Mount Hood Railroad: Difference between revisions

Mount Hood Railroad
Mount Hood Railroad
	The Mount Hood Railroad in spring, with Mount Hood in the background.
Terminus	Hood River, Oregon; - Parkdale
Commercial operations
Original gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Preserved operations
Preserved gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Commercial history
Opened	1906 / 1909
Closed	1987
Preservation history
1987	Bought by private investors
2008	Sold to Permian Basin Railways (Iowa Pacific Holdings)
2022	Sold to Mount Hood Capital Investments LLC
	Mt. Hood Railroad Linear Historic District
	U.S. National Register of Historic Places
	U.S. Historic district
	Railroad depot in Hood River
Location	Mt. Hood RR right-of-way from Hood River to Parkdale, Hood River, Oregon
Area	165 acres (67 ha)
Built	1906
Architect	Joseph A. West (design/construction)
NRHP reference No.	93001507
Added to NRHP	January 24, 1994
Website
	mthoodrr.com

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The Mount Hood Railroad (reporting mark MHRR) is a heritage and shortline freight railroad located in Hood River, Oregon, 60 miles (97 km) east of Portland, Oregon, United States.

The majority of the railroad's revenue is generated from passenger excursions although a few small freight shippers remain that generate several carloads of traffic per week.

MHRR trackage

The northern terminus of the Mount Hood Railroad is at Hood River, Oregon, where the line interchanges with the Union Pacific Railroad. The line starts out parallel to the Hood River for the first three miles (4.8 km) until it reaches a switchback. Switchbacks used to be common, but this is now only one of five remaining railroad switchbacks in use in the United States. After the trains reverse direction at the switchback, the line continues south through the communities of Pine Grove, Odell, and Dee before reaching the southern end of the line at Parkdale. The total length of the line is approximately 22 miles.

Locomotive roster

The Mount Hood Railroad currently has two locomotives on its roster:

MHRR 02 - EMD GP38-2 (ex-CR/PC 7796, ex-PCN 16) Main Locomotive (Built 1969)
MHRR 88 - EMD GP9 (ex-SP 3885) Backup Locomotive (Built 1959)

Formerly Rostered Locomotives

MHRR 89 - EMD GP9 (built 9/59, ex-MILW 306, ex-MNVA 306) Sold to SLRG in 2019
MHRR 18 - Alco 2-8-0 steam locomotive (built 1910, ex-Lake Superior & Ishpeming 11, renumbered 18, ex-Ishpeming Steel Co, ex-Lake States Steam Association, ex-Grand Canyon Railway, then Rio Grande Scenic Railroad 18, now Colebrookdale). Shipped from Grand Canyon to Mt Hood only to be sent to Rio Grande Scenic six months later.

History

The line south out of Hood River was first built in 1906, extending as far as Dee, Oregon. In 1909 the line was extended to the present-day end of track at Parkdale, Oregon. The Union Pacific acquired the line in 1968 and operated it with the primary customers being fruit shippers and the lumber operation at Dee. As local industries switched to truck-based transportation for their goods, carloads on the line dwindled and the Union Pacific proposed abandoning the line. In 1987 a group of local investors purchased the railroad from Union Pacific and began to offer passenger excursions to augment the freight business. Brian Fleming sold the line again in 2008 to Permian Basin Railways,^[2] a subsidiary of Chicago-based Iowa Pacific Holdings.

Oregon’s Mount Hood Railroad was sold in January 2022 to a local investment firm. The tourist railroad and freight operator had been placed into receivership back in 2019 when its previous owner, Iowa Pacific Holdings, defaulted on a $5 million loan. The new owner, Mount Hood Capital Investments LLC, plans on keeping the railroad’s current local management. They also plan on acquiring another locomotive in hopes of increasing freight business. The railroad can operate on all 22 miles of track from Hood River to Parkdale. L. Scott Webster, the head of the investment firm is excited about the potential of Mt. Hood Railroad and what it means for the region. The railroad envisions great value by enhancing local agritourism, growing the freight business and providing solutions for the community.^[3]

