Samtrak

Samtrak was a heritage railroad that operated in Oregon from 1993 to 2001. [cite news | author=Nelson Pickett | title=Traveling between Oaks Park and OMSI? GO SAMTRAK | work=The Oregonian | page=B02 | date=1993-05-25] [cite news | author=Jonathan Nicholas | title=PDXtra | work=The Oregonian | page=E01 | date=2001-10-26]

The company was a subsidiary of the Oregon Pacific Railroad and operated passenger excursion trains from the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) to SE Spokane Street in Sellwood with a stop at Oaks Amusement Park near the Sellwood Bridge. The route was six miles long and it took one hour to make a round trip. Upon request, on weekday afternoons or Friday evenings, the train would also carry passengers farther south down the line to the Anchorage Restaurant on the Willamette River.

The original cost to ride Samtrak was $3. In 1995, the cost was increased to $4. [cite news | author=Paul Duchene | title=Cab or caboose, Diesel knows it can | work=The Oregonian | page=40 | date=1995-05-05]

Samtrak ran Tuesday through Sunday during the summer and for special events and holidays, such as Memorial Day and Holiday Junction at OMSI. [cite news | author=Joe Fitzgibbon | title=Holiday Junction will steam into OMSI with celebration | work=The Oregonian | page=3 | date=1997-12-11]

The passenger excursion train consisted of a 45-ton diesel locomotive and an open-air passenger car. In June 1994, the railway purchased an antique 1926 caboose from the Northern Pacific Railway and added it to the train. Riding in the cupola of the caboose cost an extra dollar. [cite news | author=Kim Bradford | title=The l'il caboose | work=The Oregonian | page=C02 | date=1994-06-22]

After Samtrak stopped running, the diesel locomotive and the open passenger car were donated to the Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society in May 2005. [cite web|title=Museum acquires former SAMTRAK equipment|url=http://www.trainweb.org/oerhs/oerm/oerm_news.htm#samtrak]

Gallery

References