington Northern announces desire to sell the railroad, inclusive of its full right of way.

1992:   Spirit of Washington dinner train begins operation from Renton to Woodinville.

1947:   Last passenger train runs.¹

1904:   Construction of Wilburton trestle completed.²

1891:   Construction of Eastside railroad completed.³

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¹This year is based on statements by some residents, but it is not certain.

²This trestle was preceded by another structure on pilings a few blocks to the west. It was subsequently rebuilt several times.

³This year is an approximation based on available historical records.