Comments on: Portland Zoo Railroad http://lostoregon.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/oregon-zoo-railroad/ Exploring Oregon's recent past with postcards, photos and words. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:26:09 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Philip Crosby http://lostoregon.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/oregon-zoo-railroad/#comment-518 Philip Crosby Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:06:38 +0000 http://lostoregon.wordpress.com/?p=177#comment-518 My understanding is that, at one time, it was the most profitable railway per mile of track in the country. But that was before Bernie Madoff. He may have need a similar railway to move money to and from his vault. Cheers, Phil My understanding is that, at one time, it was the most profitable railway per mile of track in the country. But that was before Bernie Madoff. He may have need a similar railway to move money to and from his vault.

Cheers,
Phil

]]> By: Jeff Honeyman http://lostoregon.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/oregon-zoo-railroad/#comment-336 Jeff Honeyman Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:38:51 +0000 http://lostoregon.wordpress.com/?p=177#comment-336 Glad to hear you enjoyed your visit to the zoo. Too bad none of us were around, we may have been able to show you around a little bit. A bit of a correction: The Zooliner has always been called the Zooliner. It is the original zoo train at the Oregon Zoo, entering service in June of 1958, one year before the zoo officially opened at the current site. In July of 1959 the new Portland Zoo officially opened as part of an event celebrating Oregon's centennial but the Zooliner wasn't there! A "Circus Train" was built to operate at the zoo that summer because the Zooliner had been trucked to North Portland, the site of the Oregon Centennial Exposition and Inernational Trade Fair. It ran there for 100 days, still with the name Zooliner and lettered for the Portland Zoo Railway. It was joined by a brand-new train, the Oregon steam locomotive and five cars. That is the true Centennial Train and the cars were lettered "Oregon Centennial Railroad." The locomotve tender was lettered "P.Z.Ry." in gold leaf and the cars all featured the Portland Zoo Railway logo on them. Both trains went up the zoo in the fall of 1959 and are still there and in use today. (If you were not aware during your visit outside, the steam train lives behind the roll-up door right next to the tunnel. You were literally feet away from it!) The Circus Train still survives, too, partly. Some of it makes up the third train called "The Oregon Express." In case you are wondering, the railroad's named changed in the late 1970's to the Washington Park and Zoo Railway but other than that, not much has changed. By the way, I know all of this because I am one of the employees on the zoo railroad and have been a life-long Portland zoo train fan. I hope this is helpful. Nicely done on your web page. Best regards, Jeff Honeyman Glad to hear you enjoyed your visit to the zoo. Too bad none of us were around, we may have been able to show you around a little bit.

A bit of a correction: The Zooliner has always been called the Zooliner. It is the original zoo train at the Oregon Zoo, entering service in June of 1958, one year before the zoo officially opened at the current site. In July of 1959 the new Portland Zoo officially opened as part of an event celebrating Oregon’s centennial but the Zooliner wasn’t there! A “Circus Train” was built to operate at the zoo that summer because the Zooliner had been trucked to North Portland, the site of the Oregon Centennial Exposition and Inernational Trade Fair. It ran there for 100 days, still with the name Zooliner and lettered for the Portland Zoo Railway. It was joined by a brand-new train, the Oregon steam locomotive and five cars. That is the true Centennial Train and the cars were lettered “Oregon Centennial Railroad.” The locomotve tender was lettered “P.Z.Ry.” in gold leaf and the cars all featured the Portland Zoo Railway logo on them. Both trains went up the zoo in the fall of 1959 and are still there and in use today. (If you were not aware during your visit outside, the steam train lives behind the roll-up door right next to the tunnel. You were literally feet away from it!) The Circus Train still survives, too, partly. Some of it makes up the third train called “The Oregon Express.”

In case you are wondering, the railroad’s named changed in the late 1970’s to the Washington Park and Zoo Railway but other than that, not much has changed.

By the way, I know all of this because I am one of the employees on the zoo railroad and have been a life-long Portland zoo train fan.

I hope this is helpful. Nicely done on your web page.

Best regards,

Jeff Honeyman

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