Back in the day, Oregonians relied on trains and horses to get from place to place. Replaced by more efficient modes of transportation, Oregon’s passenger trains have mostly become a thing of the past. Have you ever wanted to ride on a beautiful vintage train? The kind we read about in books and see in old movies? These six trains and railroads offer incredible excursions on beautiful, historic trains. Eat a delicious dinner as you travel along the Oregon Coast, ride a Christmas Train in Sumpter and see Mount Hood like you’ve never seen it before on the Mount Hood Railroad. With amazing scenery, awe-inspiring history and holiday excursions, these are six beautiful trains that will take you on an unforgettable adventure.
Board a vintage train and travel through the beautiful Sumpter Valley on the Sumpter Valley Railroad. There are regular trains as well as specialty events like the Christmas Train, which will take you on a "trip back in time through a winter wonderland" (sumptervalleyrailroad.org). Bring the kids to meet Santa, sip hot cocoa, explore the Sumpter Christmas Bazaar, and more.
Starting in Lake Oswego, the Willamette Shore Trolley will take you on a scenic ride along the shore of the Willamette River in an authentic vintage trolley.
This train takes a scenic route through the beautiful Wallowas. The railroad offers a variety of leisure outings, including Mother's Day Brunch train rides, photography workshops, train robbery enactments, fall foliage scenic trips, and more.
The Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation is a nonprofit, volunteer run organization. Each year they conduct a holiday train in Portland that traverses the Oregon Pacific Railroad along the Willamette River. The Holiday Express is a fundraising event and a wonderful family outing that includes hot cocoa, cookies, Santa, lovely scenery, and a beautiful train decorated festively on the inside and outside.
The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad offers lovely dinner train rides and specialty trips like the Candy Cane Express, Valentines Day excursions, and more. The train line extends from the Tillamook Air Museum "through Garibaldi, Rockaway Beach and Wheeler where the tracks turn to the East and head up into the coast range along the remote and breathtaking Nehalem and Salmonberry River canyons" (oregoncoastscenic.org).
Departing from Hood River, Mount Hood Railroad offers unforgettable train rides that traverse the beautiful Mount Hood area. The railroad offers scenic journeys as well as dinner and brunch trains and the beloved Polar Express in winter.
Have you ridden any of these trains? What other great trains can you ride in Oregon? Let us know in the comments.
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