Chehalis–Centralia Railroad

Chehalis–Centralia Railroad
Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum
Chehalis-Centralia Railroad depot, 2025
LocaleChehalis, Washington
TerminusChehalis
Coordinates46°39′09″N 122°58′37″W / 46.65250°N 122.97694°W / 46.65250; -122.97694
Commercial operations
Built byPuget Sound & Willapa Harbor Railway
Preserved operations
Operated byChehalis-Centralia Railroad Museum
Reporting markCHTX
Stations1
Length10 miles (16 km)
Preserved gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Commercial history
OpenedNovember 8, 1915
ClosedDecember 31, 1918
Preservation history
1986The Chehalis–Centralia Railroad Association is formed
April 28, 1989Restoration on No. 15 is completed
June 1989Tourist operations begin
1996Rail tracks from Weyerhauser is purchased
March 2022Operations suspended
2023Museum reopens
April 2024Tourist operations resumes
HeadquartersChehalis, Washington
Website
Official website

The Chehalis–Centralia Railroad (reporting mark CHTX), also known as the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum, is a heritage railroad based in Chehalis, Washington.

The Chehalis–Centralia Railroad 15, a 2-8-2 "Mikado" type steam locomotive built by Baldwin in 1916, travels over a 10-mile section of former Milwaukee Road track. The rail course winds through scenic hills, farmland, and over several wooden trestles above the Chehalis River, along with various tributary streams including the Newaukum River.

Operations, overseen by the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad Museum, were suspended indefinitely in 2022 due to insurance issues but were resumed a year later under agreement with Goose Lake Railway.

History

The route was originally built by the Puget Sound & Willapa Harbor Railway and originally operated between November 8, 1915 to December 31, 1918.[1]

The Chehalis-Centralia Railroad (CCR) was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1986 by Chehalis citizens inspired by a visit to Chehalis, Washington by the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad. The organization runs a 1916 Baldwin steam engine, No. 15, known locally as the "Old Lady",[2] from Recreation Park in Chehalis, where it had been on display for over 30 years, and brought it to the Mt. Rainier shops in Mineral, Washington, for restoration.[3][4][5][6]

The 1916 Baldwin, a 2-8-2 configuration, was built in Philadelphia originally for logging operations by Clear Lake Lumber Company in Skagit County, Washington as No. 200.[7] The company, or possibly the railway, defaulted on the payments and the engine was sold to the Cowlitz, Chehalis, & Cascade Railroad after it was repossessed and was renumbered to No. 15.[8] The No. 15 was reported to have been relocated to the city of Chehalis in 1926 and was retired in 1955 where it was placed at the park.[9]

Work on the locomotive was completed on April 28, 1989 and the railroad started operations later in the summer of that year over the ex-Milwaukee Road, a Weyerhaeuser Timber Company-owned track.[3][4][6] Passenger cars were purchased during the period and the restoration cost approximately $100,000; the funds were generated from grants and private donations, and included volunteer labor hours.[4]

The Port of Chehalis, in 1996, helped purchase the rail tracks from Weyerhauser for the CCR via a $420,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).[10] Due to the December 2007 floods, the railroad sustained significant damage. The right-of-way was restored due in part to efforts of volunteers and the port authority; a $1.5 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funded the repair project.[11] A centennial celebration was held for the 1916 Baldwin in 2016 at the CCRM site.[9]

In early 2019, the No. 15 was found to have major boiler damage and could no longer be steamed safely and it was out of service for several years. Repairs were expected to be completed by mid-to-late 2021 but severe washouts to the rail lines in February 2022 hampered the efforts.[12] Funding to restore the line was requested from FEMA and the SBA. The funding was granted, and a complete restoration and overhaul of the line was completed in mid-2023. During this period of time, major work was completed both on the line and in the yard that had been deferred for years. This included a complete re tamp and regulation of the rail line, over 1,000 ties replaced, and cosmetic restoration of the depot and engine No. 6. Repairs of Locomotive 15 was suspended due to lack of funding but resumed thanks to state legislation. After an evaluation of two steam locomotives at the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad Museum (CCRM) in 2024, restorations were estimated to cost $1.0 million per engine. The CCRM announced that their collection of 600-series rail cars were also undergoing renovations and new trips, including a ride to the Willapa Hills, were planned.[13]

The CCRM once owned a railway turntable but was never implemented due to the site's lowland nature and concerns over flooding. In a non-monetary trade with Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, the turntable was exchanged for a 1950s Pullman coach in 2025.[14][15]

Operations

Operations and excursions of the railroad are overseen by the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad Museum (CCRM), located at a depot situated south of the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis, Washington near State Route 6 and Interstate 5.[16][4][9]

In 2006, the railroad reported a record 10,250 riders.[3] Despite damages to the tracks from the 2007 flood, which led to fewer rides and shorter trips, ridership remained around an average of 10,000 into the 2009 season.[11]

In March 2022, the museum suspended their operations after it lost its liability insurance coverage, due to financial losses stemming from two collision accidents.[16][17][18] The museum reopened in 2023 and made repairs to the tracks and the train engine. That same year, a partnership contract with the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad to begin joint operations on the CCRM rail lines did not materialize, but CCRM reached a joint operating agreement with Goose Lake Railway.[19][20] Train rides began again in April 2024.[21]

By July 2024, months after the restart of operations, the CCRM reported earnings above $112,000 and counted over 3,800 passengers.[22] In 2025, the CCRM reported ticket sales for excursion and event rides to reach over 10,100; approximately 80% of passengers were noted to be non-Lewis County residents.[15]

