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.

Mount Hood Railroad
The Mount Hood Railroad in spring, with Mount Hood in the background.
TerminusHood River, Oregon
- Parkdale
Commercial operations
Original gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Preserved operations
Preserved gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Commercial history
Opened1906 / 1909
Closed1987
Preservation history
1987Bought by private investors
2008Sold to Permian Basin Railways (Iowa Pacific Holdings)
2022Sold to Mount Hood Capital Investments LLC
Mt. Hood Railroad Linear Historic District
Railroad depot in Hood River
Mount Hood Railroad is located in Oregon
Mount Hood Railroad
LocationMt. Hood RR right-of-way from Hood River to Parkdale, Hood River, Oregon
Area165 acres (67 ha)
Built1906 (1906)
ArchitectJoseph A. West (design/construction)
NRHP reference No.93001507[1]
Added to NRHPJanuary 24, 1994
Website
mthoodrr.com

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

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Route in 1931

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

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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

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History

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EMD 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, 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

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  • 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]

See also

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References

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  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.
  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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