A Video Visit to the ORHF Roundhouse with President Doyle McCormack

Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation President Doyle McCormack is a man who deeply cares about the trains for which he is responsible. He works hard while he is at the roundhouse, so this interview with him was conducted while he worked. The sound quality is pretty good, and I linger on him working so you can see how serious he is about getting and keeping the trains running. His actions definitely speak louder than words.

Meet Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation VP Robert Slover

Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation Vice President Robert Slover is a quiet, thoughtful man. His actions speak volumes more than his words. I conducted this interview while Bob and one of the other ORHF members drilled holes in sheet steel to replace a wall on the smoke box of Oregon Rail and Navigation Engine 197. I thank Bob very much for this interview. He was a pleasure to interview despite the occasionally drilling or pounding sound.

Rail Diamond in the Rough

After railroad cars have been restored and are shiny and beautiful, it is easy to forget what they looked like before restoration. The picture at left is of the smoke box of Oregon Rail and Navigation Engine 197 (OR&N 197). It is the most recent acquisition of Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation (ORHF).

Its restoration process is in the very early stages. As you can see, the smoke box door has been removed for cleaning and repair. Notice the bolt holes around the rim. The boiler section normally bolted behind this smoke box is currently detached to install new insulation and to repair dents and recondition the metal.

The volunteers of ORHF will put in hundreds of hours of hammering, machining, cleaning, and repairing to find the railroad diamond beneath this now rusty engine of iron.

Once she is restored and able to run, the maintenance begins. Big steam engines with many moving parts, such as this locomotive, require lots of time and attention. ORHF relishes the challenge.

Their love of trains is evident in the detailed work involved in these restorations. Every bolt will be cleaned, metalwork repaired, and all rust removed. Then, after careful research to determine how this engine was first painted, ORHF will paint it to look as close to new as possible.

A lot of time and love go into these restorations. Think about that next time you ride a scenic railroad. Watching this process myself has left me more impressed than before.

Crater Greases the Human Wheels

For a railfan, visiting a roundhouse is among life's great pleasures. Being around others who speak "Train" is a real treat.

Another pleasure found at the local roundhouse is cat-in-residence, Crater. She is always at the roundhouse looking for attention and a nice scratch behind the ears. Petting her is good for me, and I hope she enjoys it half as much.

She is also a good excuse for strangers to talk about something other than the weather. I have met several great people who saw me petting her and meandered over to see her and say "Hello." How could you pass such a sweet kitty by?

According to Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation (ORHF) Vice President Robert Slover, Crater wandered onto the roundhouse grounds a couple of years ago and just made herself at home. The volunteers take turns feeding and watering her, as well as giving her lots of attention. She certainly seems relaxed and friendly, so they must be doing well by her.

Crater, for those who are curious, is not named for Crater Lake. She is named for the thick, dark brown grease which is used to lubricate locomotives' gear cases. It has the consistency of a thick cake batter and is about the color of Crater. Crater the cat smells much better, though.

Sunny Sunday at the Roundhouse

Bright sunlight and warm temperatures greeted my last visit to one of my favorite places to visit. A warm Sunday afternoon brings lots of volunteers to the roundhouse in the Portland, Oregon area. Yesterday was a hopping day, but I did get to speak with Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation’s (ORHF’s) Vice-President, Robert Slover. Mr. Slover is a quiet man, but this barely hides his passion for trains. I understand that passion.

I asked Mr. Slover if any excursions are scheduled for any of ORHF. “Not right now,” he replied. He encouraged me to stay tuned, as that could quickly change. Among the issues that limit ORHF excursions are track availability, locomotive availability, and insurance for excursions. There has been an increase in cargo trains on area tracks, making excursions harder to schedule. “Insurance is not cheap,” he adds. His description of the trip planning process made it clear it takes quite some time and lots of patience to put them together.

In the meantime, he invites those interested in discovering more about ORHF’s trains and roundhouse to visit the www.orhf.org website to see their important work in progress.

Keith's Been Working on the Rail Cars . . .

Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation (ORHF) member Keith Fleschner is a busy man. As a restorer of passenger cars for a non-profit organization responsible for maintaining historic trains, he understands his place in the overall process. Although his job is not as high profile as people who work on locomotives, it is still important. On days he can contribute time to work on passenger cars at the ORHF roundhouse near Portland, Oregon, he is unflaggingly on task. He helps the group prepare for upcoming excursions and shows. These events are opportunities to share their hard work with other train lovers. They are also how ORHF brings in funding for a future steam train museum and roundhouse in Portland, Oregon.

