Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad facts for kids
 |
|
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Garibaldi, Oregon |
| Reporting mark | OCSR |
| Locale | Tillamook County, Oregon, US |
| Dates of operation | 2003–present |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Length | 46 mi (74 km) |
The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad (OCSR) is a special kind of train line. It's a non-profit group that runs old, historic trains in Oregon, US. Most of its trips are between the towns of Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach. They also have special trips to places like Wheeler and into the beautiful Salmonberry River canyon.
The trains travel on tracks that go right along the edge of Tillamook Bay and the amazing Oregon Coast. They also pass through thick forests along the Nehalem River. The OCSR uses its collection of old trains on about 46 miles (74 km) of tracks. These tracks used to belong to the Southern Pacific Transportation Company. The OCSR leases these tracks from the Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad.
Contents
Train Stops Along the Way
The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad connects several towns and interesting spots.
- Salmonberry River: This is a scenic area where the train travels through a canyon.
- Wheeler: A charming town along the route.
- Rockaway Beach: A popular beach town.
- Garibaldi: This is where the railroad's main office is located. It's also the only station with a special lift to help passengers in wheelchairs get on and off the train.
- Tillamook Air Museum: A museum where you can see old airplanes.
How the Railroad Operates
Train Schedule
The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad runs trains at different times of the year.
- Early Spring to Mid-Spring: Trains usually run on 2, 3, or 4-day weekends.
- Mid-Spring to Mid-Fall: Trains run every day, which is great for summer visitors!
- Mid-Fall to Christmas: Trains go back to running on 2, 3, or 4-day weekends.
- January and February: No trains run during these months.
It's always a good idea to check the railroad's website for the most exact schedule.
Fun Train Trips
The railroad offers many exciting trips that change with the seasons.
- Oregon Coastal Excursion: This is a 90-minute round trip between Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach. You ride for 30 minutes, have a 30-minute break to explore, and then ride back for 30 minutes. You can even stay longer and catch a later train back!
- Moonlight Excursion: This is a special evening train ride from Garibaldi to Wheeler and back. It's pulled by a steam train. You can often buy snacks on this trip.
- Fall Splendor Excursion and Spring Splendor Excursion: These trips are about 2 hours and 15 minutes long. They go between Rockaway Beach and Wheeler, showing off the beautiful scenery.
- Halloween Coast Train: A fun 60-minute round trip between Rockaway Beach and Garibaldi, perfect for Halloween!
- Candy Cane Express: This is a 60-minute round trip between Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach, especially for the holiday season.
The "Dinner Train" service stopped after 2023. There are no plans to bring it back soon.
Other Seasonal Trains: The railroad also offers other special trips throughout the year, like:
- Spring Break Excursion
- St. Patrick's Pub Train
- Easter Eggstravaganza Train
- Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular
Special Services
- Cab Rides: For an extra fee, you can ride in the front part (the "cab") of a steam or diesel train! It's a unique experience, but you should book ahead of time.
- One-Way Tickets: If you only want to travel in one direction, you can arrange this by calling the railroad.
- Charters: You can even rent out a whole train or specific cars for private events!
The Trains They Use
The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad has a collection of different trains, including old steam locomotives and diesel locomotives.
They currently use two steam locomotives regularly. One of them is the former McCloud Railway number 25. This train was built in 1925 and was even used in the movie Stand by Me! It was originally built for logging in the early 1900s.
Their diesel locomotives include the Great Northern Railway number 274, a former Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad number 6139, and another former Port of Tillamook Bay train, number 101.
Many of the railroad's trains are worked on at shops in Garibaldi, Oregon, Tillamook, Oregon, and Centralia, Washington. Big repair and restoration projects happen in Tillamook and Centralia.
Train Projects
The railroad is always working on bringing more old trains back to life! For example, they finished restoring the Deep River No. 7 "Skookum" steam locomotive in 2019. This is a very special type of train called a Mallet locomotive. Another project is restoring the former Sunset Timber No. 1, a large Heisler locomotive.
Past Events
2007 Landslide
In December 2007, a huge storm hit the Oregon Coast. Strong winds and heavy rain caused a lot of damage to the railroad tracks in the Salmonberry River Valley. More than 7 inches (18 cm) of rain fell in less than 24 hours! This caused floods and landslides that washed away parts of the tracks and even a large bridge.
Because of this, the main part of the train line became separated from the rest of the North American rail system. This meant that freight trains could no longer use that part of the line. Luckily, the scenic parts of the line where the tourist trains run were mostly okay. It would cost a lot of money to fix the damaged section, so it's not likely to be reopened soon.
Salmonberry River Area
Around 2014, the OCSR had some discussions with the State of Oregon about fixing tracks in the Salmonberry River area that were damaged in the 2007 storms. The main point was that the railroad had placed rocks near the river without getting special permits. This was a concern because it could affect fish like salmon. The railroad believed that federal laws meant they didn't need state permits. In March 2015, a decision was made that agreed with the railroad, saying they didn't need those specific state permits.
See also
- List of heritage railroads in the United States
Images for kids
-
Curtiss Lumber Company No. 2, a Heisler locomotive.
-
Craig Mountain No. 3, another Heisler locomotive.
-
The "Skookum" locomotive.
-
McCloud Railway No. 25, a steam locomotive.
-
Polson Logging No. 90.
-
Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad GP9 No. 101, a diesel locomotive.
-
Great Northern Railway No. 274, a diesel locomotive.
-
Port of Tillamook Bay No. 6139, a diesel locomotive.
_%2B_tender_(Rockaway_Beach,_Oregon,_USA)_4.jpg)
