What is rail biking?, Ridin' the rails, A brief history , What to know about Santiam Excursion Trains , Where to meet for Santiam Excursion Trains

We started by meeting behind a Safeway grocery store on the train tracks in Sweet Home surrounded by old industrial buildings. I know that sounds a little suspicious, but it turned out to be a gateway to an adventurous morning of rail biking that would take me through old lumber mills, scenic water views and wildlife encounters.

Popular throughout other spots in Oregon and across the United States, rail riding has finally made its way to the Willamette Valley.

Santiam Excursion Trains is based in Lebanon and recently added a new railbike adventure in Sweet Home. It travels 6 miles on the old Sweet Home Branch line, where abandoned buildings and wildlife are plentiful.

This is not your usual railroad or biking excursion. You get all the same views from the train, but at a more leisurely pace. Plus, you can choose to pedal manually or use the electric feature.

What is rail biking?

An increasingly popular outdoor adventure, rail biking involves using your own legs as pedal-power. Instead of enjoying views from the inside of a train, you’re manually pedaling along the tracks, taking in all the sights at your own leisurely pace. Many railbikes have an e-assist, which allows passengers to electrically power the bike.

Riding on a railroad isn’t a new concept. Popular in the late 1800s, the Velocipede was used to ride along railroads, making maintenance work easier and quicker.

Usually, rail riding is done on decommissioned or minimally used railroads.

In 2014, Kim and Anita Metlen started the first rail biking excursions in Oregon in Wallowa County. Since the start of the Joseph Branch Railriders, rail biking has swept across Oregon with locations in Hood River, the Tillamook coast and Coquille.

One difference between a train and rail riding is the quietness. Instead of a train horn, the only sounds you’re hearing are the bugs breezing by you and your own heartbeat — if you choose to pedal that hard.

Ridin' the rails

The excursion began behind the Safeway parking lot in Sweet Home, a town with 10,439 residents, 14 miles southeast of Lebanon.

I knew I was in the right place when I saw the signs and large trailer with the Santiam Excursion railbike logo.

I arrived shortly before my 10 a.m. time slot. Times available for booking are at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Reservations need to be made online, and it costs $42.50. Active military and veterans pay $25.

The other rail riders and I were greeted by Brittni Kruse, our guide and safety instructor. She gave a brief intro on how to use the nearly 500 pound railbikes, which seat four people.

She explained all the parts of the green railbike. On the sides of the seats, passengers can put their belongings in baskets. The red line that runs between the four seats is the brake line and at any point, anyone in the railbike can yank the line to stop. Sticking out in the middle of the seats is the electric motor hand toggle.

Simple enough to remember.

Just to give it a test feel, I moved the electric toggle slightly and nearly rear-ended the railbike in front of me.

At around 9:55 a.m., we were heading off down the railroad.

The ride was a little foreign at first. I have never been rail biking before, much less been on a train since I was 5, riding the Polar Express in rural Nevada.

At a speedy pace of nearly 10 mph, thanks to the electric motor, I was able to enjoy everything around me. One of the first sights you'll see is an abandoned, green lumber mill that looks like it’s on the brink of collapse.

Brittni Kruse and her railbike companions ride next to an old abandoned timber mill site during a rail biking trip with Santiam Excursion Trains.

The smell reminded me of those old, wooden rollercoaster rides. Couple that with the smell of nature and trees, you'll be given the same nostalgic feeling I had.

Scattered throughout the trip were old buildings like that. There were decommissioned trains on the tracks, an airport runway and of course, natural beauty.

The railroad is sandwiched between tall trees. Next to the tracks are wildflowers and at one point, a deer leaped in the bushes and hawks circled above us.

About 2 miles down the path, we crossed a bridge that overlooked the 6-mile-long Wiley Creek. This was one of the most picturesque scenes. Through the rocks and trees, the creek snaked its way under us.

The views get better.

At the 3-mile mark, you hit the turnaround spot where we stretched our legs and our guides were able to switch our seats to head back the opposite direction. Here, we took a quick walk up a hill and saw an amazing view of Foster Lake.

I don’t know about the other passengers, but for me, it felt like we had stumbled upon a hidden gem. The water was a deep blue and people were kayaking, fishing and paddleboarding along the lake.

With the 80-degree weather, it took everything in me not to take a quick dip in the water. But we had a schedule to follow.

A view of Foster Lake during a rail biking trip with Santiam Excursion Trains.

Once our 10-minute pit stop ended, we headed the 3 miles back to the starting point. From takeoff, you go flying down a small hill. Although it was only about 15 mph, it felt like we were going 50 mph.

Overall, our trip was about 6 miles and lasted an hour.

Rail biking on a warm Saturday afternoon was the best way to immerse myself in the area around me. With the breeze in my face, the wildlife and the views, the excursion was worth it.

And if you choose to pedal the railroad like a Peloton pro, then the exercise will reward you, too.

Rail biking guide Brittni Kruse and her companions lead the way during a rail biking trip with Santiam Excursion Trains in Sweet Home.

A brief history

The history of the railroad can be traced back to the 1880s, when the Albany-Lebanon Railroad laid tracks to connect the two communities.

Railroads were historically used to transport necessary materials. By the 20th century, railroads were making their way to the West Coast and penetrating into rural communities.

It was primarily used for timber and agricultural purposes but became an essential railway within the Willamette Valley.

It’s now known as the Albany and Eastern Railroad and is still active. Except for the railriding excursions along the Sweet Home Branch line, the other tracks are used for freight hauling and transportation.

Santiam Excursion was established in 2014 for themed and holiday train rides and held its first official railbike experience in April.

What to know about Santiam Excursion Trains

For railbike excursions, participants must book in advance.

Single riders must be at least 18 years of age. Minimum height is 44 inches. Children may not ride on laps.
Weight limit: 250 pounds per rider.
Casual sports attire is suggested.
Water is included, but you can bring your own.
Closed-toed shoes are required.
Safety: Each excursion is led by a guide. Riders will go through an orientation prior to riding. A first aid kit and AED are available. Bring along any personal medical necessities. Vests are provided. Helmets are allowed but not required. Must bring your own.

Santiam Excursion was established in 2014 for themed and holiday train rides. In April, they held their first official railbike experience.

With only a couple of months in business with the railbikes, they hope to add more bikes that can hold larger weight and allow pets.