Keith keeps busy at his work while patiently answering questions about trains, the restoration process, and himself. He points out the areas where his current project will be repaired and restored after the past season’s runs. “Rail cars are just like houses,” he offers, “you can always find something to do if you look for it.” It is easy to see he is working on both the inside and outside of his current passenger car. He shows seat bolts needing tightening and electrical wiring problems resulting from converting this car from direct current to alternating current. He takes his job seriously.

Asked how he became involved in train restoration, Keith smiles. “About ten years ago, a friend of mine, who was really into trains, asked if I would like to come to the roundhouse and learn how to work on one. How could I say no?” he chuckles. “Here I still am.” He points at the car. “I still learn new things all the time.”

To get involved with the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation, to experience past excursions, to find out about future trips and shows, or to see pictures of their work, visit www.orhf.org. ORHF’s newsletter is available for online download at that site. You can also support the Foundation’s efforts to build the museum and roundhouse.

Unrelated, But Interesting, Truck Train

Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation Brings Train Lovers Hope

Doyle McCormack is president of Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation (ORHF), a group dedicated to restoring and running classic steam trains. Their annual schedule includes excursions throughout the spring and summer from their departure spot near Oaks Park in Portland, Oregon. The highlight of the year, and the group's major fundraising event are the Holiday Express trains. These excursions run Saturdays and Sundays from late November through mid-December. One of ORHF's steam engines, SP 4449 brings Santa to Portland to share candy and scenic rides with train loving children of all ages.

The purpose of the Holiday Express is to share and promote a love of stem trains. It is also used to raise funds for ORHF's planned rail museum and roundhouse (train maintenance facility). The new buildings and location are needed because the office space OHRF currently leases is the property of Union Pacific Railroad and the land used for the roundhouse is considered prime business development land and could be sold from under them at any time.

ORHF is currently restoring or maintaining three classic steam trains. Two of them, SP 4449 and SP&S 700, run well and are used for excursions throughout southwestern Washington and northwestern Oregon to allow people to experience the fun of travel by steam train. A third engine, Oregon Rail and Navigation (OR&N) 197 is currently being restored. This will take some time. It is in early stages of repair at his time, but the members of ORHF patiently work toward the day OR&N 197 will join ORHF’s other working engines in their new facility.

My last entry as a Newspaper lead...

would read something like this.

The Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation is seeking to raise funds and volunteers to build a steam train museum in the Portland, Oregon area. They are under pressure to do so as soon as possible because the land they lease from the Union Pacific Railroad for their roundhouse is valuable. It could be sold out from under them at any time for development.

I should have said "Soon, why so circumspect?" in my last entry. I'll share that soon.

I awoke to a bright and cold January day the morning of my interview with Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation’s (ORHF) president, Doyle McCormack. Mr. McCormack is also the president of Friends of Southern Pacific (SP) 4449, a beautifully restored steam engine which is maintained by ORHF in a roundhouse in the Portland, Oregon area. I had been keenly anticipating meeting with Mr. McCormack since I first encountered another ORHF restored engine, Spokane, Portland and Seattle (SP&S) 700 shortly after I moved to the area in 2004.

For a railfan such as myself, the local visit of a restored engine as well-maintained as SP&S 700 is a real treat. The annual Christmas run made by SP&S 700 to Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington fully decorated for the holiday is anticipated by young and old train enthusiasts in the area as a harbinger of Christmas. It has not snowed enough to stick for any of the SP&S 700 visits since I have been here. Still the holiday spirit pervades the railyard when Santa waves from the train.

It was with this background that I chose to make my semester project related to ORHF and its efforts to continue its train restorations while trying to raise funds for a permanent home.

I learned in my interview with Mr. McCormack there are many reasons for the need to establish a new home, not least of which is the fact the roundhouse and buildings used by ORHF are leased and are technically on railroad property. This means the property could be sold out from under them by the railroad or by the municipality at any time. This is not likely to happen any time soon, but ORHF cannot remain complacent.

I also learned from him that they are hoping to establish a railroad and restoration museum. As a part of this effort they would disassemble the roundhouse and reassemble it on the site of the new museum. Their fundraising efforts continue in the face of these prospects.

I also got a chance to visit the roundhouse and see the restoration and maintenance work in progress at the roundhouse. Being one of the rare below-freezing days in this area, there were actually icicles hanging from the static engines in mid-repair and restoration. This just emphasized for me the quiet chill of the unheated roundhouse. It is hard to explain the feeling of near reverence train lovers feel when they get close to these powerful beauties, but it is undeniably real.

Next time: Why so circumspect?

The conductor says "All aboard."

Come with me on this journey as I experience Portland, Oregon's Historic Steam Trains. I will be going to the Portland roundhouse soon and I will share with you what I learn while I am there. Get ready for the journey!