Oregon Electric Railway Museum in Brooks, Oregon

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Brooks, Oregon · Updated October 19, 2026 · 13 min read

Trolley and streetcar museumTrain ridesClosed for the season as of October 2026; trolleys typically run May to October

The Oregon Electric Railway Museum is the largest trolley museum in the Pacific Northwest, an operating line in Brooks where volunteers run and restore streetcars from the West Coast and around the world, built between the 1890s and 1977.

  • Largest trolley museum in the Northwest
  • Society founded in 1957
  • Blackpool double-decker trolley
  • 1913 Sydney open car
  • Portland MAX car #101
  • Run entirely by volunteers

Oregon Electric Railway Museum at a glance

Hours
Seasonal; closed for the 2026 season as of October. Historically Saturdays, May to October
Admission
Trolley fares: adults $7, seniors and military $5, youth 2 to 12 $3, under 2 free, family $24; Powerland entry extra
Train rides
Historic trolley ride of about 2 miles round trip on operating days
Seasonal events
Father's Day Trolley, Steam-Up at Powerland, Pacific Northwest Truck Show, Powerland Halloween
Plan for
About 1 to 2 hours for the trolley and car barn
Best for
Trolley fans and families with young riders
Best ages
Ages 2 to 12

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Oregon Electric Railway Museum? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Brooks.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

From a logging mill in Glenwood to the trolley wire at Powerland

The Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society was founded in 1957 to save the electric railway heritage of the region. Its first museum took shape in Glenwood, about 40 miles west of Portland along Highway 6, on the site of an old steam logging railroad. Volunteers turned the former Consolidated Timber Company sawmill into a four-track carbarn, and the place became known simply as the Trolley Park. Streetcars first moved under their own power there in 1963, and regular operations began in 1966 on a line about 1.7 miles long.

The Glenwood chapter closed in the mid-1990s, and the society moved its cars to Powerland Heritage Park in Brooks, where the current museum opened in 1996. Members strung overhead wire over about a mile of mainline track, built another four-track carbarn, and designed Hopmere Station, a depot drawn from plans for a Southern Pacific station, to serve as ticket office and gift shop.

The collection has kept growing. It now spans electric railway equipment from the 1890s through 1977, from the West Coast and overseas, and in 2025 the museum welcomed Portland MAX Type 1 light rail car #101, built in 1984. Everything here, from selling tickets to rebuilding trucks and motors, is done by volunteers.

Buy a ticket at Hopmere Station, then ride

A visit starts the old-fashioned way, buying a trolley ticket at Hopmere Station, which also holds historical displays and the gift shop. From there you board one of the operating cars for a round trip of roughly two miles on the museum's line through Powerland Heritage Park. The most popular car is a double-decker last rebuilt in 1927 for Blackpool, England, and the runner-up is an open car built in 1913 for Sydney, Australia.

On days the car barn is open, your fare includes a walk through the collection, with some cars on static display and others in the middle of restoration. Look for the Children's Trolley and the Portland MAX car #101, a reminder that the streetcar, once outdated, has come back to many city centers. Because the museum sits inside Powerland, the park's other antique machinery collections are steps away.

Don’t miss

  1. The Blackpool double-deckerThe museum's most popular car, last rebuilt in 1927 for Blackpool, England; ride upstairs for the view.
  2. The 1913 Sydney open carBuilt for Sydney, Australia, its open sides make it the fan favorite on a warm day.
  3. Hopmere StationA depot built by the museum from Southern Pacific station plans, serving as ticket office, gift shop and history display.
  4. Portland MAX Type 1 car #101Built in 1984 and new to the museum in 2025, it links the old streetcars to Portland's modern light rail and hosts birthday parties.
  5. The car barnWhen open, it lets you see cars on display and others mid-restoration, the best look at the volunteers' work.
  6. The Children's TrolleyA trolley set aside for young visitors, highlighted on the museum's own welcome page.

Upstairs on a double-decker

Most kids will want the top deck of the Blackpool car, and the open Sydney car feels like a carnival ride with real bells and motors. The round trip is short enough for small children, and the museum points families to its Children's Trolley. As of October 2026, youth 2 to 12 ride for $3, under 2 ride free, and a $24 family fare covers immediate family with at least one adult.

