Dedication of the Black Diamond History Express

On July 9th, the City of Black Diamond will celebrate Miner’s Day. The 7th annual celebration pays respect to the town’s rich mining heritage with a day of family friendly activities and community events.

This year, Miner’s Day will also celebrate the culmination of a tremendous 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 working on a project to acquire a locomotive similar to those used to transport coal from the hills of Black Diamond. Roberts and Watson worked closely 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,” said Watson. “This town would not be here were it not for coal, and the coal could not be moved without the locomotives. Without the train there wouldn’t have been a town.”

The train was purchased from the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie Valley (for the very reasonable price of $10). Transporting the train to Black Diamond and restoring it to its former glory required enormous support from the Black Diamond community, including 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 on July 9th, the yellow, red and black “Black Diamond History Express” will officially be dedicated as a new feature at the Black Diamond Historical Society. The 25 ton locomotive has been fully restored by community volunteers and will be unveiled on Miner’s Day.