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Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad
Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad logo.png
Overview
Headquarters Garibaldi, Oregon
Locale Tillamook County, Oregon, US
Dates of operation 2003–present
Technical
Track gauge 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length 46 miles (74 km)

The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad (OCSR) is a heritage railroad, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, operating in Oregon, US, 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. 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. Garibaldi Station is the only station on the system equipped with a wheelchair lift.

Railroad operations

The railroad currently operates two steam locomotives in regular service. One of these is the former McCloud Railway No. 25, a 2-6-2 type made by the American Locomotive Company. The 25 was used in the movie Stand by Me. It was originally used in the early 20th century for logging.

Operating Diesel locomotives include the Great Northern Railway No. 274 EMD F7, former POTB EMD SD9 No. 6139, and former POTB EMD GP9, No. 101.

Excursions

Excursions are seasonal, and do not run all year round. Travel on some excursions where alcohol is served may be age restricted. Current details are on the railroad's Web site.

The Standard Excursion is a 90 minute round trip between Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach and return. (Or between Rockaway Beach and Garibaldi and return.) It is 30 minutes each direction with a 30 minute layover. Passengers may stay longer and take any available return trip.

Moonlight Express is a 90 minute round trip between Rockaway Beach and Wheeler.

Dinner Train This service was discontinued after the 2023 season. There are currently no plans to reintroduce this service in the near future.

Fall Splendor Excursion and Spring Splendor Excursion are 2-1/4 hour round trips between Rockaway Beach and Wheeler.

Halloween Coast Train is a 60 minute round trip between Rockaway Beach and Garibaldi.

Candy Cane Express is a 60 minutes round trip between Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach.

Additional Seasonal Trains are offered at various times, including:

  • Spring Break Excursion (similar to the 'The Standard Excursion')
  • St. Patrick's Pub Train
  • Easter Eggstravaganza Train
  • Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular

Trains do not run every day, except at the height of the summer season.

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 was completed in 2019. Another restoration project is for the former Sunset Timber No. 1, a 3-truck Heisler locomotive that was moved to Tillamook in 2015.

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. 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.

System Map

Locomotives

Number Builder Type Works Number Built Acquired Status Image Notes
No. 25 American Locomotive Company
2-6-2
#66435 1925
2011
Operational
McCloud No 25.jpg
Built for the McCloud Railway
No. 3 Heisler Locomotive Works
2-truck Heisler
#1364 1917
2016
Operational
Craig Mountain No. 3.jpg
Built for Craig Mountain Lumber Co. Acquired from Rio Grande Scenic Railroad
No. 2 Heisler Locomotive Works
2-truck Heisler
#1198 1910
2003
Undergoing maintenance
Curtiss Lumber Company No 2.jpg
Built for The Curtiss Lumber Co. of Mill City, OR
No. 7 Baldwin Locomotive Works
2-4-4-2 Mallet locomotive
#33463 1909 Operational
"Skookum" logomotive at Garibaldi, January 2018.jpg
Built for the Little River Railroad (Tennessee) No. 126, later Deep River Logging Co. #7, also known as "The Skookum", in service at the Niles Canyon Railway on loan from the Roots of Motive Power Museum in Willits, California
No. 1 Heisler Locomotive Works
85 Ton, 3-truck Heisler
#1272 1913
2015
Stored, awaiting restoration Built for the Sunset Timber Company of Raymond, Wash.
No. 23 Lima Locomotive Works
28 ton 2-Truck Shay locomotive
#169 1887
1998
Stored, awaiting restoration to continue Built for the Stimson Lumber Company
No. 5 Heisler Locomotive Works
62 Ton, 2-truck Heisler
#1462 1922
2002
Stored, awaiting restoration Built for the Buffelen Lumber Company of Tacoma, Washington. Was in service for only four years before crashing into the Tacoma City Watershed, Eagle Gorge, WA. Recovered in 2002.
No. 8 Lima Locomotive Works
90 ton 3-Truck Shay locomotive
#3254 1924
2021
Stored, awaiting restoration in Tillamook Built For: Cascade Timber Co. #108 at Reliance, Washington, ex: Long-Bell Lumber Company #1008, Pickering Lumber Co. #8 (2nd) at Standard, California. Previously owned by Fred M. Kepner and sold to the Oregon Coast Scenic following his death.
No. 38 Baldwin Locomotive Works
2-6-6-2 Mallet locomotive
#61781 1934
2021
Stored in pieces, awaiting move and restoration Built for Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. Sold to the Sierra Railroad and renumbered to #38 in 1952, to Rayonier Incorporated in 1955, to Fred M. Kepner in 1984, to the Oregon Coast Scenic following his death.
No. 90 Baldwin Locomotive Works
2-8-2
#59071 1926
2019
Stored, awaiting restoration Polson Logging No. 90 2009-09-11 01.jpg Built for Polson Logging Company which later became Rayonier Incorporated. Sold to the Oregon Memorial Steam Train Association in 1964.
No. 1 Baldwin Locomotive Works
2-6-2T Tank locomotive
#58206 1925
2021
Stored, awaiting move and restoration Built for the Anderson & Middleton Lumber Company, acquired by the Oregon, Pacific and Eastern Railway, to Fred M. Kepner in 1984, to the Oregon Coast Scenic following his death. Appeared in Emperor of the North Pole.
Nos. 104 & 105 Baldwin Locomotive Works
2-6-2 & 2-6-2T Tank locomotive
#56851 & #58193 1923 & 1925
2021
Stored, awaiting move and restoration Built for Oregon-American Lumber Company, sold to Long-Bell Lumber Company, sold to International Paper, both went though multiple private owners (105 was shortly used by the Vernonia, South Park & Sunset Steam Railroad) including Fred M. Kepner, sold to the Oregon Coast Scenic following his death.
No. 274 General Motors Electro-Motive Division EMD F7 diesel-electric #11066 1950
2010
Operational
GN 274.jpg
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
2006
Operational Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad GP9 No. 101 July 2013.jpg Built for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, No. 6606; also known as "The Moo"
No. 6139 General Motors Electro-Motive Division EMD SD9 diesel-electric #20121 1954
2006
Operational
POTB 6139.jpg
Built for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, No. 765

See also

  • List of heritage railroads in the United States
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