Today the railroad offers scenic tours through the Hood River Valley and narrated historic excursion train tours, as well as special events. They also offer motor-assisted railbike tours on the line. There are views of Mount Hood and Mount Adams along with the surrounding orchards and farmland of the Hood River Valley.^[4]

Accidents and incidents

On December 2, 2017, a passenger train derailed 3 miles (4.8 km) from Hood River. There were no injuries amongst the 214 people on board the train. The line was closed until December 8.^[5]

References

^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
^ Brinckman, Jonathan (April 9, 2008). "Sale of Mount Hood Railway completed". The Oregonian. Retrieved July 7, 2008.
^ "Oregon's Mount Hood Railroad Sold to Investment Group". railfan.com. January 19, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
^ "Grant's Getaways: The Harvest Express". www.kgw.com. October 15, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
^ Hanson, Nate (December 2, 2017). "Mount Hood Railroad out of service for a week following derailment". KGW. Retrieved December 3, 2017.

External links

[nris-1] "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.

[2] Brinckman, Jonathan (April 9, 2008). "Sale of Mount Hood Railway completed". The Oregonian. Retrieved July 7, 2008.

[3] "Oregon's Mount Hood Railroad Sold to Investment Group". railfan.com. January 19, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2023.

[4] "Grant's Getaways: The Harvest Express". www.kgw.com. October 15, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021.

[KGW496258920-5] Hanson, Nate (December 2, 2017). "Mount Hood Railroad out of service for a week following derailment". KGW. Retrieved December 3, 2017.

