Willamette Shore Trolley in Lake Oswego and Portland, Oregon
Trolley and streetcar museumTrain ridesRegular service returns May 2027; fall excursions and Christmas Ships trips run later in 2026
The Willamette Shore Trolley runs a vintage-style trolley along the west shore of the Willamette River between Lake Oswego and Portland, on a rail line that dates to the 1880s and once carried Southern Pacific's Red Electric interurbans.
- Line dates to the 1880s
- Elk Rock Tunnel opened 1921
- Trolley rides since 1987
- Replica Council Crest cars
- Christmas Ships trips in December
- Charters available year round
Willamette Shore Trolley at a glance
- Hours
- Saturdays and Sundays late May to late September (plus Labor Day); 2026 regular service has ended, returning May 2027
- Admission
- Round trip: adults $22, seniors and military $20, ages 2 to 12 $12, 2 and under free; one-way fares half that
- Train rides
- About 40 minutes each way between Lake Oswego and Portland, departures every two hours on weekends
- Seasonal events
- Fall Trolley Excursions, Christmas Ships
- Plan for
- About 1.5 to 2 hours round trip
- Best for
- Families wanting a short, scenic ride with a tunnel
- Best ages
- Ages 2 to 10
- Accessibility
- Not wheelchair accessible; three steps to board and reach seats
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Willamette Shore Trolley? 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 Lake Oswego and Portland.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
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25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
A Red Electric line saved for the future
The right-of-way began in the 1880s as a narrow-gauge steam railroad linking Portland with Oswego, as Lake Oswego was then known, and continuing south into the Willamette Valley. Southern Pacific bought it, widened it to standard gauge and electrified it in 1914, creating its Red Electric interurban service, with cars that ran on to Beaverton, Hillsboro, Newberg, McMinnville and Corvallis. In 1921 the Elk Rock Tunnel replaced a wooden trestle that had curved around Elk Rock.
Passenger trains stopped in 1929, though freight kept rolling until 1983. When Southern Pacific moved to abandon the Lake Oswego to Portland stretch in 1984, a consortium of local governments and agencies bought the line to keep it for future transit. In 1987 the Willamette Shore Trolley was born, with Blackpool double-decker No. 48 run by the Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society.
Another operator ran heritage cars for a while, and the society took the service back in 1995, later adding a Portland Brill Master Unit streetcar. Both older cars eventually went home to the society's trolley museum in Brooks to spare them the wear of daily service. The line once stretched north to RiverPlace, but was cut back to make room for the Portland Streetcar in the South Waterfront. Volunteers have kept the trolleys running through all of it.
River views, trestles and a dark tunnel
Trips start in downtown Lake Oswego at 311 N. State Street, just south of Riverwood by the large trestle, or at the Portland end in front of the Tesla Building, a block south of Moody and Bancroft streets. The ride takes about 40 minutes each way along the west bank of the Willamette, through well-to-do riverside neighborhoods, over trestles and into the darkness of the 1921 Elk Rock Tunnel.
The car you ride is a Vintage Trolley, a replica of Portland's Council Crest streetcars. It is one of four built in 1991 to carry tourists on the MAX line and Portland Streetcar; Nos. 513 and 514 now live on this line, while two of the original Council Crest cars are kept at the society's museum in Brooks. Tickets are one way, so you can spend time in Portland or Lake Oswego and catch a later car back.
Don’t miss
- Elk Rock TunnelOpened in 1921 to replace a wooden trestle around Elk Rock, it is the dark, exciting middle of the ride.
- Vintage Trolley No. 514Built in 1991 as a replica of Portland's Council Crest cars, it ran on MAX and the Portland Streetcar before coming to this line.
- The Lake Oswego trestleThe trolley's Lake Oswego stop sits beside the large trestle just south of Riverwood.
- The Red Electric right-of-wayThe route is the old Southern Pacific interurban line, electrified in 1914 and preserved by local governments since the 1980s.
- Christmas Ships tripsThe line's most famous event, riding along the river in December when the lighted Christmas Ships parade.
Tunnel time for little riders
The tunnel is the moment kids remember, and a 40-minute ride is about right for young attention spans. Children 2 to 12 ride for $6 one way or $12 round trip, and those 2 and under ride free, as of October 2026. Taking a one-way trip and returning later lets families stop for a snack or a playground break at either end.
