Historical railway sign at the entrance of the museum.
During my well-seasoned lifetime I lived all over southern Oregon, and I visited Coos Bay more times than I can count. Hell, I was born there and went back for a few years later in life. Then only a few weeks ago, we discovered the Oregon Coast Historical Railway Museum. What a treat!! How could I have missed this??
They established this inner child playground in 1982 as a non-profit organization. Their goal is to restore and preserve historic railway and logging equipment of the southern coast of Oregon. For us old farts, you find yourself walking down memory lane, especially if you were raised by a logger. And for your inner child, you get to climb in the train cars and ring the bell!!!
Discover the railway trains
Meet Steam Engine Locomotive No. 104, built in 1922 by Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia. It is a 2-8-2 Mikado style, oil burning engine used by the Coos Bay Lumber Company to haul log trains in Coos County from 1923 to 1954.
This is the first engine you see as you make your way into the park. The cool thing is, not only do you get to admire it but you get to step inside! Climb up into the engine and see all the controls and buttons and knobs, and best of all, RING THE BELL!
I cannot believe I did not get a picture of the outside of this green caboose, but I was completely fascinated by the inside. I can imagine living in here for long trips with the comfy seats, the stove, and the typewriter to keep notes.
This is the Burlington-Northern wooden caboose No. 11269 building in St. Cloud, Minnesota. This caboose has a cupola which are the high windows where the trainmen sat. It operated on main and trunk lines from Astoria and Bend and was later painted and used as a “break shack” in a pear orchard in Hood River.
This little guy is called “Old Yellow”, engine #099. This fiesty looking engine worked at the Panama Canal and at Bonneville Dam.
Much more to explore
This is just a little taste of all the stuff you can check out. Climb in the engines, ring a railroad bell, and get up close to a miniature train. Recently they also added the motor that operated the swing-span railroad bridge over the bay near North Bend. Be sure to go inside so you can check out the gift shop and the little museum.
This is a fun little afternoon jaunt where you can get some exercise, learn about some local history, and let your inner child PLAY!!!
P.S. Thank you to the Oregon Coast Historical Railway wonderful volunteers and brochure for the background information used here.