Saturday, September 8, is what we have been calling the Mystery Tour Train Ride. Many travelers have taken part in a “Mystery Tour,” in which the destination is unknown when the group tour departs its home base, only to be revealed as the tour progresses. In this case, we only go where the track takes us! But, the theme, meal and additional entertainment for this ride will come as a surprise to passengers who like a little bit of suspense in their day. Rest assured, the day includes beautiful scenery and a great lunch!

During the Fall Photo Run, Saturday, September 15, Eric W. Valentine, a La Grande photographer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, conducts a short workshop in the dining car for those who want to take memorable photos. Participants in the workshop will have the first of two run-bys to practice what they have learned. The train ride departs at 10 a.m. for the 5.5 hour ride.

The Wine & Cheese Train takes place Saturday, September 29. This scenic train ride offers exceptional fall colors and provides a wonderful time to relax and unwind. Passengers taste a variety of wines from Copper Belt Winery, poured by the wine maker, and Umapine Creamery serves a sampling of their artisan cheese. A light meal of soup, fruit and bread is served along with the wine and cheese. The ride departs from Elgin at 3 p.m. for an early evening ride, so bring a jacket in case the evening mountain air feels chilly. Expect to return to the depot by 7 p.m. (Not recommended nor priced for riders under 21.)

More of the popular train robberies are offered Saturday, October 6 and Saturday, October 13.  The Autumn Train Robbery features the notorious Gold Rush Bandits, who hide out in the woods and wait for the train to roll into their territory! Mounted on horses, bandits flag down the train and climb on board. The train ride departs from Elgin Depot at 10 a.m. and returns at 2:30 p.m.

Our last train ride of 2018 takes place Saturday, October 20. The Two Rivers End of Season Bounty follows the Grande Ronde and Wallowa Rivers as they tumble their courses and join together at Rondowa. We will depart in the afternoon so passengers can catch the end of the fall colors, with the golden Tamarack trees a highlight. They will dine on wonderful locally grown food and craft beverages. This ride departs from Elgin Depot at 2 p.m. and returns at about 6 p.m. (Not recommended nor priced for riders under 21.)

Get all of the meal details and further information and book your reservations by visiting www.eaglecaptrainrides.com. Or, if you prefer to talk to a travel agent, call Alegre Travel, 800.323.7330, and ask for Kori.

On Sunday, May 13, the annual Mother’s Day Brunch Train leaves the depot at 10 a.m., with the promise of a wonderful brunch by Chuckwagon Sisters of Joseph. There will be a variety of breakfast and lunch entrées, salads, fruit and pastries. Mothers receive a corsage to take home and memories of the day to keep for a lifetime.

Ed Spaulding, volunteer engineer and President of the Friends of the Joseph Branch, the non-profit organization that manages the excursion train, says the 2018 season will be a busy one for the volunteer car hosts and crew.

“We have 19 trips scheduled, including the new Seeking Bigfoot Train, happening Saturday, July 28,” Spaulding said.  “There is an increasing amount of interest in the Bigfoot Legend. People are fascinated by stories that go back centuries, about a giant primate in the Blue Mountains.” Spaulding said the ride will be fun as well as enlightening. “We’ll be announcing our guest expert within a few weeks.”

The Wine & Chocolates Train, an evening ride on June 2, features a tasting of wines from Echo Ridge Cellars of Echo, paired with chocolates from Arrowhead Chocolates of Joseph. September 29, the focus shifts to wine and cheese, with Copper Belt Winery of Baker City and Umapine Creamery, located near Milton-Freewater, again serving samples of their specialties.

Train robberies always fill the train with passengers who love the added fun and excitement provided by bandits on horseback, who board the train and leave with glittering gold.  The Gold Rush Bandits have nefarious plans for June 16 & 17, October 6 and October 13. Also returning in the fall is a train ride designed with photographers in mind. With a brief workshop in one car, led by respected photographer Eric Valentine, this trip makes special stops to let photographers off the train for run-bys, giving them excellent views of the train as it passes. This is a fun trip for all passengers, not just photographers.

Other highlights of the season are Father’s Day Lunch, the I Love America! Train, and many opportunities to simply relax, enjoy the scenery and visit with fellow passengers who come from around the world. Read the trip descriptions and get your tickets online at www.eaglecaptrainrides.com, or call Alegre Travel, 800.323.7330, where agents can also help you with lodging and other vacation planning.
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The 2017 season includes some new trips, designed for lovers of wine and artisan food. A Wine & Chocolates Train, leaving the depot at 4 p.m., June 10, features a tasting of wines from Tero Estates Winery, expertly paired with chocolates from Petits Noirs Chocolates. Both businesses are located in Milton-Freewater, Oregon, at the south end of the Walla Walla Valley. In September, the focus shifts to wine and cheese, with Copper Belt Winery of Baker City and Umapine Creamery, located near Milton-Freewater, serving samples of their specialties.