The museum is part of Powerland Heritage Park, which charges its own entry fee, so a visit can easily fill a day with tractors, engines and other collections. An adult must ride with children. On Father's Day the museum has let dads ride at the kids' price.

Plan your visit: tips for Oregon Electric Railway Museum

  • Trolley fares are on top of Powerland Heritage Park admission.
  • The museum is at I-5 Exit 263, about 9 miles north of Salem.
  • The car barn tour is included only on days it is open, so ask at Hopmere Station.
  • Groups can ride scheduled trolleys at reduced rates, and charters are available outside regular hours.
  • Check the events page before going; operating days change each year.

The busiest weekends of the year come with the Steam-Up at Powerland, held on the last weekend of July and the first weekend of August, when thousands of riders board the trolleys. Powerland Halloween fills October weekends at the park, though the trolley museum itself had closed for the 2026 season by then. For more autumn ideas, see our list of Halloween train rides in Oregon.

Kept running by the Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society

The museum is owned and run by the Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and its volunteers do everything from restoring streetcars to selling tickets and operating the cars. The society also runs the Willamette Shore Trolley. You can help by joining the OERHS, volunteering, donating, booking a charter or party, or shopping at Hopmere Station.

Other rail stops close to Brooks

The Willow Creek Railroad Museum and the Powerland Heritage Park railway collections share the same grounds. The Pacific Northwest Live Steamers are about 22 miles away in Molalla. See all of Oregon's train museums for more.

Every train museum in Oregon

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi looking out an arched train window at the ocean and a white bird
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

The top deck of that Blackpool double-decker must be the best seat in Brooks. In our book, Rally gets his window moment on the Pacific Surfliner, looking out an arched window at the ocean and saying hello to a white bird. Kids on the upper deck here get their own version, just with fields and old tractors instead of waves. My mom always knew the window seat was where the story happens. You can read about her on our story page.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Oregon Electric Railway Museum?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Oregon Electric Railway Museum: 20 questions riders ask

Where is the Oregon Electric Railway Museum?

The Oregon Electric Railway Museum is at 3995 Brooklake Road, Brooks, Oregon 97303, on the grounds of Powerland Heritage Park. It is about 9 miles north of Salem, near I-5 Exit 263. Enter through Powerland and look for Hopmere Station, the museum's depot, where trolley tickets are sold.

Is the Oregon Electric Railway Museum open now?

Not as of October 2026. The museum's website says it is closed for the season, while Powerland Halloween runs on park weekends from October 10 to 31. Trolley operation is seasonal, and Wikipedia describes a May to October season with Saturday operations. Check museum.oregontrolley.com or call (971) 701-6327 for next season's dates.

How much does it cost to ride the trolley at the Oregon Electric Railway Museum?

As of October 2026, regular trolley fares are $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and military, $3 for youth 2 to 12, and free under 2. A family fare of $24 covers immediate family with at least one adult. Fares are in addition to Powerland Heritage Park admission and can change without notice.

Do I have to pay to enter Powerland Heritage Park too?

Yes. The trolley museum sits inside Powerland Heritage Park, and the museum says trolley fares are in addition to the park's entry fee. Powerland sets its own rates, which are linked from the museum's Hours and Fares page. Some Powerland events, such as the truck show, have their own event admission as well.

What does a trolley fare include at the Oregon Electric Railway Museum?

Your fare includes the trolley ride, a tour of the car barn when it is open, and a visit to Hopmere Station with its historical displays. The ride itself is about 2 miles round trip on the museum's line. The car barn is not open every operating day, so ask at the ticket window.

Which trolleys run at the Oregon Electric Railway Museum?

The most popular operating car is a double-decker last rebuilt in 1927 for Blackpool, England. The second favorite is an open car built in 1913 for Sydney, Australia. The museum's collection also includes cars from Oregon, Portugal and Brussels, and which cars run varies by day and by what is in service.

Is it the largest trolley museum in the Pacific Northwest?

Yes, the museum describes itself as the largest trolley museum in the Pacific Northwest, and Wikipedia says the same. Its collection covers trolleys and electric railway equipment from the 1890s through 1977, from the West Coast and around the world, plus a modern Portland MAX car added in 2025.

