Mt. Hood Railroad gets $700,000 by Jonathan Brinckman, The Oregonian Friday June 20, 2008, 3:27 PM Mount Hood Railroad was today awarded a $700,000 state grant that will allow it to complete repairs of track damaged by a 2006 flood and resume service to Parkdale by early September. The grant is from ConnectOregon, a lottery-bond initiative that funds air, rail, marine and transit infrastructure. The entire repair project, at mile 15 of the 22 mile railroad, will cost $1.2 million. "So many people have been waiting for this," said Michelle Marquart, general manager for Mount Hood. Marquart also said that the new owner of the railroad, Permian Basin Railways Inc., is sending a "dome car" with transparent roof. That car, which seats 72 on the upper level and 22 on the lower level, is scheduled to arrive late next week. Permian, a subsidiary of Chicago-based Iowa Pacific Holdings, bought the railroad in April. "It's wonderful," she said. "The views are going to be wonderful." The 102-year-old railroad offers freight and passenger service through the Hood River Valley, including dinner trips on Saturday nights and brunch trips on Sundays. --Jonathan Brinckman, jbrinckman@news.oregonian.com
