Oregon Pacific Railroad's "Samtrak" excursion train is resting in the OPR shop in Milwaukie, Ore.

The train included GE 45-ton locomotive #4501, an open-air car and a rebuilt caboose with an open-air section. Parked behind the train are GE 25-tonner #2501, the original "Samtrak" power, and one of the railroad's SW8s.

The train operated for many years along OPR's former East Portland Traction line between the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry and the Oaks Amusement Park in the city's Sellwood neighborhood.

With the 4501 in the consist, it even had remote control! A crewmember using a belt pack would stand on the rear platform of the caboose at one end of the train and control the locomotive on the opposite end.

After the service was discontinued in 2002, the consist was stored for several years. In 2008 the 4501 was sold to the Port of Tillamook Bay RR to work the railroad's trackage east of its 2007 washout. It was sold again in 2009 to work a switching operation on a section of the Nevada Northern RR near Shafter, Nev.

The 2501 was donated to the Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society and is in their museum at Brooks, Ore. The two cars remain on the OPR and are used in excursion specials on the East Portland line.

Photographed by Thomas McCann, 1998.
Added to the photo archive by Thomas McCann, August 7, 2010.

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