Western Railroad Discussion > Need Advice For Coos Bay, Oregon Trip

I will be spending a few days in and around Coos Bay, Oregon in a few weeks.
Route of travel includes Eugene to Coos Bay, and inland to Myrtle Point.
Would like advice on recommended route from Eugene to Coos Bay, and railfanning options/train schedules in and around the area.
We will be staying at The Mill Casino Hotel for three nights and going to/from Myrtle Point for one day.
Thanks in advance.
Phil

Depends on where you're coming from. If from the north you could drive over Highway 126 from Eugene to Florence, then Highway 101 south to Coos Bay. This is the closest route to following the Coos Bay line. 

I can't help with schedule, although I think it's down one day, back the next. On the Eugene side of Mapleton I believe it's a nocturnal run. On the Coos Bay side of Mapleton I believe it's more daylight but the railroad isn't as accessible except for side roads.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/08/19 08:10 by Railbaron.

I was up there last summer. The railroad is elusive at best. Has the bridge across Coos Bay ever been repaired?

TJY

I think we will take Hwy 38 from I-5, over to the coast.
That probably eliminates any railfanning of the CBRR?
Phil

Not necessarily. You'll see a few bridge abutments from the original alignment to the coast, a line that never got built in the end. You'll still meet the Coos Bay line at Reedsport and roughly follow it from Reedsport to Coos Bay.

By the way, driving time from Eugene to Coos Bay is almost identical via either route so if you're coming from the north and driving time is a concern, that shouldn't matter.

Personally, I prefer 126 over 38. Also as a note, I don't know how soon you're coming but there may be delays on Highway 38 due to landslides. Here is a link to ODOT's Trip Check:

https://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/Road-Conditions?mainNav=RoadConditions&curRegion=0


 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/08/19 08:56 by Railbaron.

The bridge across Coos Bay should be repaired at any time, if it hasn’t already been. Guess the control tower collapsed down on the drive shaft. The legs gave out on the control tower. They used two barges to push it open until repairs were made. The train from Mapleton runs at night towards Noti, OR. In the morning the crew based out of Noti, picks up the same train and delivers it to the UP yard in Eugene. The usually arrive around 11:00am. After setting out there loads and picking up the empty cars, they will head back to Noti between 2:00-3:00pm. It’s tough to shoot this line due to all the trees. There’s some good shots to be had when the train from Noti nears Eugene. Numerous public grade crossings to shoot from. Just watch where you park. When I was there in March on two consecutive days, both trains to Eugene had well over 30 cars. They should also have there first new unit in service by now. They also have a new business coming on line between Eugene and Noti! They will be delivering 110’ utility poles to the UP yard. When I spoke to the crew, the hold up on this new business was the UP delivering the special cars required for these poles.

good luck, Valleyman 

Bring warm clothes. Coos Bay is cold and wet even in August.
Bill Pyper
Salem, Oregon
 

Just drove the SR126/38 loop after Winterail. Both routes were heavily effected by the low elevation snows with huge numbers of trees down which are being meticulously picked up by crews working from the road, although the road was clear of trees that weekend. Expect some road construction on SR126 with a good sized one lane section plus the tree crews working in a number of places. As far as road quality SR126 seems like a commuter route from Eugene to the coast with all sorts of impatient local drivers plus quite a few monster RV's heading for the coast and returning on Sunday. SR38 in contrast is more of a southerly route and could be one of the most peaceful roads I've ever driven, following the Umpqua River with a few little towns along the way. Perhaps it was just good timing, both times I've driven that road have been very pleasant, although the road starts nowhere, passes through nowhere and ends at nowhere.

As far as trains, zip. Suspect the Trainmaster is related to Sasquatch as there was very little signs of passing, the rails on the Coast side had a nice pateena of rust, I would have thought there had no trains in quite some time. It could easily be overnight trains with the coastal air putting that rust back in place. There was that switch engine power set hiding deep in the small Mill at Noti Friday afternoon, not only is that private property but a very busy place.

I noted a couple of bridges on the valley side that would make nice photo locations, but would be on the wrong side if there every was sunlight. I drove around the Noti loop area and found a few provacative maybe locations for the trestle and similar areas, but there were no leaves on the trees at the time. Suspect any leaves would cancel that out right away. I did find a dirt road called Penn Road that is close to the tracks on the west side and found a couple of clean locations near the power line clearing and a couple of road crossings that would be my best choice, if I could find a train of course.

I missed the Swisshome loop, once SR126 gets to Mapleton the RR is right next to the road for a number of miles, plenty of decent angles, small trestles and private driveway crossings to choose from. The RR crosses the river at Cushman, looks like a good place for photos with the swing bridge and some access. The RR and hiway are seperate for a number of miles until Reedsport where one of the large bridges can be seen from the boat launch area. Expect a major delay at the left turn if turning south at Florence.

I've only driven to Coos Bay once so somebody else needs to fill in that section. Seemed like lots of car traffic and nowhere to pull over.

+ I've read that they have been using a re-load north of the problem bridge, I would suspect that would be the place to find the power during daylight hours.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/08/19 10:26 by TCnR.

If the wife is along and you need to break up the all-trains monotony for her, there's a covered road bridge at Hwy. 126 and Suislaw Road, next to the Suislaw River.  Further west is Sweet Creek Falls Trailhead with 11 waterfalls along the 2.2-mile round trip trail-
http://www.oregon.com/recreation/sweet-creek-falls-0. We give that trail two thumbs up, not a lot of gain and you rarely get 11 waterfalls in that short of a span.  Bandon is a cute beach/river town 20 miles from Myrtle Point.  Artsy, nice candy store with many free samples, and you can try your hand at crabbing.  A place at the docks sells license, a gage for sizing legal crabs, bait and a crabpot for rent, catch some on the river dock, then have them boil them for you and you've got a crab dinner.  We caught 7 in two hours, it was a fun experience.

mapboy

Their reporting marks are CBRL. They recently received the first of three rebuilt GP38-2 units in a blue and white livery.  I don't think the Coos Bay swing bridge rehab is complete so loads coming from south of the bridge are being trans-loaded at Hauser on the north side. In my opinion the best route from EUG is 126 to 101. The line ends just south (SP east) of the Roseburg Forest Products mill at Coquille.  Radio freq - 160.530 (AAR ch 52). Enjoy coastal Oregon!

Keith in Roseburg

Many thanks to everyone for the recommendations.
They are very helpful.
Phil