Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad (OCSR) - Rockaway Beach Station:
Overview of Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad - Rockaway Beach Station The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad is a heritage railroad that offers scenic train excursions along the North Oregon Coast. The Rockaway Beach Station is one of its key stops, serving as a gateway to experiencing historical train rides and exploring the scenic beauty of the Oregon coast.
What It Contains: Historic Train Rides: The station functions as a departure point for vintage train excursions pulled by historic steam or diesel locomotives. These rides typically offer breathtaking coastal views from the comfort of restored, vintage train cars.
Station Facilities: The Rockaway Beach Station includes ticketing areas, a waiting platform, and potentially a small museum or gift shop celebrating the history of the railroad and the local area.
Rolling Stock: The station is associated with restored historic train cars and locomotives, preserving Oregon’s railway heritage.
Events and Special Trips: The station and railroad often host themed rides, holiday specials, and events like murder mystery trains or sunset excursions.
Why It Is Famous: Heritage and History: The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad is dedicated to preserving Oregon’s railway history, with vintage trains and well-preserved equipment that tell the story of early transportation in the region.
Scenic Journeys: The train rides provide spectacular views of the Oregon coastline, forests, and small towns, making it a popular activity for tourists and train enthusiasts.
Nostalgic Experience: Riding a vintage train provides a nostalgic trip back in time, appealing to families, history buffs, and photography enthusiasts.
Connection to Local Culture: The railroad plays an important role in local tourism and community events, making it a cherished part of the Rockaway Beach area.
Additional Insights: The railroad’s routes typically run from Rockaway Beach to Garibaldi and sometimes further, offering different scenic lengths.
The operation is managed by dedicated volunteers and staff committed to preserving the legacy of Oregon’s railroads.
The station and train rides are especially popular during the summer months, holidays, and...
Read moreWe had so much fun on this rail excursion because...we love trains! We drove to Rockaway Beach, Oregon and boarded the train in the afternoon. The train leaves Rockaway Beach and travels north/northeast for about 45 minutes to the small town of Wheeler, Oregon, where it makes a 30-minute stop before heading back to Rockaway Beach. There a lot of quaint little shops in Wheeler to visit, as well as a few eateries.
One thing to remember is that this IS Oregon and it DOES rain...a lot! The sky opened up and dumped buckets of rain down during the entire excursion, but we did not let that dampen our spirits because were were on a historic train. We chose the enclosed passenger car, the Wilson River car, knowing that rain was a strong possibility. Unfortunately, there was no heat in the car so it was a bit chilly on the ride back (mainly because we got wet in Wheeler when we got off the train). And, we were fortunate enough to have scheduled our trip when the steam locomotive was running, McCloud River Railroad #25. [It should also be noted that there are no restrooms on this train, but there are restrooms located at each stop.]
Bottom line: This was a LOT of fun and the scenery was beautiful along the Oregon Coast, Nehalem Bay and...
Read moreWe took our 5 kids on this from Rockaway Beach to Gibraldi. There was a 25 minute wait for them to reload the train and head back to Rockaway Beach. The kids (ages 6 - 13) loved the ride there and back as did we. The guide told us about the history of the train and there was wild life to see along the way. Sadly, the turtles weren’t out in either direction, but we saw a Bald Eagle. Apparently there’s also a Blue Heron that hangs out where the turtles are found when the water is lower. The views were beautiful and at one point we rode through a canopy of trees which was kind of cool! There is a playground on both ends for the kids to enjoy. Theres also bathrooms on both ends, but not on the train. There’s not much in Gibraldi. There’s a DQ if you want to grab ice cream or a quick bite, but other than that, we didn’t see much. There are LOTS places to eat and check out in Rockaway. (Food, a candy shop, a souvenir shop, a public beach etc) If you choose to do the 1 hour layover, I wouldn’t do it in Gibraldi, but I would in Rockaway. Be sure to buy tickets in advance. There were people that came and couldn’t get on, because they didn’t buy tickets in advance and it...
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