Inside the Oregon Rail Heritage Center
One of our 13-year-old visitors made this delightful video of a recent visit to the Rail Heritage Center. Enjoy!
A Terrific Night with the 190
On the evening of August 20th, more than a hundred people visited the Oregon Rail Heritage Center to hear Doyle McCormack describe his journey with the PA locomotive now called the Nickle Plate Road 190. Doyle has followed the life of the engine from a mainline workhouse in mid-America, to an abandoned and rusted-out hulk …
All Aboard! Railroading and Portland’s Black Community
The Oregon Historical Society’s wonderful exhibit All Aboard! Railroading and Portland’s Black Community is now appearing at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center. This remarkable exhibit shows through pictures and stories how the Black Community in Portland was built around the railroads. As late as 1941, the railroads provided 98.6% of all local black jobs. The …
Enginehouse Update – July & August
Track Work at the Enginehouse After all the ties and rail had been sorted at the site, the volunteer track crew started laying track in July. Ballast was laid on the graded ground, followed by ties spaced and more ballast tamped between the ties. Despite temperatures in the 90’s, the crew worked nearly every weekend …
Enginehouse Update – Early July
Packing Up at the Roundhouse Restoration of the only salvageable original roundhouse doors started in April when the pair was removed to a temporary shelter adjacent to the building. Volunteers restored each surface of the two 7’6” x18’ Douglas fir doors. Two pairs of handmade “replica” doors will be installed along with the original in …