The Blue Goose will soon be pulling trains along the Grande Ronde and Wallowa Rivers.
Travelers along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway in 2012 will have the opportunity to experience some exciting changes to one of the byway’s most popular attractions. The Eagle Cap Excursion Train, which operates out of Elgin, Oregon, 20 miles north of La Grande on the Highway 82 section of the byway, will gain a 1915 Baldwin Steam Engine to its rolling stock. Operators hope to add the steam engine to the schedule of excursions by mid-summer. The engine, known as the Blue Goose, has a long history of pulling excursion trains, most recently on the Yreka Western Railroad in northern California. Railroad officials agree, the steam engine is sure to increase ridership on the excursions along the highly scenic Grande Ronde and Wallowa Rivers.
The Wallowa Union Railroad Authority (WURA) confirmed at their January 5 meeting, they had come to an agreement to contract with Standard Northern and Pacific Railroad (SNAP) for operation of the railroad, which is jointly owned by Union and Wallowa Counties. The 63 miles of track, historically known as the century-old Joseph Branch, was rescued from salvage in 2003, when the governments of the two counties stepped in to preserve the vital piece of transportation infrastructure. Since that time, WURA has operated an excursion train and limited freight business on the line, with help from the non-profit support group, the Friends of the Joseph Branch. From spring, 2009 to fall 2011, the railroad leased the Wallowa County portion of the track to Union Pacific for storage of out of service lumber cars through the height of the recession. Revenue from the lease paid off the Counties’ debt on the railroad and put them in a good position to lease the line to a railroad company that can build on what has been started. Some trains will be pulled by the steam engine, while the diesel engines will continue to provide the power on most trips.
Plans announced by SNAP also include increasing the number of trips throughout the excursion season, adding trips to and from Wallowa and Joseph, and eventually bringing back the popular Steelhead fishing trains and rafting pick-up trains. Keep an eye on www.eaglecaptrain.com for the 2012 schedule and updates to the activities of the railroad. Make reservations for the annual Mother’s Day Brunch train by calling Alegre Travel, 800.323.7330.
