“It all began with the railroad,” applies doubly to Black Diamond’s founding in 1882. Without coal, there would have been no railroad. But without a railroad the coal would have never been mined. The Columbia & Puget Sound’s narrow-gauge railroad reached Black Diamond on December 12, 1884, with tracks later connecting to Franklin. Four months later the first coal train left town destined for shipment to California from Seattle ports.
In 1897, the narrow-gauge rails were replaced by standard gauge, allowing C&PS freight to easily transfer to and from other lines. This image of Engine #9 was likely taken that year and was reputed to be the first standard gauge engine to arrive in town. The location is near the Black Diamond Museum, which was originally constructed as the town’s train station. The engine is pulling a coal tender, a special rail vehicle hauled behind a steam locomotive containing its fuel and water. Trailing is a special rail car used for setting ties and laying rail. This photo was donated by Verna Thompson and featured in “Mining the Memories” the oral history of Black Diamond by Cory and Diane Olson. The image comes courtesy of JoAnne Matsumura, an Issaquah historian.