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[5]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|Tourist railroad based in Hood River, Oregon}}
-{{distinguish|Mount Hood Railway and Power Company}}
+{{Distinguish|Mount Hood Railway and Power Company}}
+{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
+{{More citations needed|date=December 2009}}
 {{Infobox heritage railway
 | name             = Mount Hood Railroad
 | other_name       =
 | image            = [[File:MtHoodRailroad Spring.jpg|frameless]]
 | caption          = The Mount Hood Railroad in spring, with [[Mount Hood]] in the background.
 | locale           =
-| terminus         = [[Hood River, Oregon|Hood River]], [[Oregon]]<br> - [[Parkdale, Oregon|Parkdale]]
+| terminus         = [[Hood River, Oregon]]<br> - [[Parkdale, Oregon|Parkdale]]
 | latitude         =
 | longitude        =
 | map              =
 | mapcaption       =
 | linename         =
 | builtby          =
 | originalopen     = 1906 / 1909
 | closedpassengers =
 | closed           = 1987
 | originalgauge    = {{RailGauge|ussg}}
 | preservedgauge   = {{RailGauge|ussg}}
 | era              =
 | owned            =
 | operator         =
 | stations         =
 | length           =
 | stageyears       =
 | com-years        =
 | com-events       =
 | stage            =
 | years            = 1987
 | events           = Bought by private investors
 | years1           = 2008
-| events1          = Sold to [[Permian Basin Railways]]
+| events1          = Sold to [[Permian Basin Railways]] (Iowa Pacific Holdings)
-| website          = http://www.mthoodrr.com/ Mount Hood Railroad
+| website          = {{URL|mthoodrr.com}}
+| years2           = 2022
+| events2          = Sold to Mount Hood Capital Investments LLC
 {{Infobox NRHP
-| name                 = Mt. Hood Railroad Linear Historic District
+| name      = Mt. Hood Railroad Linear Historic District
-| embed                = yes
+| embed     = yes
-| nrhp_type            = hd | nocat = yes
+| nrhp_type = hd
-| image                = Mount Hood Railroad Depot - Hood River, Oregon.JPG
+| nocat     = yes
+| image     = Mount Hood Railroad Depot - Hood River, Oregon.JPG
-| caption              = Railroad depot in Hood River
+| caption   = Railroad depot in Hood River
-| location             = Mt. Hood RR right-of-way from Hood River to Parkdale, [[Hood River, Oregon]]
+| location  = Mt. Hood RR right-of-way from Hood River to Parkdale, [[Hood River, Oregon]]
-| locmapin             = Oregon
+| locmapin  = Oregon
-| built                = {{Start date|1906}}
+| built     = {{Start date|1906}}
-| architect OR builder = West, Joseph
+| architect = Joseph A. West (design/construction)
-| added                = January 24, 1994
+| added     = January 24, 1994
-| area                 = {{convert|165|acre}}
+| area      = {{convert|165|acre}}
+| refnum    = 93001507<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
-| governing_body       = Private
-| refnum               = 93001507<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
 }}
 }}
-The '''Mount Hood Railroad''' {{reporting mark|MH}} is a [[heritage railway|heritage]] and [[shortline railroad|shortline]] [[freight railroad]] located in [[Hood River, Oregon]], {{convert|60|mi|km|0}} east of [[Portland, Oregon]], [[United States]].
+The '''Mount Hood Railroad''' {{reporting mark|MHRR}} is a [[heritage railway|heritage]] and [[shortline railroad|shortline]] [[freight railroad]] located in [[Hood River, Oregon]], {{convert|60|mi|km|0}} east of [[Portland, Oregon]], [[United States]].
 The majority of the railroad's revenue is generated from passenger excursions although a few small freight shippers remain that generate several carloads of traffic per week.
 ==MHRR trackage==
+[[File:Mount Hood Railroad route.jpg|thumb|Route in 1931]]
-The northern terminus of the Mount Hood Railroad is at [[Hood River, Oregon|Hood River]], [[Oregon]], where the line interchanges with the [[Union Pacific]] Railroad. The line starts out parallel to the [[Hood River (Oregon)|Hood River]] for the first {{convert|3|mi|km|1|spell=in}} until it reaches a [[Zig Zag (railway)|switchback]]. Switchbacks used to be common, but this is now only one of five remaining railroad switchbacks in use in the United States. After the trains reverse direction at the switchback, the line continues south through the communities of [[Pine Grove, Hood River County, Oregon|Pine Grove]], [[Odell, Oregon|Odell]], and [[Dee, Oregon|Dee]] before reaching the southern end of the line at [[Parkdale, Oregon|Parkdale]]. The total length of the line is just over {{convert|21|mi|km|0}}.
