Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad Deals with Storm Damage, Rolled-Over Vehicle

Published 01/10/25 at 3:35 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Garibaldi, Oregon) – It's not every day that an Oregon coast rail ride attraction has that much adventure – but in recent weeks have seen their share at Garibaldi's Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad (OCSR). Storms last month tore off part of the roof of a famed railcar and just recently they had to help haul an upside-down car off the rail tracks. (All photos OCSR)

Christmas Day was a handful for just about everyone on the north Oregon coast, with much of Tillamook County losing power or getting knocked around. Sustained winds hit 85 mph for awhile, and that's not even including the major gusts.

Though they said the event was “spectacular,” OCSR got hit fairly hard as well, according to operations manager Trevor Park.

“While winter storms are a norm on our railroad, this storm brought a little more damage than the usual downed trees and blown culverts, tearing the roof off our #200 outdoor covered car and destroying our sign on Highway 101 in Garibaldi,” Park said. “And don't worry, we are already on getting the damage repaired in time for the 2025 season.”

Aside from the sign getting knocked and wrecked, it was the #200 passenger car that got the most serious smackdown, but they won't even have to move it to get it repaired.

“The 200 roof will be replaced with new material by a local contractor,” Park told Oregon Coast Beach Connection. “It will be done by the start of our operating season on March 15th and all work will be done on site.”

No trips were interrupted by all this as they make no runs from December 24 through March 15.

Fallen trees are a regular occurrence in Oregon coast winter, so the railroad simply rolled with those punches.

Old, Familiar Oregon Coast Landmark Tree Falls Off Garibaldi's Three Graces - There for a good 150 years, toppled by a windstorm

“The railroad was not damaged beyond some downed trees on the track,” Park said. “The line is all clear at this point. There were no blown culverts during this storm. A culvert blowout happens when debris block a culvert under the track, causing water to run up over the railroad instead of through the culvert, resulting in the road bed “blowing out” as the water backs up behind the track. “

Then came a car crashing through – at least onto the tracks.

Although they have not specified what day it happened, the OCSR had to recently help get a rolled-over vehicle off the tracks. Somehow, a car spun out and down an embankment along the bay and landed upside down on the train tracks.

“Recently our Maintenance of Way department assisted the local Fire Department and State Troopers in the removal of a car that had left US 101 and rolled down the embankment onto our tracks late at night,” Park said.

The person was fine though bruised and battered. No one else was involved in the incident.

Park said they did not know how it happened.

“We are just responsible for getting the car to where it could be towed so that our tracks are clear,” he said.

It was cause for OCSR to remind people to drive more cautiously along Tillamook County roads during the winter.

“The roads are often slick and are quite twisty around here,” they said on social. “If you do see a car on the tracks, please call 911, and also OCSR at our emergency crossing department number found on the blue signs at all our grade crossings: 855-842-7972. Doing so could save a life.”

See https://oregoncoastscenic.org/ for their spring runs

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