“We have created two train rides that call attention to the amazing food and beverages produced in our region,” said Janet Dodson, a board member who helps design the trips and schedule. “Passengers will be served a light meal at the beginning of the trip and will have the opportunity to enjoy wine and chocolates (June 10) or cheese (September 30) during the return to the depot.”

Also new is a train ride designed for railroad photographers, with special stops to let photographers off the train for run-bys, giving them excellent views of the train as it passes. See the website for trip descriptions and the full schedule.

Reservations are required and are available through the online booking service on the website, www.eaglecaptrainrides.com; go to “Ride the Train” and select “Book Online” from the drop-down menu. Passengers who prefer to talk to an agent can call Alegre Travel, the excursion train reservations agency, 800.323.7330. Agents can also, upon request, book motel rooms and offer advice on other activities and attractions in the area.

Passenger train excursions use the section of track from Elgin to Minam. This section travels through mostly roadless country, staying north of Oregon Highway 82 to Enterprise, also known as the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway. Volunteers with the Friends of the Joseph Branch, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, manage the excursion business for Wallowa Union Railroad, operating the train and hosting passengers, as well as restoring the rail cars and preserving the history of the railroad. See the web site, www.eaglecaptrainrides.com for the full 2017 excursion schedule and information about how to join the Friends and volunteer to assist with train activities.

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For most trips, the Eagle Cap Excursion Train departs at 10 a.m. from the Elgin Depot and returns around 2 p.m. For those trips, lunch is served on the train.

Rides this late-summer and fall season include train robberies, a photo run to capture the autumn colors, a Wine & Cheese Train and Brews & Brats. See the trip descriptions for details and the schedule.

To reserve your seat and ensure your lunch is on the train, make your reservations by 4 p.m., the Friday afternoon prior to the trip you want to take. The train can often handle some last-minute walk-on passengers, subject to seat availability. Those waiting to purchase tickets at the depot Saturday morning should arrive at the depot by 9 a.m. and should be aware some trains sell out.

Ticket prices are:  youth, 3 to 16 = $35 / adults = $70 / seniors 60+ = $65. Lunch is prepared by Ten Depot Street of La Grande and included in the ticket price. For train tickets and details on the excursions go to www.eaglecaptrainrides.com. Or, if you prefer to talk with an agent or want lodging options, contact Alegre Travel, 1.800.323.7330 or travel@alegretravel.com.

The historic Joseph Branch, now known as the Wallowa Union Railroad, was rescued from salvage in 2003 when the Wallowa and Union county governments formed the Wallowa Union Rail Authority and purchased the highly scenic railroad connecting Elgin with the Wallowa Valley. Volunteers with the Friends of the Joseph Branch, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, operate the train and depot, host passengers, renovate the passenger cars and preserve the history of the railroad.

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Grant McOmie, a popular Portland, Oregon, news man, visited Hells Canyon Scenic Byway country in August and put together a great segment on the Joseph Branch Railriders and the Eagle Cap Excursion Train for his Grant’s Getaways program on KGW TV. Watch this segment, then take the time to explore Oregon through his eyes. It will get you itching to see all corners of our magnificent state!

Also, see some amazing images of rafting and fishing on the Wallowa and Grande Ronde Rivers with Grant Richie, owner of the Minam Motel and Minam Raft Rentals.

Fall is a beautiful time to visit the byway. The weather is mild, colors are beginning to pop and it’s easy to find accommodations. See our links page for visitor information resources and pack your car for northeast Oregon!

Maxville Gathering Has Logging Heritage Theme

WALLOWA, OR. – The Maxville Gathering celebrates the logging tradition of Wallowa County Saturday, June 28, at the Nez Perce Homeland Project grounds outside of Wallowa. The celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes a delightful mix of entertainment, historical information about logging in the area and the Nez Perce, booths selling homespun products and old-fashioned activities. Food options include smoked pork and chicken and grilled Columbia River salmon. The public is encouraged to bring fruit, salads ad desserts to share. There will be mule tours and a fly-over.

Maxville was a logging camp and villiage in the 1920s and ’30s, located 15 miles north of Wallowa, where white and black loggers (many brought in from the South) worked together. The villiage was complete with schools and baseball fields. The annual Maxville Gathering is an opportunity for the community to commemorate the county’s logging culture and history and its incorporation of a black community in the early 20th century. For more information on the unique community and the project to preserve its history, visit www.maxvilleheritage.org.

