There is nothing like riding on a train powered by a real steam engine. The Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum (CCR&M) is home to Cowlitz, Chehalis & Cascade (CC&C) No. 15, a Baldwin-built 2-8-2 “Mikado” type steam engine – one of only a few in the entire state. People come from around the world to ride the train and tickets have historically sold out quickly for all of their rides. As more and more people showed up for events, this began to cause concern – people coming from miles away just to ride the train were not guaranteed a seat.
“For Easter 2016, we had twice as many people show up for the train rides than we expected,” says Mike Beehler, member of the CCR&M Board. Mike is a board member and a conductor or brakeman during rides. “We were swamped. We had people buying tickets before the first ride for later in the day. So we hustled all day to try and get everyone on. People were stuffing eggs like crazy to make sure there would be enough. That event pushed us to think more about online ticketing.”
Previously, advanced tickets were only available for their Polar Express and Santa Train rides, which have reserved seating. Mike was in charge of the Pumpkin Train last fall and he decided that was a perfect time to experiment with online ticketing for their open-seating rides.
“In open seating, it’s guaranteed you will get a seat, but not where the seat will be,” he explains. “So we have to figure out the right number to book for the train so that everyone has a seat and is comfortable – not too crowded. We did this for the Pumpkin Train and it worked great. All five trains sold out.”
With the success of the Pumpkin Train, the CCR&M decided to offer online, advanced ticketing for all their rides in 2017. Along with the change in ticketing, they are upgrading their website to better serve their customers with a more dynamic and attractive site.
“This way, people coming from out of town, from as far as Australia and Japan, can have a guaranteed spot on the train ride they want to go on,” Mike adds. “It’s more convenient for the customers and it’s more convenient for us because we can plan better knowing exactly how many people will be showing up for a ride.”
A Living Museum
The steam locomotive is considered a living museum. The care, upkeep and running of events are all done by board members and volunteers of the non-profit CCR&M, which began in 1986. A group of local citizen wanted to refurbish the CC&C No. 15 that had previously been sitting in Recreation Park. The goals were to preserve a piece of local history, allow people to get a feel for what it was like to ride on one of these historic trains, and to be a tourism draw for the county.
“This engine was used right here in our area to pull logging cars,” explains Mike. “It’s a historical artifact of the history of this area in terms of a logging railroad. It’s the read deal and gives people the chance to experience a true steam engine ride.”
It took two years to get the engine up and running. The passenger cars, of course, are not original to the train since it was originally for logging. The cars are historic, however, and date to between 60 and 70 years old. They give customers a chance to experience what riding in a diner, coach or open car felt like back then.
The CC&C No. 15 just celebrated its 100th birthday in 2016, no small feat for a steam engine. The fact that it is still running is a testament to the people who care for her and keep her going, something that Mike says is expensive.
Normal maintenance to keep the engine in working order is not cheap. And there are certain requirements of the Federal Railroad Administration. For example, Mike says they are required to overhaul the boiler every 15 years or 1,472 days of steaming. Steaming means firing up the engine, whether you actually use it or not.
The 10-mile track the train runs on is a genuine old logging line that was used by Weyerhaeuser until the 1990s. The route takes passengers to the south fork of the Chehalis River. It is leased by CCR&M through the Port of Chehalis and the museum is responsible for upkeep on the track as well. The track is standard gauge, even though most logging tracks were narrow gauge. The train runs at 15 miles per hour due to track condition regulations, but also so that the passengers can enjoy their view. When serving dinner, they actually go a bit slower, to help the servers out and to give customers more time to eat on the ride.
“The freeway is right there, but you would never know it once you get on the train,” Mike says. “The best time to ride on the train – if you only can pick one day – is a 5:00 p.m. summer train ride. It’s incredible. You’ll see all kinds of wildlife including hawks, other raptors, deer and even coyote pups.”
As a non-profit, the museum relies on ticket sales, donations and grants for the upkeep and preservation of the train. Currently, they are working on raising money to refurbish a turntable to working order and install it in the yard so they can show visitors how it works. Additionally, they are also working on refurbishing the No. 25 engine that previously sat in Borst Park in Chehalis.
The CC&C No. 15 runs Saturday and Sunday from Memorial Day in May through the end of August. In September, they run on Saturdays only. In addition, they have special train rides throughout the year including Murder Mystery Dinners, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day Bruch, Pumpkin Rides, Polar Express, Santa trains and other special events.
This year’s Easter train is already 25 percent sold. Families ride the train and then children get to hunt eggs in a field after returning to the depot. The egg hunts are divided into three age groups. Everyone gets a couple eggs and some of them will have special prizes, redeemed at the depot. Bring your camera as the Easter Bunny is on hand for free pictures. To purchase your tickets for any one of their rides, visit the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum’s website.
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