Lewis & Clark Explorer RDCs - Portland-Astoria, OR

[MP57313]

Well, we made it! Rode this train on Monday June 6th. For those unfamiliar with it, it is a train of former BC Rail RDCs that runs Friday/ Saturday/ Sunday/ Monday between Portland (Linnton District) and Astoria. The last run will be in early October '05.

The train is not particularly fast -- top speed 30 mph -- but it runs through some interesting territory between the Columbia River and US 30. Some of the points of interest, in no particular order: a short tunnel (188 '), street running (Rainier), three draw bridges, a closed nuclear power facility (Trojan), eagles flying above, a huge paper mill (Westport), a real small station (Brownsmead).

We lucked out ... the day before, one of the RDCs (the one shown in the lead in the ad picture) conked out, and they were an hour late getting back to Portland. Our trip only had two RDCs, and the crew had to work with the smaller food prep area. [The disabled RDC has a full galley]. Luckily, we were early in the season so the relatively small passenger load did not overload the crew. Dinner for the return trip is prepared by Astoria businesses and served en route on the way back. The RDCs are a bit worn ... but there is still way more room than coach on an airplane! These RDCs ran in daily service on BC Rail for many years, and an on board mechanical engineer rides on each trip. The RDCs are also preceded by a hi-rail vehicle who runs ahead of them by an hour or so.

I was invited into the 'cab' to get some pictures as we rocked along; the engineer (Ken Nickels - not sure of the spelling) is a former SP man and really enjoyed running the train. Ken and the conductor work for the PNWR (Portland & Western) and run freights when not operating this train.

The farthest west freight cars I saw were at the paper mill in Westport - a couple of CN boxcars by the loading platform, and several Procor tankcars (but I don't recall what they were carrying). Ken mentioned that freight service extends beyond Westport to Wauna maybe once a month, but there are no active customers beyond there. Freight service was run beyond Wauna to the Astoria area until the mid-90s, when a landslide caused some damage out that way. It would have cost too much to repair the line, so it was closed.

The lay-over in Astoria is about four hours, and there are several restaurants in the area. We also checked out some of the stores, and the Maritime Museum.
Astoria also has a 'riverfront trolley' (ex-San Antonio; ex-Portland) that runs along the former freight line along the Astoria waterfront. There is no overhead wire; the trolley car is powered by a tag-along generator.

This service is listed in Amtrak's Cascades timetable but it's a bit misleading...the departure point, the Linnton district of Portland, is several miles northwest of Portland's Amtrak station (and not on any Amtrak route).

For railfans interested in riding RDCs, or rare mileage, or just a trip out for the day...it was time well spent. Fare was $35 each way.

MP

[georgel]

Sounds like a fun trip! don't forget Portland has several great book stores with huge selections of used transportation sections,many books in very good condition.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the trip report. Sounds great..

[MP57313]

QUOTE: Originally posted by georgel
don't forget Portland has several great book stores with huge selections

Yep! We checked out Powell's Books too. Did not buy any books, but did get a topo-type map of the Columbia River Gorge, which we visited the day after the RDC trip...