Miner's Day Saturday in Black Diamond

Black Diamond will celebrate Miner’s Day Saturday.

The 7th annual celebration pays respect to the town’s richmining heritage with a day of family friendly activities and community events.

This year, it will also celebrate the culmination of a community effort to renovate a historic coal mining train. In 2007 Black Diamond historian Conrad “Coke” Roberts and Black Diamond Historical Society President Keith Watson began a project to acquire a locomotive similar to those used to transport coal from the hills of Black Diamond.

Roberts and Watson worked with former Black Diamond Mayor Gomer Evans, who agreed it would be a great addition to the caboose display.

“We wanted the train to be used here as a memorial,” Watson said. “This town would not be here were it not for coal.”

The train was purchased from the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie Valley for $10. Transporting the train to Black Diamond and restoring it required hundreds of volunteer hours and donations of materials.

The students of Black Diamond Elementary School were enlisted to help choose the name and color for the locomotive and the yellow, red and black “Black Diamond History Express” will officially be dedicated as a new feature at the Black Diamond Historical Society.

The event will take place from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the historical society, 32627 Railroad Ave. in Black Diamond.