+The northern terminus of the Mount Hood Railroad is at [[Hood River, Oregon|Hood River]], [[Oregon]], where the line interchanges with the [[Union Pacific]] Railroad. The line starts out parallel to the [[Hood River (Oregon)|Hood River]] for the first {{convert|3|mi|km|1|spell=in}} until it reaches a [[Zig Zag (railway)|switchback]]. Switchbacks used to be common, but this is now only one of five remaining railroad switchbacks in use in the United States. After the trains reverse direction at the switchback, the line continues south through the communities of [[Pine Grove, Hood River County, Oregon|Pine Grove]], [[Odell, Oregon|Odell]], and [[Dee, Oregon|Dee]] before reaching the southern end of the line at [[Parkdale, Oregon|Parkdale]]. The total length of the line is approximately 22 miles.
+==Locomotive roster==
-==Locomotives and equipment==
-The Mount Hood Railroad currently has three+1 Sooner More=4 locomotives on its roster:
+The Mount Hood Railroad currently has two locomotives on its roster:
-*MHRR 02 - [[EMD GP38-2]] (ex-CR/PC 7796, ex-PCN 16)
+*MHRR 02 - [[EMD GP38-2]] (ex-CR/PC 7796, ex-PCN 16) Main Locomotive (Built 1969)
-*MHRR 88 - [[EMD GP9]] (ex-SP 3885)
+*MHRR 88 - [[EMD GP9]] (ex-SP 3885) Backup Locomotive (Built 1959)
-*MHRR 89 - [[EMD GP9]] (built 9/59, ex-MILW 306, ex-MNVA 306)
-MH RR 90 EMD GP30 U.P. 844!
+==Formerly Rostered Locomotives==
-The MHRR roster also includes one excursion passenger train which consists of two closed coaches, one snack car, one open air coach, and a caboose. There is also a dinner train, which consists of four cars configured in dining seating arrangements. The railroad's new owners added a full-length [[dome lounge]] car in 2008. This is a former [[Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe]] car originally built by the [[Budd Company]] in 1954.
+*MHRR 89 - [[EMD GP9]] (built 9/59, ex-MILW 306, ex-MNVA 306) Sold to SLRG in 2019
+*MHRR [[Lake Superior and Ishpeming 18|18]] - [[Alco]] [[2-8-0]] [[steam locomotive]] (built 1910, ex-[[Lake Superior & Ishpeming]] 11, renumbered 18, ex-Ishpeming Steel Co, ex-Lake States Steam Association, ex-[[Grand Canyon Railway]], then [[Rio Grande Scenic Railroad]] 18, now [[Colebrookdale Railroad|Colebrookdale]]). Shipped from Grand Canyon to Mt Hood only to be sent to Rio Grande Scenic six months later.
-Locomotive 89 was recently transferred to the [[Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay Railroad]] in [[Watsonville, California]] for operations on the former Union Pacific Santa Cruz Branch, & That Left Locomotive 90 2 pull The Santa Cruz Local in 2006 16 years Later After 1990 When Union Pacific GEEP 30 #844 Got Restored 2 Mount Hood Railroad GEEP  9 M #90. Leaving GP7 #560 2 overtake it in 1991!
 ==History==
+[[File:Mount Hood Railway Cars (10488325824).jpg|center|thumb|[[Electro-Motive Diesel|EMD]] [[EMD GP38-2|GP38-2]] No. 2 sitting at Hood River station in 2003]]
-The line south out of Hood River was first built in 1906, extending as far as Dee. In 1909 the line was extended to the present-day end of track at Parkdale. The Union Pacific acquired the line in 1968 and operated it with the primary customers being fruit shippers and the lumber operation at Dee. As local industries switched to truck-based transportation for their goods, carloads on the line dwindled and the Union Pacific proposed abandoning the line. In 1987 a group of local investors purchased the railroad from Union Pacific and began to offer passenger excursions to augment the freight business. The line was sold again in 2008 to [[Permian Basin Railways]],<ref>{{cite news |first=Jonathan |last=Brinckman |title=Sale of Mount Hood Railway completed |url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/business/2008/04/sale_of_mount_hood_railway_com.html |work=[[The Oregonian]] |date=2008-04-09 |accessdate=2008-07-07 }}</ref> a subsidiary of Chicago-based [[Iowa Pacific Holdings]].
+The line south out of Hood River was first built in 1906, extending as far as Dee, Oregon. In 1909 the line was extended to the present-day end of track at Parkdale, Oregon. The Union Pacific acquired the line in 1968 and operated it with the primary customers being fruit shippers and the lumber operation at Dee. As local industries switched to truck-based transportation for their goods, carloads on the line dwindled and the Union Pacific proposed abandoning the line. In 1987 a group of local investors purchased the railroad from Union Pacific and began to offer passenger excursions to augment the freight business. Brian Fleming sold the line again in 2008 to [[Permian Basin Railways]],<ref>{{cite news |first=Jonathan |last=Brinckman |title=Sale of Mount Hood Railway completed |url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/business/2008/04/sale_of_mount_hood_railway_com.html |work=[[The Oregonian]] |date=2008-04-09 |accessdate=2008-07-07 }}</ref> a subsidiary of Chicago-based [[Iowa Pacific Holdings]].
