By SHANA MCNALLY
The Associated Press

SEATTLE -- All aboard! Dinner is served. The dinner train is a rare treat in the United States. The Spirit of Washington dinner train is one of only 24 left; it's the only one in the Pacific Northwest operating year-round.

With 95,000 passengers a year, the train is an excellent way to get a different view of some Northwest scenic high points. The trip lasts about 31Ž2 hours and covers 48 miles round trip.

Departing from Renton, guests are served a three-course dinner with an appetizer, choice of four entrees and dessert. There is also a special children's menu.

''It's quaint, cozy and has good food,'' said Lisa Gunderson, 33, of Seattle. ''What else can you ask for?''

As guests eat, the train travels along the east side of Lake Washington, passing the Boeing plant in Renton, Bellevue, Mercer Island, Kirkland and Sammamish River Valley.

One particular item of interest is the Wilburton trestle, the longest wooden trestle in the Northwest and -- at 102 feet in height -- the highest timber structure in the Northwest.

The train makes a 45-minute stop at the Columbia Winery in Woodinville.

On the return trip, dessert is served and the train chugs a little faster, though not exceeding its maximum speed of 25 miles per hour.

''It's a nice ride and it's something different to do that I've never done before,'' said Bill Cattani of Illinois.

According to president Eric Temple, the Spirit of Washington is the biggest dinner train in the country with a staff of 70 and an average turnout of 227 on the 367-capacity train. Thirty to 40 percent of the passengers are from out of state.

Though fall is considered the most scenic time for a train trip, Christmas and summer are the busiest times and reservations are recommended two weeks in advance.

The Spirit of Washington Dinner Train began in 1988 when the Washington Central Railroad Company leased a set of seven antique diner cars from the Canadian Historical Society.

They leased tracks from Burlington Northern Railroad and set up shop in Eastern Washington. The train relocated to Renton in 1992.

''I think it appeals to different people for different reasons,'' Mr. Temple said. ''For older people, it brings back a lot of nostalgic feelings, it's a matter of reliving memories. For younger people, it's a new experience and a chance for them to relive the past in a way they wouldn't normally and they can do it in style.''

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