Oregon Rail Heritage Center facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Oregon Rail Heritage Center

The Oregon Rail Heritage Center in 2016
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Established	2012
Location	Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Type	Railway museum
Owner	Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation
Public transit access	TriMet MAX Orange Line Portland Streetcar Loop Service TriMet bus routes FX2, 9, 17, and 19

The Oregon Rail Heritage Center (ORHC) is a cool museum in Portland, Oregon, all about trains! It's home to three amazing steam locomotives owned by the City of Portland: Southern Pacific 4449, Spokane, Portland & Seattle 700, and Oregon Railroad & Navigation Co. 197. The first two are even working and can move! The center first opened its doors on September 22, 2012. A group called the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation (ORHF) helped create this special place. The museum is located in Southeast Portland.

Why the Museum Was Built

The Brooklyn Roundhouse in August 2012, just before its demolition

The Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation (ORHF) had an important job. They needed to find a new home for the three city-owned steam locomotives. These giant trains used to live at the Union Pacific Railroad's Brooklyn Roundhouse. This roundhouse was a special building where trains were stored and worked on. It was built in 1941 in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Southeast Portland.

However, Union Pacific Railroad had plans to change the area. This meant the locomotives needed to move. So, ORHF, along with other groups like Portland Parks & Recreation, started looking for a new spot. They wanted to build a new home for these historic trains.

Finding a New Home for the Trains

At first, the idea was just to build a new enginehouse. An enginehouse is like a garage for trains. But then, the plans grew! They decided to add a visitor area. This would allow people to come and see the trains up close. Eventually, they planned for a full interpretive center. This is a place where you can learn all about the trains and their history.

After looking at different places, ORHF found a great spot. In 2009, they signed a lease for land near the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). This new area was about 3 acres big. It was the perfect size for the new train center.

Building the Center

Interior view of the new enginehouse in January 2013 with the three steam locomotives on public view

Work on the new enginehouse began in October 2011. This building is about 20,000 square feet. On June 26, 2012, the three steam locomotives made their big move. They traveled from the old Brooklyn Roundhouse to their new home. They stayed outside for a short time while the enginehouse was finished.

By July 28, the building was mostly enclosed. The locomotives were then moved inside. Several old passenger train cars also moved to the new center. These cars had been stored outside at the Brooklyn Yard. They continue to be kept outdoors at the new center.

Funding and Features

The first part of building the center cost about $5.9 million. Most of this money came from donations. The City of Portland also helped by loaning $1 million.

The old Brooklyn Roundhouse was taken down in September 2012. But a very important piece was saved: the Brooklyn Yard's 1924 turntable. A turntable is a giant spinning platform that turns trains around. This turntable was built by the American Bridge Company. It was carefully removed and stored.

Since then, people have raised money to fix up the turntable. It has been updated and restored. A new pit was dug at the ORHC for it. As of October 2023, the turntable was almost completely installed and ready to use at the ORHC.

The Oregon Rail Heritage Center officially opened to the public on September 22, 2012. As of early 2023, you can visit the center Thursday through Sunday. It's open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. There is no charge to get in, but donations are always welcome!

Train Collection

Southern Pacific 4449 leading an excursion in 2006

The main attractions at the ORHC are the three steam locomotives owned by the City of Portland. These are Southern Pacific 4449, Spokane, Portland & Seattle 700, and Oregon Railroad & Navigation Co. 197. All of them were given to the City of Portland in 1958. For many years, they were on display near Oaks Amusement Park.

• Southern Pacific 4449: This famous train moved to a different roundhouse in 1974 to be restored. It became well-known across the country. It pulled the American Freedom Train during the United States Bicentennial celebrations in 1975–76. After that, it was kept at the Brooklyn Roundhouse between its trips.
• Spokane, Portland & Seattle 700: This locomotive moved to the Brooklyn Roundhouse in 1986. It is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Oregon Railroad & Navigation Co. 197: This train followed the others to the Brooklyn Roundhouse in 1996.

Other Locomotives and Cars

The ORHC collection has grown over time.

• In 2016, Union Pacific Railroad donated a diesel switcher locomotive. This was Union Pacific No. 96. It arrived at the ORHC in 2017.
• Another diesel switcher locomotive was given to ORHF by the BNSF Railway in 2022. This train, No. 3613, was built in 1972. It was fixed up off-site and moved to the ORHC in October 2023.
• In May 2023, a 1941 Davenport Locomotive Works switcher locomotive was donated. This small, 20-ton train, SPMW No. 570, used to work at Southern Pacific's Brooklyn yard. It is currently being restored.
• The newest steam locomotive to join the collection is Mount Emily Lumber Company Shay 1. It was donated in September 2022. This locomotive moved to the ORHC in February 2024. It was moved inside the center in October 2024 to begin its restoration.

Many other trains and cars also live at the center. These include vintage passenger and freight cars. One locomotive that used to be there was Nickel Plate Road 190. This was one of only two ALCO PA locomotives left in the United States. It was sold in March 2023 and moved away in April/May 2023.

What You Can See and Do

The enginehouse has some exhibits for visitors. You can also watch as restoration work happens on the locomotives. ORHF plans to build a full interpretive center on a future second floor.

The working steam locomotives sometimes go on special trips. One popular event is the annual Holiday Express. The center was designed so these trips can continue. The trains can access the Oregon Pacific Railroad (OPR) tracks nearby. However, since Fall 2022, smaller steam locomotives handle the Holiday Express trips. This is because the SP 4449 and SP&S 700 are too heavy for the current track conditions. The Union Pacific Railroad's main line also runs past the building. The Heritage Center's tracks connect to this main line. This allows the locomotives to move on and off the main tracks.

See also

• List of museums in Oregon