Moonlight Excursion on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad
We took a quick trip to the Oregon Coast to ride the OCSR on a unique moonlight excursion. With only a handful of dates available, we chose the one when the moon would be closest to full. The ride was longer than the general trip from Garibaldi to Rockaway, stretching past Rockaway to Wheeler. It provided new views and a gorgeous sunset view that made the trip. The ride was pleasant, but things got boring after the sunset. The moon was hidden along the horizon by thick clouds over the ocean, so the only view was inside the train cabin. Still a fun trip, and I would certainly recommend it to others.
ADA Accessibility: There is a wheelchair lift at the Garibaldi station ONLY. They are working to install lifts at the other stations, but are still in the process of raising funds.
To see available excursions, prices, and to book your train ride visit Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad.
Challenges
Your ticket does not represent a specific seat on the train. In some cases you can pick the side of the train you will be riding on, however, not every excursion offers this option. They may have even changed to use a first come, first serve process. The best views are out the west side of the train, so plan accordingly. Something we encountered on the Eagle Cap Excursion was that they required all passengers to change side of the train at the turn around point. This allowed everyone a chance to have the best view. Of course, not everyone was happy about that but I think it was more fair.
Everyone shows up early. We showed up 30 minutes early to this excursion and there were already people waiting to board. By the time boarding began there was a very large group waiting and there were no organized lines, so things got a bit chaotic during the boarding process. I hope they work to improve this process in the future.
Moving around on a moving train, even one going so slow, is a little challenging. If you have balance issues you might want to stay seated when the train is moving.
If you are on the west side of the train during a sunset excursion, pack some sunglasses and a hat to block the sun when you need to.
The Approach
From the 101 into Garibaldi, turn south on either 3rd St. or S 7th St. If you take 7th, turn left on American Ave. and follow it until it ends. You will see public restrooms on your right and a small park to your left as you reach the end of American Ave. There is parking south of the restrooms along the west and east sides of the street. 3rd St. will take you right to the parking areas. You will pass the train station just before reaching the parking area. There are no fees to park.
The Boarding
Everyone gathers at the train station by the park. I would suggest arriving 15-30 minutes early. There is no shade here. The volunteers will address all the passengers before boarding begins. They will place a sign where the boarding line will start. They don’t give much direction in how the line should form, which direction it should go, etc. There is some initial chaos, but everyone seemed to work it out quickly and peacefully. The boarding process is slow since only one person at a time can board the each car due to the narrow stairway. Be patient and know there is a seat for everyone and then some.
The volunteers are very helpful and kind. They are more than happy to answer any questions you have, but try and ask them after boarding has completed unless it directly pertinent to the boarding process. Once on the train, find some open seats and make yourselves as comfy as possible. These trains are historical and people apparently liked to be very cozy back in the day. If someone is sitting across from you it is likely you will need to stagger your knees with your neighbor to fit properly. I recommend only riding with people you don’t mind being very close to.
The Ride
The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad moves along at a gentle clip allowing you plenty of time to take in the views. The short trip from Garibaldi to Rockaway, or the reverse, is short enough to be enjoyable for even your children, ending before they can get bored. This trip was for adults only, which benefitted all of the passengers because the longer ride from Garibaldi to Wheeler would have had children getting restless, especially once the sun went down. It did make our bottoms a little tender sitting for that duration on those semi-padded seats.
During the ride the volunteers will walk through the cars and you can ask questions about the railroad, the cars, and the engine. The engine pulling us this night was Cloud 25. It starred in the movie Stand By Me. If you haven’t seen it, I recommend watching it, especially if this is your engine for your excursion. Since this was an 18+ excursion, we had two drinks punches on each of our tickets. In order to redeem, you have to make your way to the dining car near the engine on the initial trip towards Wheeler. The ticket will get you 2 drinks of your choosing, either alcoholic or non-alcoholic. There was also a meal selection. Our chicken salad was more like a side salad so be aware that the portions may not be the meal you are expecting. I recommend eating before hand.
The views, especially on this excursion, were breathtaking. With a view out over the water as the sun was setting, we scarcely took our eyes from it. There are times when the view was obscured, but those times came with a bit of their own fun. As you pass through Rockaway, people love to wave from their homes, sidewalks, and storefronts. Be friendly and wave back to spread the cheer. As you approach Wheeler, the train passes an RV park. Lots of folks came out to wave and the children absolutely loved seeing the train pass by.
The Wheeler station stop provides a fantastic view of the Nehalem Bay, the hills to the north, and the sun setting behind the sea. Here, you’ll get a great view of the engine pass by as it moves from the front of the train to the rear for the return journey. Take in the view and enjoy your dessert while they make the change. This is also a good time to get up and stretch the legs a bit while the train isn’t moving. Be warned though, if you want to try and get in to use your drink punches, everyone else is having the same idea.
The Return
The return trip to Garibaldi had us feeling the effects of our trip. Once the sun went down we felt ourselves tire significantly. With no sign of the moon and the warm light of the train car our eyelids became heavy. The low clackity-clack of the train mixed with the rhythmic chug of the steam engine lulled us closer to sleep. It was a sound demonstration as to whether or not we would be able to sleep on an overnight train ride. We certainly could. Passing Rockaway, the lights of businesses were dimming and the warm light in the homes were lit. Decorative lights on patios and in yards replaced the flowers and tress visible in daylight. As we approached Garibaldi, the moon made a very brief appearance on the southwestern horizon as the cloud parted just enough to reveal her. Blink and we would have missed it. Pulling back into the Garibaldi station we stood, stretched, and slowly made our way off the train. Thankfully, our hotel room was waiting for us back in Rockaway, a mere 10 minute drive. The bed was calling our name and we answered.
Summary
This excursion was delightful. We have ridden the train a few times from Garibaldi to Rockaway in previous visits, but this was a different experience. The highlight was the sunset view from the train, but the cupcakes were delicious as well. The portion of the trip in the dark was boring which made us sleepy, but what can you do when the ride calls for moonlight, but the weather doesn’t cooperate. Overall, this excursion was fantastic and I would certainly recommend to anyone interested in taking the ride in the future.
