Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad

Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad

Overview
Headquarters	Garibaldi, Oregon
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 miles (74 km)
Other
Website	oregoncoastscenic.org

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 are age restricted. Current details are on the railroad's Web site.

Oregon Coastal 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 Excursion is a romantic, steam-powered train ride from Garibaldi to Wheeler and back. Alcohol is served on this train, so this ride is for adults 21 and over ONLY.

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.

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

Additional Seasonal Trains are offered at various times, including:

• Spring Break Excursion (similar to the 'Oregon Coastal 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.

2007 Landslide

In December of 2007, the Oregon Coast was struck by the Great Coastal Gale of 2007. Hurricane force winds and torrential rain caused extensive damage to the railroad in the Salmonberry River Valley. Flooding and landslides washed out several bridges and embankments. This caused a break in the line between the coastal areas and Banks, OR. The majority of the line is now isolated from the rest of the North American rail system—causing all rail-freight operations to cease. The scenic, coastal areas (where tours are given) were largely unaffected. Estimates to reconnect the line exceed $80-million dollars. It is unlikely that the Salmonberry River portion will be reopened anytime soon.

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

Station / Waypoint	Coordinates
Salmonberry River	45.75023°N 123.65302°W / 45.75023; -123.65302
Wheeler	45.68997°N 123.88213°W / 45.68997; -123.88213
Rockaway Beach	45.61301°N 123.94414°W / 45.61301; -123.94414
Garibaldi	45.55883°N 123.91175°W / 45.55883; -123.91175
Tillamook Air Museum	45.42031°N 123.80247°W / 45.42031; -123.80247

Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad
Southern Pacific Transportation Company now the Union Pacific Railroad Banks, Oregon (Connection broken due to 2007 landslide.) Salmonberry River Wheeler South Wheeler Headshunt Nehalem River Nehalem Bay Village of Brighton Village of Nedonna Beach Village of Manhattan Beach Rockaway Beach Village of Twin Rocks Village of Watseco Village of Barview Coast Guard Station Tillamook Bay Garibaldi Garibaldi Yard US 101 US 101 US 101 Tillamook Creamery (proposed station) Tillamook Air Museum maintenance yard Garibaldi Station is the only station on the system that is equipped with a wheelchair lift.

Locomotives

Number	Builder	Type	Works Number	Built	Acquired	Status	Image	Notes
No. 25	American Locomotive Company	2-6-2	#66435	1925	2011	Operational		Built for the McCloud Railway
No. 3	Heisler Locomotive Works	2-truck Heisler	#1364	1917	2016	Operational		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		Built for The Curtiss Lumber Co. of Mill City, OR
No. 7	Baldwin Locomotive Works	2-4-4-2 Mallet locomotive	#33463	1909		Operational		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		Built for Polson Logging Company which later became Rayonier Incorporated. Sold to the Oregon Memorial Steam Train Association in 1964.
No. 1	Climax Locomotive Works	20-ton Class A Climax locomotive	#804	1907	2024	Stored, awaiting restoration		Built for the Cascade Lumber Company and later served the Cabin Creek Lumber Company. Came under private ownership by Victor C. Monahan after the locomotive was retired in the 1970s. Later donated to OCSR in 2024 by his family. Notable for being the world's only surviving standard gauge Class A Climax steam locomotive.
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		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		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		Built for the Chicago Burlington & Quincy as No. 337

• All of the railroad's locomotives are serviced at the locomotive shops in Garibaldi, Oregon, Tillamook, Oregon and Centralia, Washington. Restoration work happens between Tillamook & Centralia

See also

• List of heritage railroads in the United States

External links

• Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad
• Curtiss Lumber Co. 2
• McCloud River Railroad Company / McCloud Railway Company Locomotive #25
• Little River Railroad #126/Columbia River Belt Line "Skookum"
• Port of Tillamook Bay 6139