12
CULTURE & HERITAGE
OCTOBER 6�13, 2021
CELEBRATING THE HISTORY
OF EASTERN OREGON
All aboard a fall train!
By Lisa Britton
Go! Magazine
E
LGIN, SUMPTER — There
is still time this fall to take a
train ride through the landscape
of Eastern Oregon thanks to the
Eagle Cap Excursion Train and
Sumpter Valley Railroad.
EXCURSION TRAIN
The Eagle Cap Excursion
Train canceled several riders
earlier this year. On Sept. 28, the
Friends of the Joseph Branch
and the Wallowa Union Railroad
Authority decided to add three
more rides to the schedule.
“Over the years, we have de-
veloped a very important tourist
attraction for Northeast Oregon
and work hard to keep it going,
despite obstacles such as the
pandemic, wildfi res and expen-
sive track or equipment mainte-
nance,” said Ed Spaulding, board
president.
The Excursion Train will run a
“Two Rivers” ride on four Satur-
days — Oct. 16, 23, and 30 and
Nov. 6. This route follows the
Grande Ronde and Wallowa riv-
ers to where they join at Ron-
dowa. A boxed lunch is included
and served along the way. The
train leaves Elgin at 10 a.m. and
returns around 1:30 p.m. Fares
are $70 adults, $65 seniors, and
$35 for ages 3-16. Age 2 and
younger always ride free.
Halloween costumes are
encouraged for the Oct. 30 train,
and prizes will be awarded for the
Funniest Face Mask and Most
Creative Face Mask.
A “Two Rivers Bonus” train is
scheduled for Wednesday, Oct.
20. This route follows the Grande
Ronde River from Elgin to Ron-
dowa, then up the Wallowa River
to Minam. The six-hour round trip
departs at 10 a.m. and includes a
boxed lunch and snack. Fares are
$75 adults, $70 seniors, and $40
ages 3-16.
To make reservations, go to
www.eaglecaptrainrides.com.
For questions, call 541-437-
3652 or email tickets@eagle-
captrainrides.com.
SVRR
The Sumpter Valley Railroad
will again off er the annual fall foli-
age trains and the photo train in
October. Traditionally off ered as a
two-day option, this year’s photo
train is just one day, Saturday,
Oct. 23.
The fall foliage trains will run
on Friday, Oct. 22, and Sunday,
Oct. 24. On both days, trains de-
part from the McEwen Depot at
10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Fares are $25
adults, $22 seniors/military and
$15 for ages 3-17. Ages 2 and
younger always ride free.
The photo train on Oct. 23
is a full-day adventure starting
at 7 a.m. and featuring multiple
stops to capture scenic shots of
the train and the changing colors.
Cost is $150.
A Halloween night train is
happening Friday, Oct. 29, with
rides leaving the Sumpter Depot
at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Fares are $15
adults, $14 seniors/military, and
$8 ages 3-17. This coincides with
the “Haunted Dredge” experience
at the Sumpter Valley Dredge.
Stop by the Chamber office for your free gift
Take a picture of you and your family at the Conestoga Wagon
at the viewpoint above Prairie City and tag us on
Instagram @grant_county_oregon_chamber!
Ed Spaulding/Contributed image
The Eagle Cap Excursion Train out of Elgin has added rides this fall, after
canceling several during the summer’s wildfi re season.
More short trains are
planned for Saturday, Oct. 30,
at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m.
and 3:30 p.m., departing from
the Sumpter Depot, which will
have a costume contest and
Halloween treats. Fares are $15
adults, $14 seniors/military, and
$8 ages 3-17. This coincides
with the “Haunted Dredge” ex-
perience at the Sumpter Valley
Dredge.
In November, a Moonlight
Train featuring wine and cheese
is happening Friday, Nov. 19.
The train departs from the
McEwen Depot. Tickets are
$55 for adults, and $20 for kids
(cheese samples only).
On Saturday, Nov. 20, a full-
run steam train leaves McEwen
Depot at noon and riders can
roast hot dogs and marshmal-
lows at the Sumpter stop. Tick-
ets are $25 adults, $22 seniors/
military, $15 for ages 3-17, or
$70 per family (two adults and
two children).
To purchase tickets, go to
www.sumptervalleyrailroad.org.
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