Non-ship Reviews

Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad August 5, 2019

meabbott

(This post is part of a (mostly) non-ship series about a trip to the West I took during July and August of 2019)

This scenic railway which runs between Garibaldi, Oregon and Rockaway Beach, Oregon, uses track that was built by the Pacific Railway and Navigation Company between 1906 and 1911 which extended to HIllsboro, just outside of Portland, Oregon. It was purchased in 1916 and became the Tillamook Branch of the Southern Pacific Railway. In 1990 the Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad purchased the 101 mile section and the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad leases trackage from them.

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Most scenic railroads have a ticket office or depot from which tickets may be purchased, usually also with seating. In the case of this railroad boarding and ticket purchase is done from the caboose which also serves as a gift shop. Tickets can also be purchased online.

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Ahead of the caboose is the “Wilson River” #2127, built for the Southern Pacific in 1924. The next car is the Oregon Coast Scenic RR #0200, a passenger car built from an ex-UP flat car. Next is the Oregon Coast Scenic RR #0100, built from an ex-CB&Q flat car. I spent the entire trip in this open air car whereas my mother enjoyed the trip from the Wilson River.

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The power for this excursion was provided by former McCloud Railway #25, a Prairie type steam locomotive with a wheel arrangement of 2-6-2. She was built in 1925 by ALCO.

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The journey begins from the fishing village of Garibaldi on the Northern edge of the Tillamook Bay and heads Westward.

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Before long a series of rock formations known as The Three Graces come into view.

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The ride then passes through forests and wetlands.

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Arriving in Rockaway Beach the Pacific Ocean can be seen from the train. The only other train that I know of from which the Pacific Ocean may be viewed on the Western United States is Amtrak’s Coast Starlight.

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The train does a 30 minute layover here which gives good opportunity to inspect the steam locomotive.

Check out the short video I took below. Also see more photos I took on this ride by clicking here.

There’s a lot to love about any train ride, moreso with the sights, sounds, and smells of a steam locomotive on the point. I can definitely recommend this ride.