I am excited to announce a late addition to the GorgeRail activity lineup. On Sunday May 21st, GorgeRail will wrap up with two activities in the Portland area.
At 1:00pm, we will meet at the shops of the Oregon Pacific Railroad, a shortline operation owned by Dick Samuels. A small but active shortline, the Oregon Pacific is probably best known for Samuels’ collection of assorted historical locomotives. The locomotives will be on display and the GorgeRail group will tour the shop facilities and be able to photograph the equipment which is normally off-limits to the public. Among the units are former Portland Traction Company #100, an SW1 which was the locomotive which both placed the SP&S 700 into Oaks Park and then retrieved her for restoration. More information about the Oregon Pacific can be found on Brian McCamish’s website at http://www.brian894x4.com/OregonPacificRR.html
Following the tour of the Oregon Pacific Shops, the group will take a short excursion along the line into the Oaks Bottom area along Portland’s Springwater Corridor. The tentative plan is to have folks riding in a locomotive, caboose, and possibly open air car. As this is an operating freight railroad, exact excursion plans and equipment cannot be guaranteed.
Following the Oregon Pacific tour and ride, the group will head to the Brooklyn Roundhouse, home to Portland’s three steam locomotives. We will be likely to see the SP&S 700, SP 4449, OR&N 197, as well as other historic equipment such as Doyle McCormack’s Alco PA and Chris Fussell’s Amtrak F40PHR #231.
These events are part of GorgeRail and are included in the price of a GorgeRail show ticket. For a complete listing of GorgeRail events, as well as registration and ticketing information, see the GorgeRail website at http://www.gorgerail.com
