Washington Park & Zoo Railway in Portland, Oregon
Rail preservation groupRose Garden Loop out of service since 2013; the Friends group is working to restore it
The Washington Park & Zoo Railway is a narrow gauge line that Portland built together in 1958, and the Friends of Washington Park & Zoo Railway are working to bring back its forest ride to the International Rose Test Garden.
- First run May 22, 1958
- National Register listing in 2020
- Rose Garden Loop opened 1960
- Narrow gauge, 5/8 scale
- 45,000+ petition signatures
Washington Park & Zoo Railway at a glance
- Hours
- No regular public hours; the Friends attend events and host volunteer days
- Admission
- Not applicable
- Seasonal events
- Train Day booth, Zoo Train Track Cleanup Party, Portland Sunday Parkways, Goose Hollow Days
- Best for
- Portland families, rail fans and anyone with zoo train memories
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- AddressP.O. Box 6822, Portland, OR 97228(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(971) 405-9797
- Emailinfo@fwpzr.org
- Websitefwpzr.org(opens in a new tab)
Follow Washington Park & Zoo Railway
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Washington Park & Zoo Railway? 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 Portland.
Rally Takes the Train
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The railway a whole state chipped in to build
On May 22, 1958, a silvery streamlined train called the Zooliner made its first run through the grounds of the future Portland Zoo, and 200,000 people rode it that first summer. The line is narrow gauge, 2 feet 6 inches between the rails, with rolling stock built to 5/8 scale, and it was designed by professional train designers and railroad engineers.
Building the extension to the Rose Garden became a community project. Schoolchildren across Oregon sold dollar shares, each good for two future rides. Portland bartenders put on engineer's caps and passed the hat, seven regional railroads lent their expertise, and more than 25,000 people and over 100 companies gave something. Walt Disney was an honorary board member when the railway was built.
The Rose Garden Loop opened in 1960, a ride of about 25 minutes through Douglas fir and western red cedar, past spring trilliums, until the forest opened to a view of the city and Mt. Hood. Robert Kennedy rode it during his 1968 campaign. For decades the train earned more in tickets than it cost to run and helped fund animal care at the zoo.
In 2013 zoo construction closed the railway. It reopened in 2014 on a shortened route inside the zoo, but a failed retaining wall and years of deferred maintenance left the loop, a mile and a quarter of forest track, sitting idle. When a 2017 proposal suggested turning it into a walking path, Portlanders pushed back. In 2020 the railway was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Friends of Washington Park & Zoo Railway have kept the restoration effort moving ever since.
Where the Friends show up, and what still stands
The tracks and infrastructure of the Rose Garden Loop are still in place, and geotechnical experts have assessed the loop and found it can be made sound. The Friends group does not run trains; instead, it organizes volunteer track cleanup days along the path to the Washington Park Station and staffs booths at community events where people can learn about the plan and share their zoo train memories.
In 2026 the Friends appeared at Train Day at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center, Portland Sunday Parkways and Goose Hollow Days, and hosted a history talk, The Portland Zoo Railway: The Biggest Little Railway in the Country, with Melissa Darby. A new zoo train poster by artists Lyn Nance and Stephen Sasser supports the cause.
Don’t miss
- The ZoolinerThe silvery streamlined train that made the first run on May 22, 1958 and carried 200,000 riders that summer.
- The Rose Garden LoopA mile and a quarter of forest track to the International Rose Test Garden, idle since 2013 and the focus of the restoration.
- Washington Park StationThe station at the Washington Park end of the line, where volunteers have cleaned up the path.
- Track cleanup daysHands-on volunteer days that let supporters work on the line itself.
A train story kids can help write
The forest loop is not running right now, but kids can still be part of the story. Families can sign the petition, stop by the Friends' booth at community events, or meet the group at Train Day at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center. Supporters say the full ride was open to people of all ages and abilities, and one parent of an autistic child described the train as both a draw to the zoo and a calm break on busy days.
Plan your visit: tips for Washington Park & Zoo Railway
- Check the Friends' events page for upcoming track days and booths.
- For current zoo train service inside the zoo, contact the Oregon Zoo directly.
- Donations are tax-deductible; the Friends are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
- Sign up for the newsletter to hear about volunteer openings.
The Friends of Washington Park & Zoo Railway
The Friends of Washington Park & Zoo Railway is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working with Metro, the Oregon Zoo and the City of Portland on Phase 1, a $250,000 engineering and feasibility study. Metro has committed $50,000 in matching funds if the community raises the other $200,000. You can donate, sign the petition, or volunteer for track clean-ups, grant writing, tabling or social media.
Rail history around Portland
The Oregon Rail Heritage Center, where the Friends often appear at Train Day, is about a mile away. The Willamette Shore Trolley is about 7 miles off, and the Portland Vintage Trolley page tells another chapter of the city's rail past. See the full list of Oregon train museums.
- Portland Vintage Trolley historical collectionPortland, OR · same town
- Oregon Rail Heritage CenterPortland, OR · about 1 mi
- Oregon Pacific Railroad historic excursionsPortland area, OR · about 5 mi
- Willamette Shore TrolleyLake Oswego / Portland, OR · about 7 mi
- Pacific Northwest Live SteamersMolalla, OR · about 27 mi
- Chelatchie Prairie RailroadYacolt, WA · about 27 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
I love that Portland bartenders once put on engineer's caps to raise money for this little railway. It makes me think of Mr. Conductor in our book, in his blue uniform, holding out a hand to help Rally aboard. My mom believed the best parts of any trip are the people who welcome you. You can read her story, and how this book came to be, 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
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
- Train museums in Oregon: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Oregon
- Halloween train rides in Oregon
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Washington Park & Zoo Railway?
