Oregon Rail Heritage Center

tworivers · #1 Posted: **May 24, 2012, 9:04 PM**

Somehow I missed the fact that this was already well under construction. It will be a really nice addition to that area around OMSI and the new bridge and rail lines.

From DJC:

Photos: Construction of Oregon rail museum

General contractor Lorentz Bruun began work on the Hennebery Eddy-designed Oregon Rail Heritage Center in November and expect to be finished in July. The 19,200-square-foot project, being built near the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Southeast Portland, will house three historic locomotives and one car. In addition to space for working on the equipment, the building will contain offices, a conference room, and a public viewing and interpretive area.

photo by Sam Tenney/DJC

PacificNW · #2 Posted: **May 25, 2012, 1:07 AM**

It's not the new glass museum that just opened at Seattle Center but it will be worth a visit once completed.

. Portland could use a world class tourist draw....IMO.

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/slide...lass-43335.php

NJD · #3 Posted: **May 25, 2012, 3:39 PM**

I was wondering when this would start, it will be a nice addition to the OMSI area especially since it's a rail museum on the old triangular-shaped Southern Pacific turnaround site three-sided by Union Pacific RR, Oregon Pacific RR, and the new MAX tracks. It's also in the shadow of the Streetcar viaduct. Definitely a rail fan's dream location.

tworivers · #4 Posted: **May 25, 2012, 5:36 PM**

Found a low-quality rendering and some more construction photos:

65MAX · #5 Posted: **May 25, 2012, 9:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tworivers

photo by Sam Tenney/DJC

Only 2 months till completion? How old is this photo?

tworivers · #6 Posted: **May 28, 2012, 1:54 AM**

Yeah, hard to believe that it's supposed to be complete in 2 months. Here are a few shots that I took yesterday. The 2nd one is from the streetcar overcrossing.

maccoinnich · #7 Posted: **May 28, 2012, 7:39 PM**

Does the streetcar overcrossing have a sidewalk, or were you just taking advantage of a good opportunity? Great photos btw.

philopdx · #8 Posted: **May 28, 2012, 10:53 PM**

I was thinking the same thing - also, it appears there is a lot of red bull to be drunk between now and the end of July if this thing is gonna be ready by then.

tworivers · #9 Posted: **May 29, 2012, 5:21 AM**

^^^ No sidewalk. I wish -- it would have made for a nice connection over the tracks right there. I was hoping that it was ride-able by bike but it turns into gravel towards the OMSI end so you have to dismount and walk the rest of the way. Probably something I won't be doing after opening day

65MAX · #10 Posted: **May 29, 2012, 5:58 AM**

I'm shocked that they made no accommodations for bikes or pedestrians across that bridge. Especially since it will tie directly into the new Willamette bridge. Is this because the Streetcar had to value engineer something out and this was the sacrifice? Hopefully it's something they can add later once the MLR bridge is done.

maccoinnich · #11 Posted: **May 29, 2012, 6:06 AM**

Yeah, I'm surprised too, especially given that there's no other place to cross the UP tracks between Clay and Division.

In fact, I wonder if it was an ADA issue - perhaps the grades are too steep for universal access, so they settled on no access at all. Given the cost the project, I can't imagine that the additional width for a sidewalk on one side was what prevented it.

tworivers · #12 Posted: **May 29, 2012, 6:28 AM**

I'm not sure why they didn't include bike/ped access but I don't think it could be the grade, as it's not that steep. Probably value engineering -- given some of the other choices that were made by Eastside Streetcar planners, around bicycles in particular, I'm not surprised. They won't be able to get away with such shananigans next time around (assuming there's a next time).

65MAX · #13 Posted: **May 29, 2012, 6:33 AM**

That's an interesting theory (regarding ADA), but there are steeper streets (and sidewalks) going into new subdivisions all over the country, so ADA shouldn't prevent a sidewalk from going in here too.

maccoinnich · #14 Posted: **May 29, 2012, 6:57 AM**

Well, there goes my great theory. It certainly looks steep on google maps though...

tworivers · #15 Posted: **Jul 4, 2012, 12:02 AM**

Well, they are definitely moving quickly on this. Yesterday it looked like they were getting ready to roll one of the locomotives into the building.

tworivers · #16 Posted: **Sep 4, 2012, 4:22 AM**

I didn't get the best shots today but this is looking close to completion. I like the splash of red in front. I have no idea how they are going to maintain, or even establish, any sort of access with all the MAX construction going on around them and the streetcar overcrossing immediately to the west...

maccoinnich · #17 Posted: **Sep 23, 2012, 4:51 AM**

Some photos from the opening today. I think this a great facility, and in a great location.