Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad

Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad
No. 25 departing from Garibaldi with an excursion train on July 4, 2011
Overview
HeadquartersGaribaldi, Oregon
Reporting markOCSR
LocaleTillamook County, Oregon
Dates of operation2003–present
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length46 mi (74 km)
Other
Websiteoregoncoastscenic.org
Oregon Coast
Scenic Railroad
Union Pacific RR
(formerly Southern Pacific)
 Banks, Oregon
Connection severed due to
2007 landslide
 Salmonberry River
Wheeler
South Wheeler headshunt
Nehalem River
Nehalem Bay
Brighton
Nedonna Beach
Manhattan Beach
 Rockaway Beach
Twin Rocks
Watseco
Barview
Coast Guard station
Tillamook Bay
 Garibaldi
Garibaldi yard
US 101
US 101
US 101
 Tillamook Creamery (proposed)
Connection severed due to
2025 Tillamook Trestle Fire
Tillamook, Oregon
 Tillamook Air Museum
maintenance yard

The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad (reporting mark OCSR) is a heritage railroad, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization,[1] 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.[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]

Stations

Station / Waypoint Coordinates
Salmonberry River 45°45′01″N 123°39′11″W / 45.75023°N 123.65302°W / 45.75023; -123.65302
Wheeler 45°41′24″N 123°52′56″W / 45.68997°N 123.88213°W / 45.68997; -123.88213
Rockaway Beach 45°36′47″N 123°56′39″W / 45.61301°N 123.94414°W / 45.61301; -123.94414
Garibaldi 45°33′32″N 123°54′42″W / 45.55883°N 123.91175°W / 45.55883; -123.91175
Tillamook Air Museum 45°25′13″N 123°48′09″W / 45.42031°N 123.80247°W / 45.42031; -123.80247

Garibaldi Station is the only station on the system equipped with a wheelchair lift.

Railroad Operations

General Operating Schedule—As of 2025

  • Early-Spring through mid-spring—Trains run on an 2-day, 3-day, or 4-day weekend service
  • Mid-Spring through mid-Fall—Trains run every day
  • Mid-Fall through Christmas—Trains run on an 2-day, 3-day, or 4-day weekend service
  • January and February—No trains run

The above information is intended as a rough guide. Contact the company for details.[5]

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.[5]

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. Sandwiches and snacks are usually available for sale on this excursion; check the company web-site for details. Alcohol is served on this train—meaning this ride is only available to Passengers 21+

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. Sandwiches and snacks are usually available for sale on the Moonlight Excursion; check the company web-site for details.

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

Special Services

Cab Rides are available on most trains. For an additional fee, passengers can ride in the cab of a steam locomotive or diesel locomotive—as available. (Reservations are highly recommended. Restrictions apply.)

One-way ticket Travel in one direction (no return) can be arranged by calling the railroad.

Charters Various locomotives and/or car configurations are available for private or semi-private charter.

Equipment

Locomotives

Locomotive details[6][7][8][9][10]
Number Image Type Built Builder Works number Status Notes
1 20-ton Class A Climax locomotive 1907 Climax Locomotive Works 804 Stored, awaiting restoration Built for the Cascade Lumber Company, later served the Cabin Creek Lumber Company. To private owner Victor C. Monahan after retired in the 1970s, then donated to OCSR in 2024 by his family. Notable for being the world's only surviving standard gauge Class A Climax steam locomotive.[11]
1 85-ton 3-truck Heisler 1913 Heisler Locomotive Works 1272 Stored, awaiting restoration Built for the Sunset Timber Company of Raymond, Washington.
1 2-6-2T 1925 Baldwin Locomotive Works 58206 Stored, awaiting 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.
2 2-truck Heisler 1910 Heisler Locomotive Works 1198 Undergoing maintenance Built for the Curtiss Lumber Co. of Mill City, Oregon.[1]
3 2-truck Heisler 1917 Heisler Locomotive Works 1364 Stored, Awaiting 1472 Rebuild Built for Craig Mountain Lumber Co. Acquired from Rio Grande Scenic Railroad.
5 62-ton 2-truck Heisler 1922 Heisler Locomotive Works 1462 Stored, awaiting restoration Built for the Buffelen Lumber Company of Tacoma, Washington. Was only in service for four years before crashing into Eagle Gorge, Washington. Recovered in 2002.
7 2-4-4-2 1909 Baldwin Locomotive Works 33463 Operational Built as Little River Railroad 126, later Deep River Logging Co. 7 (nicknamed "The Skookum"). On loan from the Roots of Motive Power Museum (Willits, California), in service at the Niles Canyon Railway.
8 90-ton 3-truck Shay locomotive 1924 Lima Locomotive Works 3254 Stored, awaiting restoration Built as Cascade Timber Co. (Reliance, Washington) 108, to Long-Bell Lumber Company 1008, then Pickering Lumber Co. 8 (2nd) (Standard, California). Later owned by Fred M. Kepner and sold to OCSR following his death.
23 28-ton 2-truck Shay locomotive 1887 Lima Locomotive Works 169 Stored, restoration suspended Built for the Stimson Lumber Company.
25 2-6-2 1925 American Locomotive Company 66435 Operational Built for the McCloud Railway.
38 2-6-6-2 1934 Baldwin Locomotive Works 61781 Stored, awaiting restoration Built for Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. Sold to the Sierra Railroad and renumbered 38 in 1952, to Rayonier Incorporated in 1955, to Fred M. Kepner in 1984, then to the OCSR following his death.
90 2-8-2 1926 Baldwin Locomotive Works 59071 Stored, awaiting restoration Built for Polson Logging Company (bought out by Rayonier Inc. in 1948). Sold to the Oregon Memorial Steam Train Association in 1964.
101 GP9 1956 General Motors Electro-Motive Division 21703 Operational Built as Chesapeake and Ohio Railway 6606; nicknamed "The Moo".
104 2-6-2 1923 Baldwin Locomotive Works 56851 Stored, awaiting restoration Built for Oregon-American Lumber Company, sold to Long-Bell Lumber Company, then to International Paper, later to multiple private owners including Fred M. Kepner, and to OCSR following his death.
105 2-6-2T 1925 Baldwin Locomotive Works 58193 Stored, awaiting restoration Built for Oregon-American Lumber Company, sold to Long-Bell Lumber Company, sold to International Paper, later multiple private owners including Fred M. Kepner, was shortly used by the Vernonia, South Park & Sunset Steam Railroad, and to OCSR following Kepner's death.
274 F7 1951 General Motors Electro-Motive Division 11066 Operational Built for the Great Northern Railway; 567 engine upgraded with EMD 645 power blocks.
6139 SD9 1954 General Motors Electro-Motive Division 20121 Operational Built as Chicago Burlington & Quincy 337. Last POTB SD9. Remainder scrapped.

