Abandoned Train Exploration – Mineral, Washington (2023)

Having become aware of an abandoned train in Mineral, Washington, my brother and I decided to make the trek out to see if we could find it.

This proved to be more difficult than expected. Once we reached the general area, we couldn’t find any clear access points to the train—just dense forest in every direction.

We parked our rig on a side road a little ways up from where the location should have been and began bushwhacking through thick, overgrown terrain with all of our gear. It was exhausting. After coming up empty, we made our way back to the main road.

With a little luck, we spotted what looked like a possible access point and decided to try again.

This time, we were fortunate.

Tucked deep within the forests of Mineral, Washington, we finally came across our destination.

At first, it was just steel—dark shapes between the trees. Rusted edges. A break in the natural flow of the forest. But the closer we got, the more it felt like we had stepped into something that had been left behind… intentionally or not.

The railcars sat motionless, slowly being reclaimed by the wilderness. Moss crept along the metal. Branches pressed against their sides. The tracks themselves were nearly swallowed by the forest floor, as if the land was trying to erase what once ran through it.

Unlike empty buildings, this train felt like it was mid-journey when it stopped.

The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad markings still clung to the tanker cars—a fading reminder that these machines once had a purpose, once moved, once mattered. It makes you wonder:

Where was it going?
Why was it abandoned?
Who was the last person here?

Author

Now it’s just… sitting. Rusting. Forgotten.

It’s like the story got cut off halfway through—and my brother and I were the ones trying to finish it.

There’s something almost primal about stumbling onto a rusting train deep in the woods. It hits on something deeper than just exploration. Urbex explorers are naturally drawn to places like this.

A train is the ultimate symbol of human progress—power, movement, purpose.

And here it sits, being overtaken by nature.

It feels like you’re witnessing time slowly undo human ambition. That contrast is what makes places like this so compelling.

Some places aren’t abandoned… they’re just waiting to be found.

Author

Please take a look at some of the stills from our journey—and if you want to see the full experience, you can watch the full video on my brother’s YouTube channel, SAAGES ABANDONED.

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Still Images:

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I would love to hear your comments! Tell me what you think!