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
- Washington Park & Zoo Railway official website(opens in a new tab)
- Washington Park & Zoo Railway on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
- Washington Park & Zoo Railway on Instagram(opens in a new tab)
- Washington Park & Zoo Railway on YouTube(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Washington Park & Zoo Railway: 20 questions about the zoo train
Is the Washington Park & Zoo Railway running?
The full route is not. In 2013 zoo construction closed the railway, and when it reopened in 2014 it ran only a shortened route inside the zoo, leaving the Rose Garden Loop idle. Contact the Oregon Zoo for current in-zoo train service, and follow the Friends group for restoration news.
What is the Rose Garden Loop?
The Rose Garden Loop is the forest section of the zoo railway, opened in 1960, that carried riders through Washington Park to the International Rose Test Garden. The idle stretch is about a mile and a quarter of track. The full ride took about 25 minutes, with views of the city and Mt. Hood.
Why did the Oregon Zoo train stop going to the Rose Garden?
After zoo construction closed the railway in 2013, it reopened in 2014 without the loop. A retaining wall had failed, and deferred maintenance had built up, so the decision was made to run a shortened route within the zoo and leave the forest track unused.
When did the Washington Park & Zoo Railway open?
The Zooliner made its first run on May 22, 1958, and 200,000 people rode it that summer. The Rose Garden Loop extension opened in 1960, giving the railway its full route through Washington Park. The Friends mark 1958 as the year the railway was established.
What was the Zooliner?
The Zooliner was the silvery, streamlined train that made the railway's first run on May 22, 1958 through the grounds of the future Portland Zoo. It quickly became a favorite with Oregonians, carrying 200,000 riders in its first summer.
How was the Washington Park & Zoo Railway funded?
It was a community effort. Schoolchildren across Oregon sold dollar shares worth two future rides, Portland bartenders wore engineer's caps and passed the hat, and more than 25,000 people and over 100 companies contributed. Seven regional railroads lent their expertise.
Is the Washington Park & Zoo Railway a historic landmark?
Yes. In 2020 the railway was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Oregon Digital describes it as the Portland Zoo Railway Historic District, a scale railroad designed by professional train designers and railroad engineers in the 1950s.
What gauge is the Washington Park & Zoo Railway?
It is a narrow gauge railroad, 2 feet 6 inches between the rails, with rolling stock built to 5/8 scale. That size made it big enough to carry families comfortably while fitting the forest setting of Washington Park.
Did Walt Disney help with the Portland zoo train?
The Friends say Walt Disney was an honorary board member when the railway was built. The project also drew expertise from seven regional railroads and support from thousands of Oregonians. It is a fun detail that shows how much attention the project drew in its day.
Did Robert Kennedy ride the Portland zoo train?
Yes. According to the Friends of Washington Park & Zoo Railway, Senator Robert Kennedy rode the train during his 1968 presidential campaign, one of many memorable moments in the railway's history. It is one of the stories longtime riders still share about the line.
Who are the Friends of Washington Park & Zoo Railway?
The Friends are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preserving, repairing and securing ongoing operation of the full railway, including ecological restoration along the route between the Oregon Zoo and the International Rose Test Garden. Their mailing address is P.O. Box 6822, Portland, OR 97228.
What is the plan to restore the Rose Garden Loop?
Restoration happens in phases. Phase 1 is a $250,000 engineering and feasibility study done with Metro, the Oregon Zoo and the City of Portland to set scope and cost. Afterward the Friends will seek funding for track, station and rolling stock work to return the loop to service.
How much money is needed for the zoo train restoration?
Phase 1 costs $250,000. Metro unanimously committed $50,000 in matching funds, contingent on the community raising the remaining $200,000. Physical restoration of the track, station and rolling stock will need additional funding after the study.
How can I donate to bring back the Portland zoo train?
Donate through the Friends of Washington Park & Zoo Railway website, fwpzr.org. Gifts fund the engineering and feasibility work that can unlock larger public investment. Contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law; the group's EIN is 83-1219028.
How can I volunteer with the Friends of Washington Park & Zoo Railway?
The Friends need help with track cleanup days, grant writing, tabling at events and social media. They have also looked for outreach volunteers and someone to wear the Titus mascot costume. Contact info@fwpzr.org or call 971-405-9797 to join the team.
Is there a petition to restore the zoo train?
Yes. More than 45,000 people have signed a petition to bring back the Rose Garden Loop, hosted on Change.org and linked from the Friends' website. Signing adds to the public record that the project has wide support.
How long was the Portland zoo train ride to the Rose Garden?
The Friends describe a 25-minute ride through the forest, and a 2025 news story described it as a 30-minute ride on a 3-mile loop. Either way, it was a long, scenic trip compared with the shortened route inside the zoo.
Where can I meet the Friends of the zoo railway?
The Friends staff booths at community events, including Train Day at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center, Portland Sunday Parkways and Goose Hollow Days in 2026, and host track cleanup days. Their events page lists upcoming dates.
How do I contact the Friends of Washington Park & Zoo Railway?
Email info@fwpzr.org, call 971-405-9797, or write to P.O. Box 6822, Portland, OR 97228. The group also posts news on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, and offers an email newsletter for supporters. They say they love hearing from the community and reply quickly.
What rail attractions are near Washington Park?
The Oregon Rail Heritage Center is about a mile away, the Oregon Pacific Railroad offers excursions about 5 miles away, and the Willamette Shore Trolley runs about 7 miles away. Pacific Northwest Live Steamers in Molalla is about 27 miles out.
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