Portland, OR area - railfanning spots?

[MP57313]

My wife an I will travel to Portland, OR next month. We will be riding the Lewis & Clark explorer train (ex-BC Rail RDCs) to Astoria and back.

Any suggestions on other places to visit - railfan-wise?

Thanks

MP

[nanaimo73]

Portland Union Station, and two miles south across the Willamette river is the roundhouse at Brooklyn yard with SP 4449, SP&S 700, an OR&N 4-6-2, a Nickel Plate painted RSD5, and a ALCo PA. Do you have the Trackside guide that came with the Dec.2002 Trains ?

[MP57313]

Thanks for the points, and the reminder...I'm sure I have that issue of Trains in my archives somewhere!

[chad thomas]

I would also recomend taking a drive up the george. Perhaps to Hood River, where the Hood River railroad operates out of. You could drive up on one side of the river and back on the other. On the Oregon side there is a popular fishing area just east of Troutdale where you have a good view of the tracks. Further up the river is Multnomah Falls, a must see if your passing through. At Cascade Locks there is a nice park in the shadow of the Bridge of the Gods where you have a front row seat to the UP action and a good view of the BNSF across the river. The river is at it's narrowest here, and the bridge allows you quick access to the other side ($.75 per axle not including the steering). Between Cascade Locks and Hood River just about every exit leads to a good spot to watch & photograph trains.

On the Washington side as you go west from White Salmon (opposite Hood River) you are right next to the BNSF main for 20 miles. And I mean right next to the tracks. From the eastbound lane you can almost reach out and touch the trains in places. As you move west you swap sides at a popular wind surfing spot. There is an abandoned mill there. This mill was fed by a log flume, and for several miles the flume is visible along the canyon sides high above. There are several tunnels for both the road and tracks through here. There is a nice park in Home Valley (where Amtrak wrecked a few weeks back) next to a operating mill that gets switched daily. After Home Valley you basicaly follow the tracks the rest of the way back twards Portland (Vancouver) but there are many streaches where the tracks are out of view from the road. In the winter you can see the tracks better but when the trees have leaves it's almost impossible. There are short sections where the tracks are close to the road again, but your best bet for seeing trains is to take a side road twards the river till you intercept the tracks. The scenic highlight of this part of the highway (SR14) is Cape Horn where the road climbs several hundred feet above the tracks and is literaly carved into the side of a vertical wall. The view from the Cape is spectaculer.

Aside from the locations I mentioned there are numerous other outstanding spots for both train watching or just enjoying the beautifull scenery. And there is also the Bonnaville dam complex that offers tours. If you have never been up the george I highly recomend you take the trip.

[kenneo]

What day(s) you comming? Perhaps we could get together or maybe wave to you as you pass through St. Helens?

[MP57313]

Thanks Chad. A non-railfan colleague mentioned Multnomah Falls as being worth the trip. I saw that Bridge of the Gods on the map and couldn't tell if it was a road bridge; thanks for the tip.

We might do this circle tour up/down the gorge; meanwhile the Trains Trackside Guide (found it) mentions it rains in Portland November-June. Oh well, we are going regardless.

Interesting from looking at the SPV atlas that part of the line to Astoria had been out of service at the time that was published, though it mentions potential restoration. Trains magazine guide shows the line as back in service. It betteer be; they've been running these Lewis & Clark trains for a couple of years now.

[chad thomas]

Don't worry about the rain. If it does rain it usually burns off by mid day this time of year. Even if it's raining in Portland you can go up the george and find that by the time you get to Hood River it will be dry and sunny. Thats the area where it turns from green to yellow. It's worth going as far as The Dalles to see the variety of scenery.

The road bridges are:
I-5 and I-205 in Portland (free)
The Bridge of the Gods (toll) Stevenson,Wa---Cascade Locks,Or.
Hood River bridge (toll) White Salmon,Wa--Hood River,Or.
The Dalles Bridge (free) The Dalles,Or.

Tolls for autos are $.75 each way.