Plan for steps: the trolley is not wheelchair accessible and has three steps to climb, one outside, one inside and one up to the seating area, so strollers need to fold. If you miss the last trolley back, TriMet bus route 35 connects the two ends.
Plan your visit: tips for Willamette Shore Trolley
- Online tickets are one way only, so buy your return trip too.
- Arrive 15 minutes early; seats are not assigned.
- If online shows no availability, a few walk-up tickets are sold at the Lake Oswego depot or on the trolley in Portland.
- The Portland terminal has moved one block south to the Tesla Building.
- Tickets are good only for the day and time bought and are not refundable.
The line's best known event is the Christmas Ships trip in December, when the trolley runs along the river during the season of the lighted boat parade. Fall Trolley Excursions ran October 24 and 25 in 2026. For more holiday options, see our guide to Christmas train rides in Oregon.
Run by the trolley museum's volunteers
The Willamette Shore Trolley is operated by volunteer members of the Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit that also runs the Oregon Electric Railway Museum in Brooks. The line itself belongs to a consortium of local governments. Riders help by buying tickets, booking a charter for a birthday or celebration, and joining or donating to the society.
More Portland-area rail outings
The Oregon Rail Heritage Center, home of SP 4449, is about 6 miles north. The Portland Cable Tram is about 7 miles away, and the Willow Creek Railroad Museum, which shares Powerland in Brooks with the society's trolley museum, is about 30 miles south. See every Oregon train museum for more.
- Oregon Rail Heritage CenterPortland, OR · about 6 mi
- Washington Park & Zoo Railway historic collectionPortland, Oregon, OR · about 7 mi
- Portland Vintage Trolley historical collectionPortland, OR · about 7 mi
- Oregon Pacific Railroad historic excursionsPortland area, OR · about 8 mi
- Pacific Northwest Live SteamersMolalla, OR · about 20 mi
- Willow Creek Railroad MuseumBrooks, OR · about 30 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
This little trolley rolls right into the dark of the Elk Rock Tunnel, and that is my favorite part of our book too. Rally's train goes into a tunnel, everything goes dark, and then comes a big bright light and happy cheers. I can almost hear a car full of kids doing exactly that here. My mom imagined that moment for her grandkids. If your little ones like Rally, our train books for toddlers list has more to read before a ride.
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 Willamette Shore Trolley?
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.
Willamette Shore Trolley: 20 questions riders ask
Where does the Willamette Shore Trolley leave from?
You can board at either end. The Lake Oswego depot is at 311 N. State Street in downtown Lake Oswego, just south of Riverwood by the large trestle. In Portland, as of July 2026 the stop has moved one block south of Moody and Bancroft streets to in front of the Tesla Building, until further notice.
What is the Willamette Shore Trolley schedule?
As of October 2026, regular service has ended for the year and returns in May 2027. In 2026 trolleys ran Saturdays and Sundays from May 30 to September 27, plus Labor Day. Summer trips left Lake Oswego at 10 am, noon, 2 pm and 4 pm, and Portland an hour later each time, with fewer trips in September.
How much are Willamette Shore Trolley tickets?
As of October 2026, round trip fares are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and military with ID, $12 for children 2 to 12, and free for 2 and under. One-way fares are $11, $10 and $6. Tickets are for the day and time bought only and are not refundable.
How do I buy Willamette Shore Trolley tickets?
Buy online through the Schedules and Fares page at wst.oregontrolley.com. Online tickets are one way, so buy separate tickets for your trip back. If a weekend shows no availability, online seats are sold out, but a limited number of walk-up tickets are sold first come, first served at the Lake Oswego depot or on the trolley in Portland.
What is the Willamette Shore Trolley route?
The trolley runs along the west shore of the Willamette River between downtown Lake Oswego and Portland, over trestles, past riverside neighborhoods and through the Elk Rock Tunnel. The City of Lake Oswego describes the line as 5.25 miles long, while other listings say about 6 miles. The trolley's site links Google Maps directions for each end.
Is there a Willamette Shore Trolley route map?
The trolley's website links Google Maps directions to the stations rather than posting a detailed route map online. The line follows the old Jefferson Street rail line on the river's west bank from Lake Oswego north to Portland's South Waterfront area. The City of Lake Oswego also has a page about the route.