What is in the Oregon Electric Railway Museum collection?

The museum keeps streetcars and other electric railway equipment from the 1890s to 1977, part of it stored in a four-track carbarn. Some cars are on static display and others are being restored. Newest is Portland MAX Type 1 light rail car #101, built in 1984 and welcomed in 2025. Photos are posted on the museum's Facebook page.

When was the Oregon Electric Railway Museum founded?

The Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society was founded in 1957. Its first museum, the Trolley Park in Glenwood west of Portland, opened in 1959, ran its first streetcars in 1963 and began regular service in 1966. The society moved to Powerland in Brooks in the mid-1990s, and the current museum opened there in 1996.

What was the Glenwood Trolley Park?

The Glenwood Electric Railway Trolley Park was the society's first museum, off Oregon Highway 6 about 40 miles west of Portland. It was built on an old steam logging railroad site, used a former sawmill as a four-track carbarn, covered about 26 acres and ran trolleys on a 1.7-mile line. Operations there ended in autumn 1995.

Is the Oregon Electric Railway Museum good for kids?

Yes. Riding a real double-decker or open streetcar is a big thrill for young kids, the trip is short, and the museum features a Children's Trolley. Youth fares are $3 and under 2 ride free as of October 2026. An adult must accompany children, and Powerland's other collections make it easy to fill a day.

Can you have a birthday party at the Oregon Electric Railway Museum?

Yes. Birthday parties and weddings can be held aboard Portland light rail car #101, which stays parked and can be set with tables and decorated by your group. Trolley rides can be added. Rates start at $400 depending on party size and length, as of October 2026. Email mark@oerhs.org to book.

Does the Oregon Electric Railway Museum offer group rates?

Yes. Groups riding a scheduled trolley pay $5 per adult and $3 per youth, and charitable or nonprofit groups pay $4 and $2, as of October 2026. Scouts have had a $2 four-hour rate. These are non-exclusive rides on a normal operating day. Contact mark@oerhs.org or call (971) 701-6327 to arrange a visit.

Can I charter a trolley at the Oregon Electric Railway Museum?

Yes. Charters give your group exclusive use of a trolley outside regular operating days or hours. As of October 2026 the rate is $350 for two hours and $50 for each additional hour. Charters suit anniversaries, retirement parties and corporate events. Book by emailing mark@oerhs.org.

What special events does the Oregon Electric Railway Museum hold?

The biggest weekends are Powerland's Steam-Up, held the last weekend of July and first weekend of August, when thousands ride the trolleys. The museum has also run a Father's Day Trolley, with dads riding at kids' fares, and rides during the Pacific Northwest Truck Show. The events page on the museum website lists current dates.

Does the Oregon Electric Railway Museum have a Halloween or Christmas trolley?

The museum does not list its own Christmas trolley online. In October, Powerland Halloween runs on park weekends, but in 2026 the museum's site said the trolley museum was already closed for the season. Call (971) 701-6327 or check the museum's Facebook page to see whether trolleys run at any holiday events.

Is there a gift shop at the Oregon Electric Railway Museum?

Yes. The gift shop is inside Hopmere Station, the museum's own depot, which also serves as the ticket office and holds historical displays. The station was built by the museum based on plans for a Southern Pacific train station, so it is worth a look even before you shop.

How long should I spend at the Oregon Electric Railway Museum?

Plan on about an hour or two for a trolley ride of roughly 2 miles, the car barn tour when it is open, and Hopmere Station. Because the museum is inside Powerland Heritage Park, many families stay longer to see the park's other antique machinery and rail collections, including the Willow Creek Railroad Museum.

How can I volunteer at the Oregon Electric Railway Museum?

Volunteers run the whole museum: they restore streetcars, sell tickets and operate the trolleys. The museum invites visitors to join the Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society and give time or donations. Use the Donate, Join and Volunteer pages on museum.oregontrolley.com, or call (971) 701-6327 to ask where help is needed.

Is the Oregon Electric Railway Museum related to the Willamette Shore Trolley?

Yes. The Willamette Shore Trolley, which runs between Lake Oswego and Portland, is the museum's sister operation, run by the same Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society. The museum is not connected to the historic Oregon Electric Railway company despite the similar name, according to Wikipedia.

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