Thunder Mountain Line Picks Up Steam Scenic Train Rides Could Start In Spring

If a lot of plans work out, by next May, people may be able to board a railroad train at Cascade for a 32-mile round trip to Smith’s Ferry, on a journey that has been described as potentially one of 10 most scenic rail excursions in the country.

The proposed Thunder Mountain Line is to run over the Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad tracks along the North Fork of the Payette River.

Idaho Historical Railroads was incorporated as a nonprofit corporation earlier this year to “preserve, display and operate historic railroad equipment and artifacts which pertain to the region’s rail transportation history.”

The first step is to get a rail excursion going.

To begin with, it will operate on weekends using diesel engines and crews provided by the Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad.

The next phase will be to rescue, restore, display and even operate historic railroad artifacts and equipment.

The restored equipment is to be displayed at a railroad museum, at a location yet to be determined.

Initial consultant reports say within three years, the excursion train could attract 42,000 passengers per year.

Members of Idaho Historic Railroads have located old passenger cars in Wyoming and Colorado and are trying to raise $220,000 to buy them, according to Cascade High School teacher Carl Sorensen, one of the rail group’s founders.

To help raise the money, the group is soliciting memberships. Donations can be as little as $25, but for $1,000 or more, members can become Railroad Magnates.

The group is looking for an oil-fired steam locomotive with the goal of restoring it and eventually switching operations of the Thunder Mountain Line from diesel to steam.