I am going to be in Portland for the next 2 weeks, starting on Sunday. I have been to the train museum there, but would like to know what else there is in the Portland area. Suggestions??
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OMSI is near the train museum, it's worth a view
The Union Station
VooDoo Doughnuts (get a CnB, it's a walk on the wild side)
Absolutely do NOT miss the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation engine house, where SP 4449, SP&S 700, and UP 197 are all kept.
There used to be a large O scale (2 rail) layout in the basement of a hobby store on the east side of Portland. If it is still there, it is worth a visit. Ed L.
Originally Posted by Ed Loizeaux:
There used to be a large O scale (2 rail) layout in the basement of a hobby store on the east side of Portland. If it is still there, it is worth a visit. Ed L.
Sorry, but the hobby shop went out of business and the big O Scale (2-Rail) layout is gone. Darned shame, too.
AWESOME train watching at the Amtrak station in Vancouver, Washington. It's just over the I-5 bridge from Portland. Take the City Center exit over the bridge and you're close. The station sits in the middle of a wye. Northbound/Southbound to Portland/Seattle. East and westbound from the Columbia River Gorge. You've got BNSF and UP trains and several Amtrak trains daily. Yard right there. Free parking. Safe as can be. You should drive 20 miles or so east of Portland on I-84 to Multnomah Falls. It's the 2nd highest waterfall in the country. After you park, you must walk under the Union Pacific bridge/tracks to get to the Falls. Nothing like being out there when a UP train comes roaring through. Going out there is a cool thing to do.
Isn't the SP 4449 GS4 housed at the Oregon Heritage Museum in Portland. This would be the first thing I would check out while visiting Portland.
Originally Posted by Passenger Train Collector:
Isn't the SP 4449 GS4 housed at the Oregon Heritage Museum in Portland. This would be the first thing I would check out while visiting Portland.
Along with SP&S 700 and UP Pacific 197, as I stated above.
Sorry Jack, I did not see your post.
Tr-Met light rail and Portland Streetcar. I think there is an EMU train somehere on the SE side of town also.
"SP&S 700"
at the risk of a small diversion...what is the status of this engine?
Originally Posted by Forrest Jerome:
"SP&S 700"
at the risk of a small diversion...what is the status of this engine?
The SP&S 700 isn't due for her FRA mandated 15 year inspection until later in 2015, as I recall, thus she could be fired up and operated should the call come. Since SP 4449 is currently "apart" for her FRA 15 year inspection, the SP&S 700 will be used exclusively for this coming "Holiday Express" operations in November. Hopefully, SP 4449 will be available for operation next summer, 2015.
Don't forget Peterson Supply!
At the Pearson Air Field Museum (Ft. Vancouver site), they are building an amazing HO scale model of the World War I US Army spruce mill that was located there and served by SP&S. By the way, SP&S 700 is operational as Jack noted; the recent planned excursion to Pasco with connection to the Pendleton Roundup was cancelled due to insufficient interest, plus BNSF is simply too busy to handle it.
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More pictures from my trip to ORHC yesterday. I was there with the SP&S Historical Society convention tour.
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