SELF PROPELLED: The rail diesel car pictured above during its Minam stop Saturday is one of three that will be in use this summer. The self-propelled RDC has controls at both ends, so does not need to be turned around to head in the opposite direction. (The Observer/Bill Rautenstrauch).

– Bill Rautenstrauch

– The Observer

Ralph Seidelman of Gresham knows his excursion trains. Over the years, he’s ridden on dozens of famous and not-so-famous lines, gone across the United States, up into Canada and clear to Nova Scotia.

It’s a passion with him. He’ll go to any lengths to try a train out. He rides and rides.

Saturday, he notched his first journey aboard the Wallowa-Union Railroad’s Eagle Cap Excursion Train. He seemed to be having a good time.

"It happened to fit into my schedule, and I ride trains because I like to go where automobiles can’t," Seidelman said during a stop at Minam.

On that count, Seidelman got his money’s worth. He was one of about 50 passengers enjoying the railroad’s "Jewel of Elgin" trip, a leisurely ride up the Wallowa River Canyon, from Elgin in Union County to Minam in Wallowa County, and back again.

Automobiles aren’t often seen in that country. The train takes passengers through a remote forested canyon far more suited to deer, elk, moose, bear, cougar, hawks and eagles than to people.

All those species are present, but the moose are the conversation piece these days. Once rare-to non-existent in Wallowa County, moose sightings are common now at least by comparison.

The moose have become an important part of the travelogue routinely given over the train PA system by Conductor Dave Arnold.

"Estimates say there are about 40 moose in Wallowa County now. We saw one along the river last week," the conductor said as the train entered the deeper recesses of the forest.

Saturday’s tour was the second of the season, and the second one made with the rail diesel cars the WURR purchased last year with a ConnectOregon grant.

The cars are self-propelled, and can be operated from either end. As Arnold told the passengers, there’s no need to turn around at the end of the line.

"The engineer just gets up, walks to the other end of the car, and drives in the opposite direction," Arnold said.

Two of the three RDCs the railroad bought are in service. The third was parked at the Elgin terminus Saturday, undergoing final maintenance checks.

Caterer Marianne Zinzer, who prepared basket lunches for passengers Saturday, said she looks forward to the addition of the third car.

"It has a full kitchen area and handicapped access. We’ll have a lot more room," she said.

The RDCs replace the diesel engine and aging passenger cars the line has used since its first full season in 2004.

Before the WURR acquired them, the RDCs carried passengers from Astoria to Portland during the Lewis and Clark bicentennial celebration.

As the two-car train made its way along the Wallowa Saturday, Train Man Dale Shumway relaxed in his seat and talked about the RDCs.

They have their advantages and disadvantages, he said.

"They make a real good ride, but because there’s more electrical and computer technology, they’re harder for the crews to get used to," he said.

That isn’t all the crews are getting used to this season. For the first time, the excursions are running between Union and Wallowa counties.

That’s because the railroad, after extensive negotiation, bought a vital track segment last year from Union Pacific Railroad. The short section of track leading into Elgin from the northeast was all the WURR needed to complete the link between Union and Wallowa Counties.

Acquisition of the so-called "last mile" allowed the railroad, jointly owned by the two county governments, to add about 15 runs to its excursion schedule.

The current season opened with a "Jewel of Elgin" run May 26, followed by the trip on Saturday.

Shumway said railroad people are encouraged by ridership so far.

"Customer-wise we’re doing pretty good, though I’d like to see more," he said.

Starting out, the Jewel of Elgin passes through rolling hills and pastures, through countryside dotted with old barns and farmhouses. The views are wide open.

Further on, the canyon walls close in, with the river flowing by on the right. Brush gives way to tall pine trees.

Arnold goes often to the PA system, relating the history of the old flag stops, retired stations and abandoned mill sites along the way, of Gulling, Partridge Creek and Palmer Junction, of Lookingglass, Rondowa, Kimmel and Vincent.

Paul Didelius, the contract engineer who drives the train, toots his whistle at rafters on the river. The rafters stop and wave, and passengers wave back.

The going is necessarily slow by regulation, Didelius must keep the speed to under 15 mph. People aboard have plenty of time to contemplate the views.

Two of the many who enjoyed the scenery Saturday were Jules and Fay Levin of Boise.

The Levins, a retired couple, had come to Wallowa County to celebrate Fay’s birthday. The train ride filled the weekend out nicely.

"We went to the Wallowa Valley Festival of the Arts, and later today we’ll ride the Wallowa Lake tram. I suppose we’ll go home by way of Hells Canyon. It’s a nice three or four day trip for us," she said.

At Minam, about noon, passengers stepped off the train for a 15-minute break. Some walked down to the Minam Motel and bought items at the small store.

Then it was all aboard again, for the return trip. Conductor Arnold, who has been a volunteer or an employee for the railroad since the two counties bought it, said he didn’t mind seeing the same scenery again.

"I can’t count how many times I’ve done it over the years, and I’m not tired of it yet," he said.