CHEHALIS, Wash. — The Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum will resume excursion train operations April 6 after a lengthy hiatus, the organization has announced.
The Centralia Chronicle reports Saturday and Sunday excursions are scheduled through Sept. 29, plus Polar Express trains that will begin Nov. 9.
The heritage operation halted operations in March 2022 after losing its liability insurance as a result of accident claims over a six-year period, with no other insurer willing to step in and provide coverage [see “Accident losses led to end of insurance …,” Trains News Wire, March 10, 2022]. The organization is resuming operations through an agreement reached last year with the operator of the Goose Lake Railway, a short line in Oregon and California. Goose Lake will provide crew members and operate the trains, while Chehalis-Central maintains the track and rolling stock and manages events [see “Chehalis-Centralia Railroad agreement …,” News Wire, Oct. 5, 2023].
Excursions will be powered by former Puget Sound Shipyard GE 65-ton diesel No. 6, as repairs are continuing on the railroad’s steam locomotive, a 2-8-2 built by Baldwin in 1916. Visit the railroad and museum website for more information.
