Washington Park and Zoo Railway

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Washington Park and Zoo Railway is a 30-inch narrow gauge recreational railroad in Portland, Oregon's Washington Park. It provides transportation between the Oregon Zoo, Hoyt Arboretum, International Rose Test Garden, and the World Forestry Center. The extended line is about 2 miles long. There is also a 1 mile loop within the zoo grounds.

The No.1 "Oregon"

The train is operational year round (except in January when it is closed for required maintenance), though the extended line is used only in summer months. Special events occur during the Christmas holidays. A ticket costs up to $3.50, but zoo admission is also required.

[edit] Routes

Typical view along the route

The 35-40 minute Washington Park trip runs daily Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. This run goes through the woods of Washington Park and the grounds of the Oregon Zoo. (Few animals are seen from the train.)

The 10-12 minute Zoo Loop trip runs in the off season, weather and business permitting, in the fall and spring. This run goes through the Oregon Zoo grounds only.

[edit] Mail

The Rose Garden station

It carries U.S. mail and is the first recreational railroad to have its own postmark, as well as the last railroad in the United States of America to continually hand cancel and process mail.