Last week I wrote about my family’s visit to the Running Y Ranch Resort in Klamath Falls, Oregon. There is much to see and do in the area, and one day we took a brief day trip to nearby Chiloquin to visit an expansive area devoted to all things train. In total, Train Mountain covers some 2,200 acres of pine-forested land and boasts more than 35 miles of 7.5″-gauge track, making it the world’s largest model railroad. The property was first owned and developed by an avid train enthusiast, Ed St. John, but it is now maintained and operated by two different nonprofit groups which provide somewhat separate experiences but are both powered by a love of and enthusiasm for locomotives and the desire to share that love with and educate the general public.

The Train Mountain Railroad Museum is only open weekdays (10 a.m.–3 p.m. in summer, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. in winter) and features the world’s largest collection of cabooses (37), more than 30 full-sized railroad maintenance and rolling stock cars (including tankers and sleeper cars) and snow fighting/clearing equipment. Guests can take a self-guided walking tour, and groups can arrange for a docent to provide educational tours. The grown-ups in our group were really interested in viewing all of that, but as our visit fell on a Saturday, we had to be content with the adjoining attraction, the Klamath & Western Railroad.

With two little boys in tow who were looking forward to a ride on the model trains, we really weren’t too disappointed. Run solely by volunteers, the railroad offers free rides to the public (donations gratefully accepted) on a nearly 2-mile loop.   The ride lasts about 15 minutes and winds under the pines,  through an old wooden tunnel and past a miniature Old West townsite.     Near the “station” where one boards the trains are a grassy picnic area and a snack bar offering ice cream, drinks and grilled burgers and hot dogs. A low table with toy trains keeps the kids entertained as they wait for their ride,   and an old caboose is open for exploration.      My grandson liked pretending he was riding in the caboose all the way back to his old home in Chicago.

The rides on the model trains are offered only on Saturdays from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It’s unfortunate that if you want to explore the railroad museum and also ride the rails, you must make a visit on two separate days to the two separate sites. We’ve decided that next time we’re in the area, Train Mountain will merit a second visit — this time, on a weekday — so we grown-ups can check out the full-scale equipment.

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor