The Southern Oregon Railway Historical Society helped establish Medford Railroad Park and remains a partner in running it. The society began in 1976 as a chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. Its full-size railway collection grew out of the work of local volunteers and emphasizes the industries and communities of southern Oregon. Medford’s park brings the society’s equipment together with several other railway organizations on city land.
The city identifies Medco’s Four Spot Willamette locomotive among the prominent objects. This type of geared steam engine supplied traction on the demanding curves and grades of an industrial line. Look at its compact proportions and the shafts that carry power along the locomotive. Its machinery helps explain why the engine worked in timber country, where the railway had to fit the terrain and change as the logging moved. Compare that layout with the large driving wheels often seen on engines designed to pull fast mainline passenger trains.
A caboose and a hopper car show what happened behind the engine. The caboose gave employees a place to watch the train and manage paperwork while traveling. The hopper’s shape was designed around a load of bulk freight and the need to unload it efficiently. Read their forms as clues to the different jobs each car was built to do. The collection also includes a working telegraph, illustrating the importance of sending information about train movements between people who could not see one another.
The society’s holdings extend beyond the equipment in the park. Its history identifies Medco No. 8 and additional cars stored offsite, so a collection roster and a list of public displays can differ. The city and society provide information about public access and scheduled activities. If you have a particular vehicle in mind, check where it is currently displayed. For a first visit, the Willamette, freight cars and telegraph together offer a picture of the machinery and communication that kept a regional railway working.
Visitor information
Researched November 2026.
Sources
More railroad museums in Oregon
- Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad — Preservation Collection — Garibaldi: Operating railroad preservation collection
- Oregon Rail Heritage Center — Portland: Working railroad museum and locomotive collection
- Sumpter Valley Railroad Restoration — McEwen, near Baker City: Narrow-gauge railroad preservation collection
- All 4 railroad museums and sites in Oregon
Keep exploring
- All heritage sites — museums, stations and landmarks
- Pacific — the trains you can ride in the region