Santiam Excursion Trains is rolling out a new service on its tracks in Sweet Home, one which will focus on health and the beauty the city has to offer.
In addition to the variety of train ride experiences between Lebanon and Sweet Home it offers, Santiam Excursions is about to launch a summertime Rail Bike Adventures in the gateway of the Santiam playground.
The railroad company tested out a soft opening of the excursion on Saturday, March 22, which allowed some guests to try out the rail bikes for the first time.
Rail bikes provide customers a chance to pedal their way on specially made four-wheel “bikes” that run on railroad tracks. Operating somewhat like an electric bike, the rail bikes have battery-operated motors to assist the pedalers, if needed.
“They’re going to bring in those ‘weekend hikers’ that want a little exercise and a little adventure, but also the people who might want to do that but also want to use a little assistance from the motors,” Director Nancy Randall said.
Pedalers will get situated on their reserved rail bike at 18th Avenue and enjoy a scenic ride along the tracks until they reach Poplar Street behind Foster Elementary School. There, they can walk to Foster Dam for a 10-minute break while Santiam Excursion staffers turn the bikes around for the ride back.
“Fun part about coming back is you’re coming downhill, so you can get those things going pretty quick,” Randall said.
The six-mile trip takes about 1½ hours to complete.
“It’s really pretty out there,” she said. “You’re gonna go over some bridges and just see some of the sights out there.”
Each rail bike group will have a guide on the excursion, kind of like a guided fishing tour. Randall said rail biking can provide a good workout, especially if only two people are pedaling on a four-person bike, but four pedalers “can get motorin’” pretty fast. But there’s always that electric motor to assist.
“It’s nice because you can make it as easy or as hard as you want,” she said.
Santiam Excursions currently has five four-seat rail bikes from Pennsylvania, but the University of Oregon is creating a custom two-seat version as well. The bikes can be hooked together for large parties, if desired.
A group of eight booked two rail bikes to celebrate Corvallis resident Lisa Brandon’s 50th birthday during the soft opening. Her family came up from California and down from Salem to help usher her into her fifth decade of life; she signed them all up to join her on the rail bikes.
Prior to leaving, 6-year-old Roland Trousil, of Salem, said he expected the ride to be “just like riding on a train and stuff.” Halfway through, while unloading to take a break at Foster Dam, he said the experience was “good,” but later changed his answer to “exciting.”
Brandon said it was super fun, noting that going downhill was the best part. Others in her group blurted out their thoughts on the experience, as well.
“We’re doing something that a lot of people don’t get a chance to do.”
“It’s definitely an adventure.”
“Thank goodness it didn’t rain.”
Santiam Excursions plans to operate its rail bike service between the end of April until October. A ribbon cutting will take place on Friday, April 25, followed by the official first run on Saturday, April 26. Rail bike excursions will operate several times a day on Saturdays.
Randall said they are thinking about also running during special area events, such as Tune It Up Tuesdays, Santiam Smoke Show and Oregon Jamboree.
Rail bikes can be booked online at SantiamExcursions.com. Cost is $40 per person.
Once they get chugging along, Santiam Excursions anticipates using a train car as its check-in booth, lobby and concessions stand on their property at 1501 18th Ave.
“We’re really excited to bring some tourism and things to do in Sweet Home,” Randall said.