Washington Park and Zoo Railway

The hippest little railway in Portland.

Zoo Loop:
The Zoo Loop is a one-mile route around the perimeter of the zoo grounds. The train operates daily, weather permitting, from mid-March to mid-May, and again from mid-September to late October, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Call 503-226-1561 for exact schedule. The Loop also operates during ZooLights Festival in December.

Washington Park Run:
The Washington Park Run goes through the forests of Washington Park to a station above the International Rose Test Garden and back to the zoo. Round trip is four miles long and takes 35 minutes.

The run operates daily from Memorial Day weekend through September 15 from 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. The steam train has a special schedule.

Riders can also enter the zoo by boarding the train at the Rose Test Garden, paying zoo admission with the train ride.

* Train riders must first pay zoo admission.
* A 20% discount is available for groups of 20 or more when payment is made at one time.
* Inclement weather may cancel scheduled runs.
* For more info call 503-226-1561.

The Zooliner:
This diesel-powered streamliner was built in 1958. A replica of General Motors’ "Aerotrain," the engine’s 165 horsepower is transmitted to eight driving wheels through a hydraulic-type torque converter transmission and spiral gears. Safety features include a "dead man control" to ease the train to a halt in an emergency. A governor holds the train to a 12-mile-per-hour maximum. A conventional automatic air brake system provides safe train handling.

The "Oregon" Steam Locomotive:
Built in 1959 for the Oregon Centennial, the "Oregon" Steamer offers a trip back to yesteryear. Reminiscent of the 1800s, the locomotive is painted in bright colors with polished brass trimmings. A glistening brass bell is mounted on the gleaming boiler jacket between the sand dome and stack. The locomotive is patterned after the Virginia & Truckee RR "Reno." It is an oil-burning American 4-4-0 type with a diamond stack and big headlight featuring hand-painted pictures of Crater Lake on one side and Mt. Hood on the other.

The Oregon Express:
Rebuilt in 1991, the Oregon Express is powered with the same diesel engine/transmission combination as the Zooliner but power is generated to the four driving wheels through a right-angle gear box and chain drive. It has the same safety features as the other trains.