Former units

Locomotive details[6][12][13][14]
Number Image Type Built Builder Works number Status Notes
100 2-8-2 1919 Baldwin Locomotive Works Unknown Under restoration Sold to the Virginia and Truckee Railroad in 2022.
2 2-8-2 1912 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1198 Operational Built for the Saginaw Timber Company in Brooklyn, Washington. Sold to the Albany and Eastern Railroad in 2022.

Rail trail

In August 2025, the future of the railroad was in jeopardy when the City of Rockaway Beach requested that the POTB remove the tracks for a trail extension. The City argues that the Railroad's proposed "rails with trail" option is too costly.[15]

Incidents

2007 Landslide

In December 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. More than 7 inches (180 mm) of rain fell in less than 24 hours. Flooding and landslides washed out several embankments and one large bridge. 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 past this break to cease. The scenic, coastal areas (where tours are given) were largely unaffected. The estimate to reconnect the line was $57.3 million (2008 dollars)[16] equivalent to $85,684,000 in 2025. It is unlikely that the Salmonberry River portion will be reopened anytime soon.

Salmonberry River Disputes

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.[17][18] 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.[19]

2025 Tillamook Trestle Fire

On October 8, 2025, a wood trestle near Tillamook was damaged by fire and rendered impassable until it could be repaired or rebuilt. While it is not used by OCSR’s regular excursions, it sits on a section of track connecting the excursion route with the railroad's main restoration facility. The blaze is currently under investigation by the local sheriff’s office and the railroad has been in contact with state and federal law enforcement.[20]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "About Us". Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad.
  2. ^ Grayson, Lee. "Scenic Train Rides in Oregon". USA Today. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  3. ^ "Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad". Port of Tillamook Bay. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  4. ^ Rimel, Anthony (April 4, 2012). "Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad wins lease to extend track". The Daily Astorian. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Oregon Coast Train Rides". Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad. Kept up to date.
  6. ^ a b "Oregon Coast Scenic RR - OCSR". Trainweb.org. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Killen, Dave (April 23, 2015). "Historic steam locomotive transported from California to Oregon". The Oregonian. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Hansen, Martin E. (December 16, 2014). "Reassembled 2-4-4-2 'Skookum' again upright after nearly 60 years". Trains. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  11. ^ Franz, Justin (October 25, 2024). "Oregon Coast Scenic Acquires Rare Climax". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  12. ^ Franz, Justin (September 7, 2022). "Shay Locomotive Bound for Portland". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  13. ^ "Trains photo charter in Oregon to feature Santa Maria Valley 2-6-2". Trains. November 18, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  14. ^ "V&T RAILROAD EQUIPMENT ROSTER – LOCOMOTIVES". Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  15. ^ Franz, Justin (August 13, 2025). "Oregon Coast Scenic Track Threatened by Trail". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. Busklin, Missouri: White River Productions. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  16. ^ Milstein, Michael (October 1, 2008). "Tillamook Railroad Repair Cost Tops $57 Million". OKthePK. Archived from the original on December 22, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  17. ^ Showman, Sally (April 8, 2014). "Judge to decide fish fight between state, railroad". KOIN 6. KOIN. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  18. ^ Profita, Cassandra (March 31, 2014). "Oregon Railroad Defies State Order To Stop Work In Salmonberry River". Northwest Public Radio. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  19. ^ "Oregon Coast legal victory a win for restoration of tracks". Trains. March 19, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  20. ^ Franz, Justin (October 14, 2025). "Oregon Coast Scenic Bridge Damaged in Fire". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
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