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Train Mountain Railroad

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Coordinates: 42°34′N 121°53′W / 42.56°N 121.89°W / 42.56; -121.89
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Central Station

Train Mountain Railroad is the world's largest miniature hobbyist railroad near Chiloquin, Oregon, in Klamath County, which is in the south central region of Oregon. It is situated between Klamath Falls, Oregon, approximately 26 miles (42 km) to the south, and Crater Lake National Park to the north. Physical Location: 36941 South Chiloquin Road, Chiloquin, OR 97624, USA.

Geography

The 2,205-acre (892 ha) property borders Highway 97 on the east side, Highway 62 (Crater Lake Highway) on the west side, and Highway 422 on the north.[1][2] The track and facilities which are not obscured by trees are clearly visible on public satellite images.

The elevation at Train Mountain varies from 4,200 feet (1,300 m) at South Meadow, 4,293 feet (1,309 m) at Central Station, 4,406 feet (1,343 m) at Ward Passing Track (the highest point accessible by train), to 4,780 feet (1,460 m) at Steiger Butte, the highest point on Train Mountain property.[3]

Longest miniature hobby railroad

In the 2004 Guinness World Records, Train Mountain is recognized as the “Longest Miniature Hobby Railroad”.[4] At the time Train Mountain was recognized by Guinness, it was reported to have 69,900 feet (13.24 mi; 21.3 km) of 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) gauge mainline track and 133,250 feet (25.237 mi; 40.61 km) of total track including yards, sidings, spurs, and connector tracks. During the following years, approximately 10 additional miles (16 km) of new track has been added.[5]

Gauge and scale

The Train Mountain 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) gauge miniature railway track is typically used for 1.5" scale trains (1.5" to 12" or approx. 1/8 scale). Trains of 2.5" scale (2.5" to 12", or approx. 1/5 scale) are also common at Train Mountain. Some of these 2.5" scale steam locomotives can weigh in excess of 3,500 pounds (1,600 kg) for the engine and tender when fully loaded with water and fuel.

Live steam

Train Mountain is well known to members of the live steam hobby who visit regularly from all over the world.

Live Steam Trains at Train Mountain Railroad and K&W Railroad
  • Live Steamer at Crisp Yard
    Live Steamer at Crisp Yard
  • Live Steamer on K&W track
    Live Steamer on K&W track

Media coverage

Train Mountain was featured on the Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) program Oregon Field Guide in 2005, in an episode titled "The Dream".[6] The title was making reference to Train Mountain's late founder, Quentin Breen, whose dream was to build the railroad at Train Mountain, as explained in the video.

Train Mountain was again featured on OPB's Oregon Field Guide in the fall of 2017.[7]

Garden railway

A garden railway in G Scale is being constructed at Train Mountain on approximately 4 acres (1.6 ha) in the center of a 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) gauge miniature railway track circle known as Midway Circle. Midway Circle is one of several such circles, which are essentially roundabouts.

Train Mountain Railroad Museum

Train Mountain Railroad Museum[8]also exists on the Train Mountain property, and consists of antique full-size railroad rolling stock and artifacts which are on display. One of the most notable is the 100-short-ton (91,000 kg) antique, steam-powered rotary snowplow, Southern Pacific MW206, built by ALCo (Cooke) in November 1923 with serial number #65353,[9] that was used to remove snow from the tracks between Klamath Falls and Eugene, Oregon. The rotary snowplow was moved to Train Mountain on November 16, 2008.

In August 2024, the museum site would receive Weyerhaeuser Timber Company #101, a Baldwin DS-4-4-750 that was built in May 1950 as one of two demonstrator units for the Baldwin Locomotive Works. It would later serve Weyerhaeuser and the company-owned Oregon, California and Eastern Railway until the railway ceased operations in May 1990. After that, it was privately owned and later had its ownership transferred to the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad before being sold to Train Mountain and arriving at the site. It is notable for being Train Mountain's first full-size display locomotive.[10]

Antique Railroad Equipment at Train Mountain Railroad Museum
  • SP MW206 Rotary Snow Blower
    SP MW206 Rotary Snow Blower
  • Weyerhaeuser Snow Dozier WX 031
    Weyerhaeuser Snow Dozier WX 031
  • Antique Southern Pacific SP MW4047 Jordan Spreader
    Antique Southern Pacific SP MW4047 Jordan Spreader