SolWest Fair

LA GRANDE, OR__Having outgrown its former location in Grant County, the SolWest Fair has moved to La Grande and will be held at the Union County Fairgrounds, June 27-29. The event’s keynote speaker is Cylvia Hayes, Oregon’s First Lady and CEO of 3EStrategies, a clean economy consulting firm. 50 workshops are available, with themes that include Solar, Homesteading, Hydropower, Wind Energy, Passive Solar Buildings, Cart Goats and HAM Radio. Live music is performed by Red Hot & Bue Jazz, Bitteroot, Bag of Hammers, and Homemade Jam. Enjoy local food, kids programs and regional beer. The event is presented by Oregon Rural Action. For more information, go to www.solwest.org, or contact organizers at 541.975.2411 or solwest@oregonrural.com.

Outdoor Club for Kids at Trail Center

BAKER CITY, OR. – The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is launching the 2014 season of “Thursday Outdoor Club for Kids” starting June 26. A special presentation each Thursday afternoon through August 7th introduces youngsters to different topics and skills about the great outdoors.

All sessions are from 1:30 to 3:00 pm and include an outdoor activity, light snacks and lemonade. Sessions are aimed at ages 8-12. Cost is $2 per person to cover costs of materials. Parents and guardians are welcomed to attend with youngsters.

Resource specialists and guest presenters will provide expert guidance for the following topics:  June 26, “Pioneer Days”; July 3, “Gold!”; July 10, “The Pollinator”; July 17, “Leave No Trace”; July 24, “Here Comes the Sun”; July 31, “Rock-o-Rama”; August 7, “Survival & Orienteering.”

Call 541.523.1843 or 541.523.1852 for more information or to pre-register. Enrollment is limited.

The Trail Center is located five miles east of Baker City, Oregon, on Highway 86. Take Exit 302 from I-84. The Center is currently open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $8; for seniors it’s $4.50; children 15 and under are admitted for free. Federal passes are accepted. Call 541.523.1843 for updates on programs and events. For more information about the Trail Center visit oregontrail.blm.gov.

Elgin Stampeders Rob The Train

ELGIN, OR__Passengers on the Eagle Cap Excursion Train this Saturday, June 28, should hide their valuables and keep their camera ready. The notorious Elgin Stampeders Gang plans to rob the train on horseback while it winds its way along the beautiful Grande Ronde River. Go to www.eaglecaptrainrides.com for more information or see the blog on this website.

ELGIN, OREGON__It’s rumored train robbers will strike the Eagle Cap Excursion Train Saturday, June 28. Passengers are warned to leave their valuables at home but bring their camera and a sense of adventure on the ride.

It happens every year, about this time. Bandits stop the train and reinforcements ride out of the woods to board somewhere in the canyon of the Grande Ronde River near Elgin. It’s all for fun and excitement and the costumed characters of the old west follow a loose story line when entertaining the passengers.

The robbery is performed by the Elgin Stampeders, the organization responsible for putting on the annual Elgin Stampede PRCA Rodeo in mid-July. They use the annual train robbery to promote the rodeo, and to show off their horsemanship skills.

The Eagle Cap Excursion Train departs the Elgin Depot at 10 a.m. and returns around 2 p.m. Passengers have plenty of time for relaxation, visiting and enjoying the view as they travel down the Grande Ronde River and a few miles up the Wallowa River. Onm ost trips, lunch is served on the train after a brief stop along the river to let passengers stretch their legs while the crew prepares for the return trip to Elgin. Ticket prices for the train robbery are: youth, 3 to 16 = $35 / adults = $70 / seniors 60+ = $65. Lunch is prepared by Ten Depot Street and included in the ticket price.

For train tickets, details on the excursions and lodging options, contact Alegre Travel, 1.800.323.7330 or train@alegretravel.com. When you purchase your tickets you will be asked to choose a sandwich, salad or vegetarian lunch, all of which include a dessert and beverage.

The scenic train season continues through mid-October. The train departs from Elgin on selected Thursdays and Saturdays, and travels through remote river canyons that can’t be seen from any road. Towering ridges, basalt cliffs, deep green forests and sparkling water are the scenic highlights. Most excursions travel 38 miles, round trip, but there are a few shorter trips available, as well. Go to www.eaglecaptrainrides.com for the full schedule, trip descriptions and additional information about the train and surrounding attractions. Or look for the Eagle Cap Excursion Train on Facebook.

The historic Joseph Branch, now known as the Wallowa Union Railroad, was rescued from salvage in 2003 when the Wallowa and Union county governments formed the Wallowa Union Rail Authority and purchased the highly scenic 63 miles of railroad between Elgin and Joseph. Passenger excursions have been offered on sections of the line since 2004. Volunteers with the Friends of the Joseph Branch, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, operate the train, host passengers, restore the passenger cars and preserve the history of the railroad.

Some trips this season have been designed with vacationing families in mind. Others offer lively entertainment, while still others are focused on the amazing fall foliage colors. Go to www.eaglecaptrainrides.com and select Ride The Train to find out more information.