+Oregon’s Mount Hood Railroad was sold in January 2022 to a local investment firm. The tourist railroad and freight operator had been placed into receivership back in 2019 when its previous owner, Iowa Pacific Holdings, defaulted on a $5 million loan. The new owner, Mount Hood Capital Investments LLC, plans on keeping the railroad’s current local management. They also plan on acquiring another locomotive in hopes of increasing freight business. The railroad can operate on all 22 miles of track from Hood River to Parkdale. L. Scott Webster, the head of the investment firm is excited about the potential of Mt. Hood Railroad and what it means for the region. The railroad envisions great value by enhancing local agritourism, growing the freight business and providing solutions for the community.<ref>{{cite web|date= January 19, 2022|title=Oregon's Mount Hood Railroad Sold to Investment Group|url=https://railfan.com/oregons-mount-hood-railroad-sold-to-investment-group/|access-date=2023-06-14|website=railfan.com|language=en}}</ref>
+Today the railroad offers scenic tours through the Hood River Valley and narrated historic excursion train tours, as well as special events. They also offer motor-assisted railbike tours on the line. There are views of [[Mount Hood]] and [[Mount Adams (Washington)|Mount Adams]] along with the surrounding orchards and farmland of the Hood River Valley.<ref>{{cite web|date= October 15, 2021|title=Grant's Getaways: The Harvest Express|url=https://www.kgw.com/article/travel/destinations/grants-getaways/grants-getaways-harvest-express/283-1ef30712-c610-4913-a381-529c8b34e24a|access-date=2021-10-17|website=www.kgw.com|language=en}}</ref>
+==Accidents and incidents==
-Today the railroad offers four-hour scenic tours through the Hood River Valley and narrated historic excursion train tours, as well as special events. There are views of [[Mount Hood]] and [[Mount Adams (Washington)|Mount Adams]] along with the surrounding orchards and farmland of the Hood River Valley.
+*On December 2, 2017, a passenger train derailed {{convert|3|mi|km}} from Hood River. There were no injuries amongst the 214 people on board the train. The line was closed until December 8.<ref name=KGW496258920>{{cite web |url=http://www.kgw.com/news/local/train-to-christmas-town-derails-with-200-aboard/496258920 |title=Mount Hood Railroad out of service for a week following derailment |first=Nate |last=Hanson |publisher=KGW |date=December 2, 2017 |accessdate=December 3, 2017}}</ref>
 ==See also==
@@ Line 77: / Line 87: @@
 ==References==
+{{Reflist}}
-{{Refimprove|date=December 2009}}
-{{reflist}}
 ==External links==
-{{commons category}}
+{{Commons category}}
 *[http://www.mthoodrr.com/ Mount Hood Railroad]
-*[http://pdxhistory.com/html/interurbans.html Information, maps and pictures related to Mount Hood Railway and Power Company] from PDX History
 *[http://www.up.com/customers/shortline/profiles_l-p/mh/index.htm Information on the Mount Hood Railroad] from [[Union Pacific]]
-*[http://www.trainweb.org/oerhs/roster/mthood_1191.htm Information on an extant piece of Mount Hood Railway and Power Company equipment] from trainweb.org
 {{Oregon railroads}}
+{{Authority control}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Mount Hood Railroad}}
@@ Line 93: / Line 101: @@
 [[Category:Heritage railroads in Oregon]]
 [[Category:Spin-offs of the Union Pacific Railroad]]
-[[Category:Companies operating former Union Pacific Railroad lines]]
 [[Category:Hood River, Oregon]]
 [[Category:Transportation in Hood River County, Oregon]]
@@ Line 101: / Line 108: @@
 [[Category:Rail infrastructure on the National Register of Historic Places in Oregon]]
 [[Category:Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Oregon]]
+[[Category:Railways with Zig Zags]]

v t e Railroads of Oregon
Common carriers	Albany and Eastern Railroad BNSF Railway City of Prineville Railway Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad Coos Bay Rail Line Goose Lake Railway LLC Hampton Railway Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad Klamath Northern Railway Mount Hood Railroad Oregon Eastern Railroad Oregon Pacific Railroad Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad Portland and Western Railroad Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad Peninsula Terminal Company Portland Terminal Railroad Rogue Valley Terminal Railroad Corporation Union Pacific Railroad Willamette and Pacific Railroad Wallowa Union Railroad Authority Willamette Valley Railway
Passenger carriers	Amtrak MAX Light Rail Portland Streetcar WES Commuter Rail
Heritage railroads	Longview, Portland and Northern Railway Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad Oregon, Pacific and Eastern Railway Sumpter Valley Railway Willamette Shore Trolley
See also: Former carriers in Oregon List of United States railroads by political division

Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	United States