Excursions are seasonal, and do not run all year round. Travel on some excursions where alcohol is served are age restricted. Current details are on the railroad's Web site.[8]
Oregon Coastal Excursion is a 90 minute round trip between Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach and return. (Or between Rockaway Beach and Garibaldi and return.) It is 30 minutes each direction with a 30 minute layover. Passengers may stay longer and take any available return trip.
Moonlight Excursion is a romantic, steam-powered train ride from Garibaldi to Wheeler and back. Alcohol is served on this train, so this ride is for adults 21 and over ONLY.
Fall Splendor Excursion and Spring Splendor Excursion are 2-1/4 hour round trips between Rockaway Beach and Wheeler.
Halloween Coast Train is a 60 minute round trip between Rockaway Beach and Garibaldi.
Candy Cane Express is a 60 minutes round trip between Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach.
Dinner Train This service was discontinued after the 2023 season. There are currently no plans to reintroduce this service in the near future.
Additional Seasonal Trains are offered at various times, including:
Spring Break Excursion (similar to the 'Oregon Coastal Excursion')
St. Patrick's Pub Train
Easter Eggstravaganza Train
Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular
Trains do not run every day, except at the height of the summer season.[8]
Projects
As of 2015, several steam locomotive restoration/reconstruction projects are planned or underway. Among them is the complete restoration of the Deep River No. 7 "Skookum", a 2-4-4-2Mallet locomotive. This restoration was completed in 2019.[9][10] Another restoration project is for the former Sunset Timber No. 1, a 3-truck Heisler locomotive that was moved to Tillamook in 2015.[11][12]
2007 Landslide
In December of 2007, the Oregon Coast was struck by the Great Coastal Gale of 2007. Hurricane force winds and torrential rain caused extensive damage to the railroad in the Salmonberry River Valley. Flooding and landslides washed out several embankments and one large bridge. This caused a break in the line between the coastal areas and Banks, OR. The majority of the line is now isolated from the rest of the North American rail system—causing all rail-freight operations past this break to cease. The scenic, coastal areas (where tours are given) were largely unaffected. The estimate to reconnect the line was $57.3 million (2008 dollars) [13] equivalent to $81,088,000 in 2023. It is unlikely that the Salmonberry River portion will be reopened anytime soon.
Salmonberry River
During 2014 the OCSR has been in a series of legal challenges with the State of Oregon over their attempts to reconstruct track in the Salmonberry River corridor that had been damaged in winter storms of 2007.[14][15] The central issue was the OCSR's work included placing rock fill on the bank of the river, for which they had not obtained state permits, potentially impacting native salmon and steelhead. OCSR's position was that as a railroad, federal law exempted them from state environmental regulations. In March 2015, a decision was reported that exempted the OCSR from the state regulations.[16]
Built for the Buffelen Lumber Company of Tacoma, Washington. Was in service for only four years before crashing into the Tacoma City Watershed, Eagle Gorge, WA. Recovered in 2002.
Built for Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. Sold to the Sierra Railroad and renumbered to #38 in 1952, to Rayonier Incorporated in 1955, to Fred M. Kepner in 1984, to the Oregon Coast Scenic following his death.
Built for the Cascade Lumber Company and later served the Cabin Creek Lumber Company. Came under private ownership by Victor C. Monahan after the locomotive was retired in the 1970s. Later donated to OCSR in 2024 by his family. Notable for being the world's only surviving standard gauge Class A Climax steam locomotive.[17]
Built for Oregon-American Lumber Company, sold to Long-Bell Lumber Company, sold to International Paper, both went though multiple private owners (105 was shortly used by the Vernonia, South Park & Sunset Steam Railroad) including Fred M. Kepner, sold to the Oregon Coast Scenic following his death.