About Us

The Pacific Railroad Preservation Association is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization that is dedicated to restoring, maintaining, and operating historic railway equipment of the Pacific Northwest. They are the official caretakers of the Spokane, Portland and Seattle 700 – which is a Northern Style 4-8-4 Baldwin steam engine currently undergoing her 15 Year ‘1472’ FRA Inspection.

This satellite site is a supplement http://www.sps700.org/ and its’ purpose is to provide quick at-a-glance information pertaining to the 15 Year Inspection – such as how you can help, how to become a volunteer and how to contact the PRPA.

We encourage you to visit the Official Site for more detailed information, a wealth of historical data, and for an exhaustive collection of specifications on the engine.

Thank you for visiting,
Friends of the SP&S 700

Our Mission

PRPA Logo
  • We are dedicated to the preservation and the safe, professional operation and exhibition of the SP&S 700.
  • We promote safe behavior around railroad property through our relationship with Operation Lifesaver (read more).
  • We are devoted to telling the steam-era story of the SP&S 700.
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PRPA Organization and Members

PRPA Crew at Portland's Oaks Park in 2006
  • The Pacific Railroad Preservation Association (PRPA) is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation and presentation of railroad history in the Pacific Northwest. Its specific charge is the maintenance and operation of the City of Portland’s SP&S 700 steam locomotive.
  • The PRPA’s by-laws prescribe a six-member Board of Directors and four Officers to oversee and administer the association’s activities. As of the January 2019 elections, these positions are staffed by the following volunteers:
    • Steve Sedaker, President
    • Randy Woehl, Vice-President
    • Jim Vanderbeck, Treasurer
    • Jeremy Klitzke, Secretary
    • Matt Baccitich, Director
    • Kyle Chappell, Director
    • Nicholas Gerba, Director
    • Jeff Honeyman, Director
    • George Landrock, Director
    • George Orme, Director
  • The PRPA is a member organization of the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation (ORHF). ORHF is an umbrella organization representing seven member organizations who share an interest in continuing the construction of the Oregon Rail Heritage Center, the home for the three steam locomotives owned by the City of Portland as well as several passenger cars.
  • We communicate through three publications: 1) our newsletter Whistle Up the Columbia, which is included with membership, 2) this website, and 3) our Friends of the SP&S 700 Facebook site.
  • Visit our “How You Can Help” page to join, donate, or contribute in other ways.
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Support and Funding

Concessions trailer at Portland's Oaks Park in 2004

A variety of sources provide the money we need to operate, including:

  • Membership dues
  • Personal donations
  • Proceeds from excursions
  • Sale of memorabilia and publications through our concessions
  • Corporate grants, matching donations, matching membership dues, and payment-in-kind donations for hours logged by our volunteers. The PRPA is grateful to the following companies for their 2011 contributions:
    • G-Trax Simulations
    • Intel Foundation
    • CenturyLink
    • Pfizer Foundation
    • Xcel Energy
  • Grants from public and private foundations
  • Materials and services donated by businesses and individuals

Feel free to review our latest Federal IRS Form 990.

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Our Home

Click here to view a larger map or get directions to the Oregon Rail Heritage Center (ORHC).

The PRPA is headquartered at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center (ORHC), where the SP&S 700 is housed and maintained along with the SP 4449 and OR&N 197. All three steam engines were donated by their respective railroads to the City of Portland in the 1950’s at the end of the steam era and found a long-term home within the Brooklyn Roundhouse. The engines vacated Brooklyn in June, 2012, so that Union Pacific, our most gracious and generous host for more than a decade, could expand its intermodal facility and support its growing business. The Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation (ORHF), of which the PRPA is a member organization, was formed to find a new home for the locomotives and has successfully built the Oregon Rail Heritage Center now taking shape near OMSI. Please visit ORHF’s capital campaign site to contribute directly to this ongoing effort!

The map at right shows the location of the ORHC Enginehouse (red marker, street address: 2250 SE Water Avenue, Portland, OR 97214), the ORHC parking lot at the corner of SE Caruthers St. and SE Grand Ave. (under the new 99E viaduct), the new Portland Streetcar stop, and OMSI.

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