During a average train excursion, the No. 15 steam engine is reported to burn approximately 100 US gallons (380 L; 83 imp gal) of oil and use up to 1,000 US gallons (3,800 L; 830 imp gal) of water.[4]

Excursions and events

The heritage railroad provides an 18-mile (29 km) round-trip that courses through the Chehalis River valley. Separate excursion rides are provided for exclusively for children in the local school district or are members of the regional Boys & Girls Clubs of America. As of 2024, other rides include a variety of themed trips such as a dinner murder mystery or escape room excursions, or holiday and film-themed outings.[22]

The CCRM has hosted, since 2012, a quickly sold-out Christmas-themed Polar Express ride during the winter holiday season, providing refreshments and holiday activities in the course of the hour-long trip.[23]

The CCRM partnered with a rail bike company in 2025 to provide recreational use of the tracks.[24]

Equipment

Locomotive details[25][14]
Number Image Type Model Built Builder Status Description
15 Steam 2-8-2 1916 Baldwin Locomotive Works Undergoing repairs The "Mikado", inoperative due to a failed boiler since 2019, has been undergoing repairs, estimated to cost $1 million as of 2025.[14]
25 Steam 2-8-0 1917 Baldwin Locomotive Works Stored, awaiting restoration As of 2026, awaiting restoration. Once displayed in Centralia's Fort Borst Park.[15]
6 Diesel 65-ton switcher 1940s General Electric Operational As of 2025, main engine used for operations. Purchased from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and rebuilt in 1965.[14]

See also

Media related to Chehalis-Centralia Railroad at Wikimedia Commons

References

  1. ^ Milwaukee Road Archives - Puget Sound & Willapa Harbor Railway
  2. ^ Blomdahl, George (May 3, 1969). "'Mr. Sign Man' Of Chehalis To Retire". The Daily Chronicle. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Anders, Kurt F. (April 2007). "1 man, 1 locomotive, 70 years together!". Trains. 67 (4): 56–57.
  4. ^ a b c d e Kim, Gina (July 17, 2003). "Chehalis train ride nurtures nostalgic dreams of steam". The Seattle Times. p. G6. NewsBank 0FC5FA2AD3D7602F. Retrieved January 27, 2026 – via NewsBank.
  5. ^ "Chehalis - Centralia Railroad" (PDF). Steamtrainride.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 18, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
  6. ^ a b "Railnews — After 30 Years". Railfan & Railroad. Vol. 8, no. 9. Carstens Publications. September 1989. p. 40. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
  7. ^ "Trainmaster" (PDF). pnwc-nrhs.org. February 1967. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  8. ^ "Happy Birthday to Engine No. 15, one of Chehalis' oldest residents". The Olympian News. September 12, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
  9. ^ a b c Dickson, Amelia (September 12, 2016). "Community treasure - Happy 100th birthday to Chehalis' Engine No. 15 - It's a well-loved relic from the long-gone age of steam". The Olympian. p. 1A. NewsBank 15F5D992B3FC8C48. Retrieved January 28, 2026 – via NewsBank.
  10. ^ Fogel, Elise (February 27, 2011). "First Port of Chehalis commissioners are sworn in on September 26, 1986". HistoryLink. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Hill, Christian (May 24, 2009). "After flood, rails resurface - TRAIN RIDES: Chehalis-Centralia line gets back to regular runs after repairs". The Olympian. p. 3A. NewsBank 128D9795A50737B0. Retrieved January 27, 2026 – via NewsBank.
  12. ^ "Flood Causes Washouts on Chehalis-Centralia Railroad Line, Scenic Rides to be Postponed". January 14, 2022.
  13. ^ The Chronicle staff (May 8, 2024). "Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum: Cost to repair steam engines will near $1M, but passengers are flocking back for rides". The Chronicle. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  14. ^ a b c d Sexton, Owen (June 18, 2025). "Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum president looks back on five years of overcoming hurdles". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  15. ^ a b c The Chronicle staff (February 9, 2026). "Chehalis-Centralia Railroad details recent success as rides sell out, board welcomes new members". The Chronicle. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  16. ^ a b "Chehalis Centralia Railroad and Museum Suspends All Passenger Operations". March 5, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  17. ^ "Washington state heritage railroad suspends operations". Trains.com. March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  18. ^ "Washington's Chehalis-Centralia Railroad Suspends Operations". Railfan & Railroad. March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  19. ^ Fitzgerald, Emily (April 25, 2023). "Chehalis-Centralia Railroad, Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad Look to Partner to Bring Excursion Trains Back to Chehalis This Summer". The Chronicle. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  20. ^ "Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad back in operation sooner than predicted". The Dispatch (Eatonville, Washington). May 10, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  21. ^ The Chronicle staff (March 22, 2024). "Chehalis-Centralia Railroad to resume weekend excursions beginning April 6". The Chronicle. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  22. ^ a b Sexton, Owen (July 10, 2024). "Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum president looks to continue train excursions, explore steam engine repairs". The Chronicle. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  23. ^ Roland, Mitchell (November 13, 2023). "Sold-out 'Polar Express' returns to the tracks at the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad". The Chronicle. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  24. ^ Fitzgerald, Emily (June 11, 2025). "Joy Rails welcomes riders to new Chehalis railroad attraction". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  25. ^ "Engine Histories – Chehalis Centralia Railroad". Retrieved March 18, 2021.
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