PORTLAND, Ore. — A zoo railroad in Oregon could soon be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
On Oct. 18, the State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation recommended the Portland Zoo Railway – also known as the Washington Park & Zoo Railway – be added to a national list of historic sites. The designation could pave the way for grants and tax breaks that supporters of the 30-inch gauge railroad hope will help save it from being ripped up.
In 2013, the 2-mile railroad through the Oregon Zoo and nearby Washington Park was closed for a construction project. But a year later, after the project was finished, only a short segment of the zoo railroad reopened. The 1.5-mile route to Washington Park and the International Rose Test Garden has sat dormant ever since. Earlier this year, officials announced it was unlikely the full route would ever be restored because of a number of recent landslides that damaged the right-of-way on the closed section. A master plan adopted by the Portland City Council to modernize the park suggested replacing the railroad with a trail. [See “Portion of Oregon Zoo train route could be turned into trail,” Trains News Wire, April 23, 2019.]
This year, a non-profit group, Friends of Washington Park and Zoo Railway, was organized to advocate for the preservation of the entire railroad. The group is led by Dana Carstensen, a stationmaster on the remaining segment of the zoo railroad. Thanks to efforts by the group, the City of Portland Historic Landmarks Commission unanimously voted earlier this fall to recommend that the state preservation board consider nominating the railroad for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. The National Park Service has final say on whether or not the railroad will be included on the list. Although being listed on the register does not guarantee preservation, it would help the group’s effort to save the entire route.
The Washington Park & Zoo Railway was built in the zoo in 1958 and extended to Washington Park in 1960. The Washington Park line was built with the help of four local railroads: the Southern Pacific surveyed the route; the Spokane, Portland & Seattle and Portland Terminal constructed it; and Union Pacific hauled ballast for the project free of charge. The railroad features a number of different trains, including an 4-4-0 steam locomotive and the “Zooliner,” a streamlined diesel based on the General Motors Aerotrain.
The Washington Park and Zoo Railway operates daily. For more information, go to oregonzoo.org.
But Mister Klepper:
Trails are natural and good for you, didn’t you know, and trains are big and noisy and emit smoke and pollute the environment and … and … and …
Never mind that (aside from young children whom I would never want to take on a long walk) there are people such as myself that might be able to make such a walk, but only under forced draft and you better have an ambulance waiting at the other end. Oh – I forgot. How selfish of me. Think of the environment. THINK OF THE CHILDREN!
The above comments are genetic in nature and do not form the basis for an attorney/client relationship. They do not constitute legal advice. I am not your attorney. Follow the yellow rubber line to your seat.
There are people who enjoy the exercise of walking the trail. But more people will be served by the train, including young children.
It said Oregon Zoo Train and I immediately flashed on the Portland-Eugene run. Except there, the animals are inside the train.
On topic: how much would it cost to clear the slides? And where is the opposition to reopening the line coming from? When you go to the Portland Zoo, riding the train is one of the highlights of the day. What’s next? Removing all the (four legged) animals?
The above comments are genetic in nature and do not form the basis for an attorney/client relationship. They do not constitute legal advice. I am not your attorney. And the zookeeper is very fond of rum.
I rode this as a child and the full line was a great ride. We have enough “trails”, this is truly unique and deserves to be saved in it’s full length.
Sounds like a good candidate for a “Go Fund Me” listing. Unless that would interfere with historical registration.
Thats a kool replica, I saw the Real deal in Green Bay in 2012. Didn’t know this one existed.
That locomotive sure looks like the one the Detroit Zoo had back in the 50’s….made by Chrysler….any one know for sure?
@Anna Harding the opposition is coming from Metro, a local agency that covers, amongst many other things, parks and recreation. According to the FWP&ZRy, they submitted a 60 page rebuttal on why the zoo railway shouldn’t be on the register.
As for costs, I’ve heard $5-6 million for rail restoration and $10 million for the trail. Possibly not counting the link between where the railway exits the zoo grounds and the zoo entrance itself.
@Steven Berg: The Tauber Family Railroad at the Detroit Zoo has a streamline engine, but it is not the same as the Oregon Zoo.