Tickets on sale for speeder rides

Tickets for railroad speeder car rides in the Potlatch and Palouse area are now on sale for July 10. The Washington, Idaho and Montana Railway History Preservation Group (WIM HPG) sponsors this yearly event to raise funds for restoration work at the Potlatch Depot. Speeder car operators who make their annual tour of the railroad lines in the area volunteer their cars and time on behalf of the depot project,

The group sells a limited amount of advance tickets for the rides. New this year will be an extended ride to Palouse with lunch in the park. Some of the speeders will also stay in Palouse to offer short rides there from approximately 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Presale tickets are now on sale at US Bank branch in Potlatch. Presale reserved fares for the Princeton and Kennedy Ford excursions are $15 or $10 for children, 12 and under. Tickets for the Palouse excursion are $45, $25 for children.

Coordinator Barbara Coyner said the group can never be certain of the number of cars that will participate and the advance reserve sales are limited. They will also offer rides on a “first come” basis July 10 but they have no way to guarantee a ride to all customers. Rates for the local rides will be $10 or $5 and for the Palouse ride $40 or $20.

Interior restoration of the Potlatch Depot has been underway for several months, and an art and gift shop, Blackbird, will open in the depot building soon. Potlatch ticket sales for Trailways bus service will move to the depot from US Bank.