Portland’s rail museum raising money to ensure future excursions

Portland’s railway museum is about to buy four miles of track to ensure future visitors can go on train excursions.

Up to now, excursions at the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation have been run on track belonging to the Oregon Pacific Railroad. The route travels along the east bank of the Willamette River between the Sellwood Bridge and OMSI.

Executive director Renee Devereux said the museum will start a $3 million fundraising campaign in January to buy that track.

“With this, we’re able to secure our future of historic rail excursions in Portland,” she said.

The old owner of the track, Dick Samuels, was an active member of the rail foundation, leading train trips and teaching kids about the old technology. Devereux said his sons want to sell the railway to the foundation.

“If the track sold to someone who didn’t want excursions, then we would be in a perilous position,” Devereux said.

The deal includes an extra mile of track that the museum hasn’t used in the past, plus a maintenance shop, office space and three old railway engines. To carry some of its larger engines, the track would need to be improved at significant cost.

The foundation has until 2026 to raise the money.

“This transformative step enables us to connect with our community in deeper, more impactful ways, bringing history to life through expanded excursions and enriched volunteer opportunities,” said Rick Franklin, the president of the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation.

The new track will remain open for commerce. A frozen cheese business still uses the service. The route has played an important role in Portland since 1904, when it was built by the Oregon Water Power and Railway Company to connect the region’s towns and attractions via passenger trolley.

The Oregon Rail Heritage Center opened on the east side of the Tilikum Crossing bridge 12 years ago as a place for enthusiasts to fix steam engines. But managers are shifting focus to become more like a museum, with the goal of attracting more visitors and increasing income.