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An Oregon Christmas Train Ride In Portland!

Published: November 7, 2025

By: Adam Burns

Tucked along Portland’s Central Eastside, just steps from the Willamette River and the Tilikum Crossing, the Oregon Rail Heritage Center is a living workshop, museum, and community hub devoted to the region’s railroading past and present.

Operated by the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation (ORHF), the Center preserves and showcases Portland’s extraordinary trio of city-owned steam locomotives—Southern Pacific 4449, Spokane, Portland & Seattle 700, and Oregon Railway & Navigation 197—along with historic rolling stock, tools, and stories that connect generations.

It is one of the rare places where visitors can get close to mainline steam giants and see the meticulous craft of restoration up close, often with the very volunteers and machinists who keep history breathing.

Southern Pacific 4-8-4 #4449 drops down the west slope of Marias Pass, Montana heading westward for Portland on October 17, 2009. Drew Jacksich photo.

About The Center And Its Collection

The Center’s heart is its collection. Southern Pacific 4449, the star in Daylight orange and red, is among the most recognizable steam locomotives in North America. Built in 1941, the 4-8-4 “GS-4” once led the famed Daylight streamliners along the Pacific coast.

Retired and placed on display in Portland, it later roared back to life for the United States Bicentennial as the locomotive of the 1976 American Freedom Train.

That cross-country tour cemented its place in popular culture and proved how powerful history can be when it moves—literally. Today, 4449 remains a potent ambassador for both engineering heritage and railfan joy, drawing visitors from all over the world to Portland.

If 4449 is the showstopper, the SP&S 700 is the quiet colossus: an imposing 4-8-4 built in 1938 that once thundered along the Columbia River between Portland and Spokane. It was designed for speed, power, and elegance, hauling passengers and mail through the Northwest.

Long a beloved Portland landmark during its years on static display at Oaks Park, the 700 eventually underwent a thorough restoration and returned to the rails for excursions that showcased its strength and grace.

The locomotive’s presence inside the Center—towering drivers, graceful lines, oil and steel—invites visitors to consider both the drama of mainline steam and the dedication it takes to keep a machine like this alive.

The Oregon Railway & Navigation 197 (often shortened to OR&N 197) offers a window into an earlier era of railroading in the Pacific Northwest.

A 4-6-2 “Pacific” type, it represents the golden age of steam passenger service when speed, style, and reliability connected communities and commerce. More than a static artifact, 197 embodies the painstaking, multi-year process of restoration: the research, the fabrication of parts no longer made, the careful balancing of authenticity and safety. Watching teams work on 197 and its contemporaries is like stepping into a living lab of industrial arts, from riveting and machining to carpentry and paint.

Visiting The Complex

While the locomotives headline the show, the Oregon Rail Heritage Center is also an interpretive space. Exhibits narrate how railroads built Portland’s economic backbone, how technology evolved from steam to diesel, and how the Pacific Northwest’s geography shaped railroad engineering.

Visitors can peer down into service pits, see tools of the trade, and often talk with the volunteers who are eager to share stories and answer questions.

The Center’s design favors transparency: big doors, open bays, and viewing platforms that make the work visible. It’s not just about the finished product; it’s about the process, the people, and the community that preservation requires.

The Holiday Express

That community comes into its fullest expression during the Holiday Express, the Center’s beloved seasonal tradition and a highlight of Portland’s Christmas calendar. Each year, on select dates from late November through mid-December, the ORHF transforms a stretch of track along the river into a festive, family-friendly excursion.

In 2025, Polson Logging Company 2-8-2 #2 leads a train of vintage passenger cars decked in lights. The route takes riders along the Willamette and past Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, with the city skyline glowing and the train’s rhythm setting a cheerful cadence for hot cocoa, carols, and conversations.

The Holiday Express is more than a nostalgic train ride. It’s a fundraiser that directly supports the preservation work you see inside the enginehouse. Ticket sales help underwrite the heavy maintenance, inspections, tooling, and materials that keep historic equipment safe and operational. In that sense, every mug of cocoa and every photo with Santa helps pay for parts, steel, and expertise.

Families return year after year because the experience blends the magic of the season with the tangible wonder of living history. Whether steam or a heritage diesel is on the point—operations can vary by year—the spirit is the same: classic cars, holiday lights, friendly crews, and the kind of memories that become traditions.

Planning a visit is easy. The Oregon Rail Heritage Center is typically open multiple days a week with free admission and a suggested donation, and it is served by multiple transit options. Because hours and special events can change, check the Center’s website for current times and availability.

On most days, you can see the locomotives indoors, explore exhibits, and watch restoration work. On event days—like the Holiday Express—arrive early for parking or consider public transit, as trains tend to sell out and platform areas can be busy. Dress for the weather, especially if you plan to spend time outdoors enjoying photo ops.

The OHRF: One Of America's Finest Railroad Museums

What sets the OHRF apart is its blend of authenticity and accessibility. Many railway museums preserve equipment beautifully but at a distance. ORHC narrows that gap.

The locomotives are not only polished; they are worked on. The people restoring them are not behind-the-scenes; they are in the bays, often happy to explain what they’re doing and why.

For families, that makes the Center a rewarding outing. For students and makers, it’s a master class in applied STEM and skilled trades. For railfans, it’s a pilgrimage site, one of the few places where two massive mainline 4-8-4s share a home.

The broader story is about Portland itself. The city’s decision to own and preserve these locomotives reflects a civic belief that heritage matters, that the objects we save can teach, inspire, and connect.

The Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation—largely powered by volunteers, supported by donors, and anchored by partnerships with local railroads—embodies that belief in action.

Moving the locomotives from their former home near the Brooklyn Yard to the modern facility was a feat of logistics and collaboration. Keeping them in good repair is an ongoing commitment measured in years and thousands of volunteer hours.

If you’re visiting in the Christmas season, put the Holiday Express on your list. Tickets often go fast, weekends sell out, and prime times fill early. The ride itself typically lasts under an hour, which is perfect for young children, and the atmosphere is festive without being overwhelming.

If you can, stop by the enginehouse before or after your ride to see where the magic happens and pick up a souvenir in the gift shop; every purchase supports preservation. If you visit at another time of year, look for other special events, occasional excursions, and hands-on learning opportunities that pop up on the calendar.

Final Thoughts

In an era of digital everything, the Oregon Rail Heritage Center offers something increasingly rare: the sight, sound, and feel of large-scale mechanical art doing what it was built to do.

The locomotives are beautiful objects, yes, but they are also ambassadors for craftsmanship, teamwork, and the simple thrill of movement.

Whether you come for the Holiday Express, for a quiet afternoon of discovery, or for a deep dive into restoration, you’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for the people who keep the past on track—and for the city that made a home for these giants of steam.