The new Amtrak station at Oregon City, Oregon, opened to great fanfare yesterday--finally!!! I wasn't there for the festivities but heard and read about it. The mayor of Oregon City and numerous VIPs rode the train from Canby to Oregon City, where there was an opening ceremony. Seepches, etc. Bands played "Stars and Stripes Forever" and othr songs.
Although I wasn't there for the ceremonies, I did go look at the station in the afternoon (after all the hoopla died down). It is avery nice station. There is a platform and a small shelter--open air but should provide some protection from the rain. There is no station attendant; people will have to buy their tickets onboard the train from the conductor or from Amtrak-approved travel agencies. The station letters are ORC. Apparently "Julie" does not yet recognize Oregon City as an Amtrak stop. I talked to an agent on the phone who did not know (until I told him) that the Oregon City station had just opened.
Only the Cascades trains will be stopping here: northbound (to Portland and Seattle), train times are (assuming ontime): 7:39 am and 11:24 am. Southbound (to Eugene), train times are 5:51 pm and 9:21 pm. The Coast Starlight WILL NOT be stopping here.
The station is across the street from the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, a museum shaped like three huge covered wagons that have theatres and exhibits about the Oregon Trail and the hundreds of thousands of pioneers who traveled on it, and especially those who came to Oregon to settle here. Oregon City is a very historic town. For many years it was the capital of not only the Oregon Territory but also of much of the western part of the United States. For one, people had to come here to file their land claims. The charters for the cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles are on file in the Clackamas County Courthouse.
The ride southwest of the station, for several miles along the Willamette River, is quite scenic. It is just a 20-minute ride into Portland's Union Station. Officials are hoping that the station will inspire people to use the train for commuting into Portland (and vice versa). Fares range from $2.50 to $4.50 between Oregon City and Portland.
Apparently, the city has an idea about the station: the original ex-SP station still stands. It once was near the public elevator, then was moved to its present site where it is occupied with offices. The city would like to move the building to the present Amtrak depot site. It would be great to have such an historical building being put back into use as a present-day train station again.
The station is still quite a ways from downtown Oregon City proper--where all the county buildings are. It is quite a walk--even for me, let alone the elderly. I am hoping someone will provide some kind of shuttle between the depot and downtown. I ahve suggested it to several entities, but there is nothing definite, yet.
Still, it is a nice station. Take time to go take a look at it if you can.
