Recently I joined friends for a winery dinner and steam train ride. As I drove the winding wooded road to the Moulton Falls Winery in Yacolt, I noticed railroad crossing signs. At one intersection a classic, narrow gauge steam engine approached the road. It’s not common to see a steam engine slowly chugging down the tracks, and I was intrigued. The train was making its way along the tracks to pass right by the winery where I was headed.
Our group was enjoying the offerings of Moulton Falls Winery. That evening they served wines and ciders using grapes sourced from Red Mountain, Yakima Valley and Columbia Valley AVAs in eastern Washington and apples produced in Washington State. The labels were decidedly local with a picture of Moulton Falls. I noticed that the 2014 Old No. 10 Red Blend was named for Old No. 10, a 1929 Crossett Western Steam engine used by the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad. It was probably the one approaching the winery, I thought.
A whistle sounded, and I ran toward the tracks to get a photo of the train. It was going to pass us and then return for our excursion. A volunteer showed me where to stand to get the best photos.
Chelatchie Prairie Railroad History
I wondered how this train came to be out here in the woods along the Lewis River. I later found out that the train started out hauling lumber. In fact, the line was built for that purpose. The train hauled lumber from Brush Prairie to Vancouver. In 1903, the railroad was completed to Yacolt and eventually was also used for passengers to travel from Yacolt to Vancouver.
In 1948, an extension to Chelatchie Prairie was completed, opening that area to logging. When logging and lumber milling was no longer viable, the railroad’s use declined. The tracks and trestles began to deteriorate, but, fortunately, that was not the end of the story.
In 1998 a group of volunteer railroad enthusiasts from the community decided to put their efforts into restoring the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad to be used as an excursion train. Working with the support of Clark County, the track from Moulton Falls to Chelatchie Prairie was restored, and excursion service resumed in 2001.
Work continues on improving the track and upgrading equipment with the goal of restoring service to Battle Ground. The Chelatchie Prairie Railroad remains a fully volunteer effort with volunteers running the train, maintaining track and putting on events.
Chelatchie Prairie Railroad Volunteers
Randy Williams of La Center took a ride with his family on the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad on Mother’s Day six years ago. He had been looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity, and he enjoyed the excursion so much he signed up to volunteer with the railroad.
He shares, “I started out as a docent, as all volunteers do, and because I had a technical background I wanted to learn more. I trained to become a brakeman and conductor and was certified under the General Code of Operating Rules. We have the same rules as any railroad, so our volunteers have to be trained and certified.”
Eventually, Randy was asked by the other volunteers to serve as president, which he has been doing for three years now. It’s clear he has fallen in love with railroading and is now training to become an engineer. Randy adds, “Engineers take a different test and need to work 60 hours under a certified engineer.” The training is free for volunteers.
Randy stresses that, without volunteers, the railroad would not run. They, like many organizations, are short on volunteers. In fact, the volunteers are cross-trained to serve in as many roles as possible. Want to volunteer? You can volunteer to do track work, car and locomotive maintenance, serve as a crewmember or work in the ticket office. More information is available on the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad website.
Events and Excursions
The train returned and stopped to pick us up at the winery. After wine tasting, we were happy to relax and sit inside while the train took us along the Lewis River, through tunnels and by scenic forests. Our group was lucky enough to ride in the caboose and chat with the volunteers about the train. One of the volunteer brakemen pointed out that the train needed to be followed by a special fire car to ensure that no sparks ignited the brush as the train made its way slowly along the route.
We chugged across a trestle over the river and then changed direction and returned to the winery. I was impressed with the professionalism and skill of the volunteers who spent their time on the railroad so that we could safely enjoy the ride.
Our evening ended with a barbecue dinner and country music under the stars. It made for a great getaway from the lights of the city and the stress of traffic. It was nice to relax and slow down. Several of my friends had traveled from Portland for the event and said they’d certainly return.
Opportunities to Ride the Rails
The railroad maintains a pretty active schedule of fun outings, including the wine train and dinner we enjoyed. Before Christmas, you can travel by train through the woods and, at the end, pick up your tree and take your photo with Santa. It’s a reasonably priced festive experience that will make memories for your family.
Throughout the year, there are special dinner trains and even a re-enactment of a train robbery. The schedule makes it clear whether your train will be pulled by a diesel engine or the steam engine. The railroad also operates a 1941 Alco diesel engine. Trains operate from May through December.
The Chelatchie Prairie Railroad is a registered non-profit organization that gives back to the community in many ways. They offer an excursion for special needs children and have an annual ride, free of charge, for children under the CASA program.
Tickets can be purchased on the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad website. The station address is 31101 NE Railroad Avenue, Yacolt.
