Eagle Cap Excursion Train facts for kids

The Eagle Cap Excursion Train is a special train ride in Wallowa, Oregon, United States. It's like a moving museum that takes you on a fun trip through beautiful scenery. The train travels on a 63-mile (101 km) track from Elgin to Joseph. A public group called the Wallowa Union Railroad owns the tracks. They bought the line in 2002, and the first fun train ride happened in 2003.

A Look Back: How the Train Started

Early Railroad Days

The Union Pacific Railroad (often called UP) first came to Union County in July 1884. Their main train line, which connected Salt Lake City, Utah to Portland, Oregon, passed through La Grande.

Soon after, another company called the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company (OR&N) started building a smaller train line. This line went north to Elgin and opened in December 1890. Later, the UP took over this line. Over the next 20 years, the UP extended the tracks further north and east. By 1908, the line reached Wallowa, and eventually it went all the way to Enterprise and Joseph. People often called this route the "Joseph Branch."

Saving the Tracks

In the late 1980s or early 1990s, the Union Pacific Railroad decided they no longer wanted the Joseph Branch line. In 1993, they sold it to a company called Rio Grande Pacific Corporation. This company created the Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad to run trains on the Joseph Branch.

However, in 1997, the Joseph Branch line from Elgin to Joseph was set to close down. This happened after a large mill in Joseph shut its doors.

The local governments in Union and Wallowa counties understood how important this train line was for their area. They worked together to buy the 63 miles (101 km) of tracks that were going to be abandoned. After buying the line in 2002, the counties looked for someone to operate it. They hoped to find a company that would run either a small freight train service or a special train for tourists.

The Eagle Cap Excursion Train Begins

The idea of a tourist train was a success! The Eagle Cap Excursion Train started its first rides on August 3, 2002, just six years after the line was almost abandoned. The 2003 season began on May 17, 2003. At first, the Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad helped run the trains until the county could buy its own locomotives. The first full season of train rides began in May 2004.

Riding the Rails Today

What to Expect on the Train

The excursion trains today are pulled by diesel locomotives. These powerful engines are stored in Elgin when they are not in use. For a few years, until 2008, the train used special self-propelled cars called Budd Rail Diesel Cars (RDCs). These cars could move on their own without a separate engine. However, they were later sold.

As of 2010, the Eagle Cap Excursion Train usually runs on 11 days during the summer. The train travels between Elgin and a place called Kimmel. A round trip takes about 3 and a half hours.

Special Train Rides

In December, the train sometimes offers a special "Santa Train" ride. This is a fun way to celebrate the holidays. However, this special ride has been canceled in some years if there isn't enough support. The regular summer train rides usually start in late June.

Images for kids

• 

  An RDC train car on the Eagle Cap train service, in Minam, in 2008.