Chehalis–Centralia Railroad
A nonprofit heritage railroad and museum in Chehalis, Washington, offering scenic excursions on former Milwaukee Road track.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Chehalis–Centralia Railroad is a heritage railway and museum operation based in Chehalis, Washington. It is associated with the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad Museum, which manages excursion services, historic railway equipment, and the preservation of a roughly ten-mile section of former Milwaukee Road track. The line forms an approximately 18-mile round trip for passengers and follows the Chehalis River valley through farmland, wooded hills, wooden trestles, and crossings near tributary streams including the Newaukum River. The railroad operates under the reporting mark CHTX. The organization was incorporated as a nonprofit in 1986 after local residents were inspired by a visit from the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad. Its central locomotive is Baldwin-built No. 15, a 2-8-2 Mikado steam locomotive constructed in 1916. The locomotive was originally built for logging service in Washington State as Clear Lake Lumber Company No. 200. After a payment default and repossession, it entered service with the Cowlitz, Chehalis and Cascade Railroad, where it became No. 15. The locomotive was later moved to Chehalis, displayed at Recreation Park for more than three decades, and retired from regular service in 1955. The nonprofit removed the locomotive from display and sent it to the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad’s shops for restoration. Work was completed in April 1989, and excursion operations began later that summer on track owned by Weyerhaeuser Timber Company. The organization acquired passenger equipment and financed the initial restoration through grants, private donations, and volunteer labor. In 1996, the Port of Chehalis helped acquire the track for the railroad using a grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation. The railroad’s development has been shaped by infrastructure damage, locomotive maintenance, insurance constraints, and changing operating partnerships. Flooding in December 2007 damaged the right-of-way, while severe washouts in February 2022 contributed to a prolonged interruption. In early 2019, No. 15 was removed from service after major boiler damage made it unsafe to operate. Repairs to the locomotive and line were delayed by funding and infrastructure problems. Federal assistance, state support, volunteer work, and port involvement contributed to an extensive line rehabilitation completed in 2023, including replacement of more than 1,000 ties and renewed track surfacing and alignment. Passenger operations were suspended in March 2022 after the museum lost liability insurance coverage following financial losses associated with two collision accidents. Service resumed in 2023 under a joint operating agreement with Goose Lake Railway, with public train rides restarting in April 2024. A proposed 2023 operating arrangement with the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad did not proceed. The museum has continued to develop themed excursions and event programming, including dinner mystery trips, escape-room experiences, holiday rides, and film-related outings. Its Polar Express-style Christmas train, offered since 2012, became a recurring seasonal attraction. The organization also preserves historic rolling stock and locomotives. In 2024, restoration estimates for two steam locomotives in the museum’s collection were reported at approximately $1 million per engine, while the museum’s 600-series railcars were undergoing renovation. Plans included additional excursions toward the Willapa Hills and a non-monetary exchange of an unused turntable with the Northwest Railway Museum for a 1950s Pullman coach. In 2025, the railroad partnered with a rail-bike company to offer recreational use of its tracks. The railroad’s identity combines local transportation heritage, steam preservation, scenic tourism, educational programming, and community events rather than conventional freight or intercity passenger service.
History
The railroad’s route has roots in early twentieth-century logging and regional railway development. The underlying line was built by the Puget Sound & Willapa Harbor Railway and operated between November 8, 1915, and December 31, 1918. It later became part of the former Milwaukee Road system and was subsequently associated with Weyerhaeuser Timber Company ownership before being acquired for preservation. The modern heritage organization was incorporated in 1986 as a nonprofit by Chehalis residents influenced by the success of nearby scenic steam operations. Its principal locomotive, Baldwin No. 15, was built in 1916 in Philadelphia in a 2-8-2 Mikado configuration. It was initially constructed for Clear Lake Lumber Company in Skagit County, Washington, as No. 200. Following a payment default and repossession, it was sold to the Cowlitz, Chehalis and Cascade Railroad and renumbered No. 15. The locomotive was moved to Chehalis around 1926, retired in 1955, and placed on public display at Recreation Park. The new nonprofit restored the locomotive after removing it from the park and transporting it to Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad facilities in Mineral, Washington. Restoration was completed on April 28, 1989, and excursion service began later that summer over former Milwaukee Road track. Passenger cars were acquired during the same period. The initial restoration reportedly cost about $100,000 and depended on grants, private donations, and volunteer labor. A major ownership and infrastructure milestone occurred in 1996, when the Port of Chehalis assisted with purchasing the tracks from Weyerhaeuser through a $420,000 Washington State Department of Transportation grant. The line later suffered extensive damage during the December 2007 floods. Volunteers and the port authority helped restore the right-of-way, with a $1.5 million Federal Emergency Management Agency grant supporting the repair work. Passenger numbers had reached a reported record of 10,250 in 2006, and despite shorter trips and reduced service after the floods, annual ridership remained around 10,000 through the 2009 season. The Baldwin locomotive was removed from service in early 2019 after major boiler damage made steaming unsafe. Repairs were expected to take several years. In February 2022, severe washouts damaged the route again, compounding the locomotive problem and delaying the return of regular excursions. The museum also suspended operations in March 2022 after losing liability insurance coverage following losses connected with two collision accidents. Federal funding requests and additional public support enabled a comprehensive restoration of the line, completed in mid-2023. Work included re-tamping and regulating the track, replacing more than 1,000 ties, repairing the yard, and carrying out cosmetic work on the depot and locomotive No. 6. No. 15’s restoration was temporarily paused because of funding constraints but later resumed with assistance connected to state legislation. An intended operating partnership with the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad did not take effect, while an agreement with Goose Lake Railway allowed operations to restart. Public train rides resumed in April 2024. The museum has broadened its use of the railroad beyond conventional sightseeing. It offers school and youth-group trips, themed excursions, holiday events, dinner mystery rides, escape-room experiences, and film-themed outings. The Polar Express Christmas train, introduced in 2012, became a recurring seasonal program. In 2024, the organization reported that two steam locomotives required restoration estimates of approximately $1 million each and that its collection of 600-series railcars was undergoing renovation. Future plans included Willapa Hills excursions and exchanging an unused turntable with the Northwest Railway Museum for a 1950s Pullman coach. In 2025, a rail-bike partnership added another recreational format to the line.
