Mount Hood Railroad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Hood Railroad |
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The Mount Hood Railroad in spring, with Mount Hood in the background.
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| Terminus | Hood River, Oregon - Parkdale |
| Commercial operations | |
| Original gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Preserved operations | |
| Preserved gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | 1906 / 1909 |
| Closed | 1987 |
| Preservation history | |
| 1987 | Bought by private investors |
| 2008 | Sold to Permian Basin Railways |
| Website | |
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Mt. Hood Railroad Linear Historic District
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Railroad depot in Hood River
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| Location | Mt. Hood RR right-of-way from Hood River to Parkdale, Hood River, Oregon |
| Area | 165 acres (67 ha) |
| Built | 1906 |
| Architect | Joseph A. West (design/construction) |
| NRHP reference No. | 93001507 |
| Added to NRHP | January 24, 1994 |
The Mount Hood Railroad is a special train line in Hood River, Oregon, about 60 miles (97 km) east of Portland, Oregon, in the United States. It is known as a 'heritage railway' because it offers fun trips for visitors. It also works as a 'shortline freight railroad' by carrying goods for local businesses.
Most of the money for the railroad comes from people taking exciting train rides. However, a few small businesses still use the train to ship their goods. This means the railroad carries several carloads of items each week.
Contents
The Mount Hood Railroad Track
The Mount Hood Railroad starts in Hood River, Oregon. Here, its tracks connect with the Union Pacific Railroad. For the first 3 miles (4.8 km), the line runs next to the Hood River.
Then, the train reaches a special part of the track called a switchback. A switchback is a zig-zag track that helps trains climb steep hills. The train goes forward, then stops, changes direction, and goes backward on a different track. This helps it gain height.
Switchbacks used to be very common, but now only five are still used by railroads in the United States. After the train reverses direction at the switchback, the line continues south. It passes through small towns like Pine Grove, Odell, and Dee. The train journey ends at Parkdale. The entire track is about 22 miles (35 km) long.
Train Engines of the Mount Hood Railroad
The Mount Hood Railroad uses a few different train engines, also called locomotives. These powerful machines pull the passenger cars and freight wagons.
Currently, the railroad has two main engines:
- MHRR 02 - This is an EMD GP38-2 engine. It used to be named CR/PC 7796 and PCN 16.
- MHRR 88 - This is an EMD GP9 engine. It used to be named SP 3885.
History of the Railroad
The first part of this train line was built in 1906. It went from Hood River as far as the town of Dee. A few years later, in 1909, the line was made longer. It was extended to its current end point in Parkdale.
In 1968, the Union Pacific Railroad bought the line. At that time, the main customers were fruit farmers and a lumber company in Dee. Over time, more businesses started using trucks to move their goods instead of trains. Because of this, fewer goods were shipped by train, and the Union Pacific thought about closing the line.
However, in 1987, a group of local investors bought the railroad. They started offering fun passenger trips to help the business. In 2008, Brian Fleming, who owned the line, sold it again. It was bought by Permian Basin Railways, which is part of a company called Iowa Pacific Holdings.
Today, the Mount Hood Railroad offers exciting four-hour tours. These trips take you through the beautiful Hood River Valley. You can enjoy amazing views of Mount Hood and Mount Adams. You will also see many orchards and farms in the valley. The railroad also hosts special events throughout the year.
Images for kids
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EMD GP38-2 No. 2 at Hood River station in 2003
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