How long is the Willamette Shore Trolley ride?
Each one-way trip takes about 40 minutes; for example, a 10 am departure from Lake Oswego reaches the Portland stop at 10:40. A round trip with the turnaround takes roughly an hour and a half to two hours. Because tickets are one way, you can also stay at the far end and catch a later trolley.
Where do you park for the Willamette Shore Trolley?
The trolley's site does not post parking details online. Most riders start at the Lake Oswego depot at 311 N. State Street in downtown Lake Oswego. Call (503) 697-7436 to ask about the best place to park, and allow extra time, since you should arrive 15 minutes before departure.
Can I ride the Willamette Shore Trolley from Portland?
Yes. You may start your trip in Portland, boarding near the Tesla Building one block south of Moody and Bancroft streets. In 2026 summer trolleys left Portland at 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm and 5 pm, arriving in Lake Oswego 40 minutes later. Buy tickets for the Portland to Lake Oswego direction online.
What kind of trolley is the Willamette Shore Trolley?
Today's car is a Vintage Trolley, a modern-built replica of Portland's Council Crest streetcars. It is one of four built in 1991 for tourist service on Portland's MAX line and streetcar; Nos. 513 and 514 now run here. Earlier, the line used a Blackpool double-decker and a Portland Brill Master Unit, both since retired to Brooks.
How old is the Willamette Shore Trolley line?
The rail line dates to the 1880s, when it was a narrow-gauge steam railroad from Portland to Oswego. Southern Pacific converted it to standard gauge and electrified it in 1914 for Red Electric interurban service. The Elk Rock Tunnel opened in 1921, passenger service ended in 1929, and freight trains ran until 1983.
When did the Willamette Shore Trolley start?
The trolley's own history says it began in 1987 with Blackpool double-decker No. 48 operated by the Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society; some other listings give 1988. A consortium of local governments bought the line after Southern Pacific filed to abandon it in 1984, preserving it for possible future transit.
Is the Willamette Shore Trolley good for kids?
Yes. The ride is short, the river views are pretty, and the dark tunnel is a big hit with children. Kids 2 to 12 ride for $12 round trip and 2 and under ride free as of October 2026. Seats are not assigned, so arrive 15 minutes early if your child wants a window.
Is the Willamette Shore Trolley wheelchair accessible?
No. The trolley is not wheelchair accessible. There are three steps to get aboard: one outside, one inside, and a third up to the passenger seating area. Strollers will need to be folded. Call (503) 697-7436 with specific accessibility questions before buying tickets, since tickets are not refundable.
Does the Willamette Shore Trolley run for the Christmas Ships?
Yes. Christmas Ships trips in December are the trolley's most famous event, timed to the river's lighted boat parade season. Dates and tickets are posted on the Events page at wst.oregontrolley.com, and these trips tend to be popular, so check early in the season.
Does the Willamette Shore Trolley run in the fall?
Yes, on select dates. Regular weekend service ends in late September, but in 2026 Fall Trolley Excursions ran on October 24 and 25. The trolley also holds special events through the year, which are listed on its Events page.
Can you rent the Willamette Shore Trolley for a birthday?
Yes. The trolleys can be chartered for birthdays, celebrations and other activities, and charters are available year round. Use the Charter a Trolley page at wst.oregontrolley.com, email mark@oerhs.org, or call (503) 697-7436 for availability and pricing.
What if I miss the last Willamette Shore Trolley back?
If you miss the last departure, TriMet bus route 35 runs between Portland and Lake Oswego and can take you back to where you started for the regular bus fare. Check trimet.org for its schedule. Because trolley tickets are one way, planning your return trip in advance helps avoid this.
Who runs the Willamette Shore Trolley?
The trolley is operated by volunteer members of the Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that also runs the Oregon Electric Railway Museum in Brooks. The rail line belongs to a consortium of local governments and agencies, which bought it to preserve it for future transit.
What is near the Willamette Shore Trolley?
The Oregon Rail Heritage Center, home of the SP 4449 steam locomotive, is about 6 miles away in Portland's Central Eastside. The Portland Cable Tram and the Washington Park and Zoo Railway are about 7 miles away. Two of the original Council Crest trolleys can be seen at the Oregon Electric Railway Museum in Brooks.
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