- 2025
Rail-bike partnership added
[1]A partnership introduced rail-bike recreation on the railroad’s tracks.
- 2024
Public rides restart
[1]Excursion rides resumed in April after the period of suspension and infrastructure rehabilitation.
- 2023
Line restoration and operating agreement
[1]Major track and yard rehabilitation was completed, and the museum entered an operating agreement with Goose Lake Railway.
- 2022
Operations suspended
[1]Insurance problems and severe line washouts led to an indefinite suspension of public operations.
- 2019
No. 15 removed from service
[1]Major boiler damage made the locomotive unsafe to steam and began a multiyear repair period.
- 2016
Centennial celebration for Baldwin No. 15
[1]The museum marked the locomotive’s 100th anniversary with a centennial celebration.
- 2012
Polar Express program begins
[1]The museum began presenting a Christmas-themed Polar Express excursion that became a recurring seasonal attraction.
- 2007
Flood damages the right-of-way
[1]December flooding caused major damage, leading to a restoration program supported by volunteers, the port authority, and FEMA funding.
- 1996
Track acquisition supported by public grant
[1]The Port of Chehalis helped purchase the track from Weyerhaeuser using a Washington State Department of Transportation grant.
- 1989
Steam restoration completed and excursions begin
[1]Restoration of No. 15 was completed on April 28, and the railroad began heritage operations later that summer.
Products and positioning
A community-based heritage railroad that combines historic steam locomotives, scenic excursions, railway preservation, and seasonal entertainment for residents and visitors to southwest Washington.
Passenger excursion · 1989
Scenic heritage excursions
The railroad’s core offering is a round-trip heritage journey through the Chehalis River valley. Trains travel over preserved former Milwaukee Road track and pass through wooded hills, farmland, trestles, and river and stream environments. Trips are designed as recreational and educational experiences rather than scheduled transportation.
Historic steam locomotive · 1916
Baldwin locomotive No. 15
Built by Baldwin in 1916, No. 15 is a 2-8-2 Mikado locomotive and the railroad’s signature steam asset. It was originally intended for logging work, later served the Cowlitz, Chehalis and Cascade Railroad, and was preserved in Chehalis after retirement. Boiler damage placed it out of service for an extended period while restoration funding and technical work continued.
Seasonal event train · 2012
Polar Express Christmas train
Introduced in 2012, the Christmas-themed Polar Express ride is a roughly hour-long seasonal experience featuring holiday activities and refreshments. The program became one of the museum’s most popular recurring events and has historically sold out quickly.
Entertainment and events
Themed event excursions
The museum supplements scenic rides with themed formats such as dinner murder mysteries, escape-room trips, film-themed outings, and other event trains. It also provides selected rides for local schoolchildren and regional Boys & Girls Clubs participants.
Recreational rail experience · 2025
Rail-bike recreation
A 2025 partnership enabled recreational rail bikes to use portions of the railroad’s track, extending the line’s tourism and outdoor-activity offering beyond conventional train excursions.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016Baldwin No. 15 centennial celebration
Chehalis · Washington State
The museum organized a celebration marking one hundred years since the construction of its principal Baldwin steam locomotive.
Outcome. The event reinforced the railroad’s preservation and local-history mission.
- 2012Polar Express Christmas train
Chehalis area · Lewis County · Southwest Washington
The museum launched a recurring holiday excursion built around the Polar Express theme, with refreshments and seasonal activities during the train ride.
Outcome. The event became a popular annual attraction and was reported to sell out quickly.
Brand decisions
2025
Expand into rail-bike recreationStrategyBackground
The museum sought additional recreational uses for its preserved railway infrastructure alongside excursion trains and event programming.
Action taken
The railroad partnered with a rail-bike company to provide recreational rides on its tracks.
Aftermath
The partnership broadened the line’s tourism offer beyond locomotive-hauled passenger excursions.
2023
Enter joint operating agreement with Goose Lake RailwayStrategyBackground
After the proposed operating arrangement with the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad did not materialize, the museum needed an operating structure for restored excursion service.
Action taken
The Chehalis-Centralia Railroad Museum reached an agreement with Goose Lake Railway to support operations on the line.
Aftermath
Train rides resumed in April 2024.
2022
Suspend public operations after loss of liability insuranceStrategyBackground
The museum lost liability insurance coverage after financial losses associated with two collision accidents, while the railway was also dealing with severe washouts and locomotive repairs.
Action taken
Public train operations were suspended indefinitely while the organization addressed insurance, infrastructure, and financial constraints.
Aftermath
Infrastructure restoration proceeded, and service later resumed through a new operating agreement with Goose Lake Railway.
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