The Mount Hood Railroad, Near Oregon's Scenic Mount Hood

While the Mount Hood Railroad is still very much a shortline freight railroad after it was saved from certain doom in 1987 it has become quite a popular tourist railroad offering two different excursions and several special trains throughout the year. From its earliest beginnings in 1906 (its current route between Parkdale and Hood River was opened in 1909) the Mount Hood served local farmers and timber interests throughout most of its life, interchanging this traffic with the Union Pacific at Hood River, a little town sitting along the banks of the beautiful Columbia River. The railroad remained an independent operation until UP took over its interest in 1968.

However, due to declining traffic on the route as shippers switched from rail to truck, or closed up shop altogether, the UP opted to abandon the route by the 1980s. Luckily, a group of local railfans stepped in and purchased the line before it could be scrapped. Today, the railroad has since been sold to Permian Basin Railways, which operates other shortlines aside from Mount Hood (such as the Arizona Eastern, San Luis & Rio Grande, Chicago Terminal Railroad, West Texas & Lubbock, and Texas-New Mexico Railroad) along with rail car repair services. Hopefully, under Permian Basin’s ownership the railroad will remain a strong tourist line and continue to grow its freight services.

The railroad currently operates two excursion trains, one to Odell (a 2 ˝ hour ride) and one to Parkdale covering the entire 22-mile line, which takes about 4 hours. The railroad also operates several specials including fun train robberies, dinner trains, the Fruit Blossom Special, A Day Out With Thomas The Tank Engine, Pumpkin Patch Express, and the Polar Express just to name a few. For equipment Mount Hood has two enclosed Pullman coaches, an open-air car, concession car, and a caboose. For power the railroad usually uses one of its three EMD four-axle diesel locomotives although it also has rare Lima diesels:

· #2 – EMD GP38-2

· #18 – Lima SC-3

· #20 – Lima SC-3

· #88 – EMD GP9

· #89 – EMD GP9

So if you are ever in Portland or visiting northwestern Oregon you should definitely considering stopping to visit by and ride aboard the Mount Hood Railroad, which will take you through some of the best scenery Oregon has to offer. Lastly, if you have the time please consider volunteering to help them with not only restoration work but also maintaining their railroad. I am sure they would very much appreciate the help!

For more information on tourist railroads like the Mount Hood Railroad you might want to consider the book Empire State Railway Museum's Tourist Trains 2006 from the Empire State Railway Museum. Given excellent reviews this guidebook covers nearly all of the tourist railroads and museums operating in the country in fine detail. So, if you’re interested in locating a tourist train or railroad near you, or simply want to know more about a particular one, you will certainly not be disappointed in Empire State Railway Museum’s guidebook to tourist railroads and museums. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing this book please visit The Railroad Diamond by clicking the tab in the menu to your left marked "TRD Store".