Train meets

The 25th anniversary of the founding of Train Mountain was celebrated during the summer of 2012.[11] The celebration featured an international miniature train meet entitled the "2012 Triennial." The Train Mountain tradition of Triennials began in the year 2000, and has been held every three years thereafter.[12] The 2018 Triennial attracted trains which totaled more than 10,000 feet in length. The 2022 Triennial had approximately 888 participants, a drop of about 20% from 2018, but more trains than in 2018. The high point of the Triennial is the Big Toot in which all trains assemble on the last Saturday and blow their whistles for one minute. Participants from Australia, Switzerland, Canada, Germany, UK, and the US are attending.[11] The Triennial for 2025 has been scheduled for June 14 to 29 with the dates of the 21st through 29th as the main operating meet days.[13] A specific entrance donation is requested from visitors only during the Triennial event week.

Other train meets for members and those who own, operate, or have an interest in 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) gauge railroading are held seven times a year.[14] These events attract participants from all over the US and Canada. They are popular with live steam enthusiasts due to the uniqueness of the layout, and the ability to operate heavy steam powered locomotives that may not be allowed at other railroads.[citation needed]

Visitors

Train Mountain is a club and museum, not an amusement park, so it does not offer "rides." Volunteer members do, though, offer "tours" which are train rides which may vary from 30 minutes to eight hours in length. On the longer tours, the group will still not see all of the Train Mountain track. The club often provides 30-minute tours on a regular schedule weekdays from 10 AM to 3 PM during the summer (the gate opens at 9 AM) and 11 AM to 2 PM during the off season. For the more-extensive tours, ask any train operator, or schedule a tour with the Train Mountain Office.[15] Tours may be offered on Train Mountain-owned or member-owned equipment. A guide to walking among the historic full-sized museum equipment is available on request. There is no charge for admission, but donations are gratefully accepted to enable maintenance and expansion.

Klamath & Western Railroad

Free public train rides are available at Klamath & Western Railroad (K&WRR) on Saturdays from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The K&WRR is a 501(c)3 non-profit public benefit corporation, which is located directly east and adjacent to Train Mountain on South Chiloquin Road. The train ride uses approximately 1.6 miles (2.6 km) of track, and takes about 15 to 20 minutes.[16]

Klamath & Western Railroad existed prior to the founding of Train Mountain under the name of "Over The Hill Live Steamers" which was a result of being referred to as being over the hill from the Medford Live Steamers (Southern Oregon Live Steamers),[17]) since to get there one had to traverse the Oregon Cascade Mountain Range.[18]

Klamath & Western Railroad has several antique railroad items on display, including the antique Train Order Semaphore Signal, originally used at the Southern Pacific Station in Junction City, Oregon.

Klamath & Western RR
  • Train Order Semaphore
    Train Order Semaphore
  • Public Train Rides
    Public Train Rides

Technology

Train Mountain features a Central Train Control or centralized traffic control ("CTC"), a computer controlled switching and signal system. The status of this system can be viewed online at the Friends of Train Mountain website.[19]

References

  1. ^ "The Complete Atlas" (PDF). Friends of Train Mountain. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  2. ^ "Train Mountain History and Present". trainmtn.org. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  3. ^ "The Complete Atlas" (PDF). Friends of Train Mountain. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  4. ^ Guinness Book of World Records, 2004. Guinness. August 27, 2003. ISBN 978-1-892051-20-2.
  5. ^ "Friends of Train Mountain". Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  6. ^ "Oregon Field Guide — Train Mountain". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on 2008-09-14.
  7. ^ "Train Mountain Railroad". Oregon Field Guide. Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on 2017-11-19.
  8. ^ "Surviving Equipment of the Southern Pacific Railroad and its subsidiary lines". Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  9. ^ "Union Pacific Rotary Snowplows". Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  10. ^ Franz, Justin (2024-08-28). "Oregon Baldwin Moves To Train Mountain". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  11. ^ a b "Triennial website". Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  12. ^ Excepting 2021 which was postponed to 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  13. ^ "Train Mountain Railroad". Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  14. ^ "Train Mountain website". Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  15. ^ "Train Mountain Railroad". Train Mountain Railroad. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  16. ^ "Klamath & Western Railroad website". Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  17. ^ "Medford Railroad Park website". Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  18. ^ "Club History". Klamath & Western Railroad. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  19. ^ "Friends Signaled Track". Retrieved 20 February 2012.
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42°34′N 121°53′W / 42.56°N 121.89°W / 42.56; -121.89

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