The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad (OCSR) is a steam-powered heritage railroad, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization,[1] operating in Oregon, primarily between Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach, with additional special trips to Wheeler, Nehalem River and into the Salmonberry River canyon. The railroad travels on tracks that pass along the edge of Tillamook Bay and the Oregon Coast, and through thick forest along the Nehalem River.[2] The OCSR runs its collection of vintage rail equipment over 46 miles (74 km) of former Southern Pacific Transportation Company track under a lease from the Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad (POTB), an entity distinct from the OCSR.[3][4]
| File:Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad Logo.jpeg | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Garibaldi, Oregon |
| Locale | Tillamook County, Oregon, US |
| Dates of operation | 2003–present |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | Standard 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Length | 46 miles (74 km) |
Railroad operations
The railroad currently operates two steam locomotives in regular service. One of these is the Polson Logging No. 2, a 2-8-2 type made by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, and the other is the former McCloud Railway No. 25,[5][6] a 2-6-2 type made by the American Locomotive Company. The 25 was used in the movie Stand by Me. Both engines were originally used in the early 20th century for logging.
Operating Diesel locomotives include the Great Northern Railway No. 274 EMD F7,[7] former POTB EMD SD9 No. 6139, and former POTB EMD GP9, No. 101.
Projects
As of 2015, several steam locomotive restoration/reconstruction projects are planned or underway. Among them is the complete restoration of the Deep River No. 7 "Skookum", a 2-4-4-2 Mallet locomotive. This restoration has been recently completed in 2019.[8][9] and the former Sunset Timber No. 1, a 3-truck Heisler locomotive that was moved to Tillamook in 2015.[10][11]
Salmonberry River
During 2014 the OCSR has been in a series of legal challenges with the State of Oregon over their attempts to reconstruct track in the Salmonberry River corridor that had been damaged in winter storms of 2007.[12][13] The central issue was the OCSR's work included placing rock fill on the bank of the river, for which they had not obtained state permits, potentially impacting native salmon and steelhead. OCSR's position was that as a railroad, federal law exempted them from state environmental regulations. In March, 2015, a decision was reported that exempted the OCSR from the state regulations.[14]
Railroad
Locomotives
| Number | Builder | Type | Works Number | Built | Acquired | Image | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McCloud River No. 25 | American Locomotive Company | #66435 | 1925 |  |
Built for the McCloud Railway, Currently operable | ||
| Polson Logging No. 2 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | #38967 | 1912 |  |
Previously known as Saginaw Timber No. 2 Currently operable | ||
| Craig Mountain No. 3 | Heisler Locomotive Works | #1364 | 1917 |  |
Acquired from Rio Grand Scenic Railroad. Currently operable | ||
| No. 2 | Heisler Locomotive Works | #1198 | 1910 |  |
Built for The Curtiss Lumber Co. of Mill City, OR. Undergoing Maintenance[15] | ||
| No. 274 | General Motors Electro-Motive Division | EMD F7 diesel-electric | #11066 | 1950 |  |
Built for the Great Northern Railway; EMD 567 engine with 645 Power Blocks Currently operable | |
| No. 101 | General Motors Electro-Motive Division | EMD GP9 diesel-electric | #21703 | 1956 | Built for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, No. 6606; Currently operable | ||
| No. 6139 | General Motors Electro-Motive Division | EMD SD9 diesel-electric | #20121 | 1954 |  |
Built for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, No. 765; Currently operable | |
| No. 7 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | #33463 | 1909 |  |
Built for the Little River Railroad (Tennessee) No. 126, later Deep River Logging Co. #7, also known as The Skookum, Currently operable | ||
| No. 1 | Heisler Locomotive Works | #1272 | 1913 | Raymond, Wash.Built for the Sunset Timber Company of Raymond, Wash. Awaiting restoration |
- All of the railroad's locomotives are serviced at the locomotive shops in Garibaldi, Oregon.
See also
References
- ^ "About Us". Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
- ^ Grayson, Lee. "Scenic Train Rides in Oregon". USA Today. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ "Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad". Port of Tillamook Bay. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
- ^ Rimel, Anthony (April 4, 2012). "Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad wins lease to extend track". The Daily Astorian. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ "McCloud River Railroad #25". Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad. March 30, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
- ^ Ruark, Jeremy C. (June 3, 2011). "Locomotive may help with July 4th excursion run between Garibaldi and Rockaway". Headlight-Herald. Tillamook, Oregon. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ "Great Northern #274". Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
- ^ "Deep River Logging #7 'Skookum'". Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
- ^ Hansen, Martin E. (December 16, 2014). "Reassembled 2-4-4-2 'Skookum' again upright after nearly 60 years". Trains. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ Killen, Dave (April 23, 2015). "Historic steam locomotive transported from California to Oregon". The Oregonian. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ Neal, LeeAnn (April 24, 2015). "Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad's latest acquisition travels 700 miles to Tillamook … by road". Tillamook County Pioneer. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ Showman, Sally (April 8, 2014). "Judge to decide fish fight between state, railroad". KOIN. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ Profita, Cassandra (March 31, 2014). "Oregon Railroad Defies State Order To Stop Work In Salmonberry River". Northwest Public Radio. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ "Oregon Coast legal victory a win for restoration of tracks". Trains. March 19, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ https://oregoncoastscenic.org/curtiss-lumber-co-2/
External links
