Motorcar Operators West
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Motorcar Operators West is a club dedicated to the restoration and safe, legal operation of railroad motorcars.
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What's New
Napa Valley Wine TrainMay 8, 2026 - August 5, 2026ConfirmedMotorcar Operators West will be sponsoring rail car tune-ups and operator mentoring Excursions on the Railroad’s South Track by appointment during May 8, 2026 - August 5, 2026. Fee is $25 per car, per day. Contact EC Glenn Boatman to schedule a date, (925) 289-6423. |
Great Northwest Railroad - A part of the Palouse country tour 2026June 5, 2026 - June 6, 2026ConfirmedLewiston, ID, June 5 - 6, 2026 Third Sub returns! Thank you for your interest in riding the Great Northwest Railroad from Lewiston, Idaho to Riparia, WA, formerly the third sub of the Camas Prairie Railroad. This is a one-day run, out and back. 144 RT miles. Mid-June is a great time to enjoy the semi-arid, even desert climate of the Snake River watershed. The well maintained, class 3 track makes for smooth riding and consistent track speeds. Run fee is $160.00 Set on will be Friday, June 5th, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Early Saturday morning set on only by special arrangement. Following the safety meeting on Saturday, we will leave for Riparia, turn on the Wye, and return to Lewiston. More information will be available in the run pack. Minimum 14 motorcars RV camping is not available on railroad property NARCOA operators,if you would like to join us, please download, and carefully fill in the following forms found on the PRO and NARCOA website: PRO Registration Form (Click the links) Excursion name: Lewiston Dates of: June 5 - 6, 2026
RR name: Great Northwest Railroad Dates of: June 5 -7 2026 Pro is the affiliate Print both sides on one sheet of paper.
Excursion: Lewiston Location: Lewiston There is a new Rule book Dated January 1, 2026. You should print that and carry it with you Remember, if you have minor passengers, you must fill out the Minor Passenger Amendment and return it with your paperwork. Operator: you. Affiliate: PRO. Railroad: Great Northwest Railroad. Parent or guardian must sign
ECIT Tye Tomchak 1742 Brenthaven St. Idaho Falls, ID 83402-3148 Email: ttomchak@hotmail.com if you have questions
Mentoring available with EC approval. Pro General order #6 will be in effect PRO General order #6 (Click the link) NARCOA insurance, operator’s certificates, spark arrestors, installed radios and boots are required |
Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad - A part of the Palouse country tour 2026June 7, 2026 - June 9, 2026ConfirmedColfax, WA, June 7 – 9, 2026 Thank you for your interest in riding the Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad from Colfax, WA to Hooper WA, and Colfax to Thornton, WA. This is the former OR&N/Union Pacific line. Otherwise known as the Hooper and Pleasant Valley subs. Set on will be Sunday, June 7, 2026, from 4:00 PM-6:30 PM. Monday, June 8 will be one destination, Tuesday, the other, Railroad discretion. 210 miles total. More information is in the excursion package. Run Fee is $180.00 The Palouse should be alive with many colors of green, yellow and brown about this time. The weather, and landscape on the Palouse in June borders on perfect. From Colfax, due to fewer road crossings, you can maintain steady track speeds for much of the day. 14 motorcars minimum RV camping is not allowed on RR property. We have secured alternatives. More information about dry camping in the run pack NARCOA operators, if you would like to join us, please download, and carefully fill in the following forms found on the PRO and NARCOA website: Excursion name: Colfax Dates of: June 7 -9, 2026
RR name: Palouse River & Coulee City Railroad Dates of: June 7 - 10, 2026 Pro is the affiliate Print both sides on one sheet of paper.
Excursion: Colfax Location: Colfax There is a new Rule book Dated January 1, 2026. You should print that and carry it with you Remember, if you have minor passengers, you must fill out the Minor Passenger Amendment and return it with your paperwork. Operator: you. Affiliate: PRO. Railroad: Great Northwest Railroad. Parent or guardian must sign.
ECIT Tye Tomchak 1742 Brenthaven St. Idaho Falls, ID 83402-3148 Email: ttomchak@hotmail.com if you have questions
Mentoring available with EC approval. Pro General order #6 will be in effect PRO General order #6 (Click the link) NARCOA insurance, operator’s certificates, spark arrestors, installed radios and boots are required. |
Washington Idaho & Montana RY - A part of the Palouse country tour 2026June 7, 2026ConfirmedFor the first time since 2018, we are once again able to enjoy the beauty and splendor of North Idaho on the White Pine Route! Join us as we travel from Potlatch, ID to Wellesley. We will then turn and travel to Harvard, ID, where we will turn our motorcars and return to Potlatch. We plan to have lunch in Potlatch where we will have the opportunity to visit the historical Potlatch depot that houses the WI&M Historical Preservation Group displays and the Potlatch Historical Society. We will then repeat the run. Minimum of 14 motorcars. There is no RV camping on railroad property. NARCOA operators, if you would like to join us, please download, and carefully fill in the following forms found on the PRO and NARCOA website: PRO Registration Form (Click the links) Excursion name: Washington Idaho & Montana Railway LLC Dates of: June 7, 2026 RR name: Washington Idaho & Montana Railway LLC Dates of: June 7, 2026 PRO is the affiliate Location: Potlatch, ID Print both sides on one sheet of paper.
Excursion: Washington Idaho & Montana Railway LLC There is a new Rule book Dated January 1, 2026. You should print that and carry it with you. Remember, if you have minor passengers, you must fill out the Minor Passenger Amendment and return it with your paperwork. Operator: you. Affiliate: PRO. Railroad: Washington Idaho & Montana Railway LLC. Parent or guardian must sign.
ECIT Tye Tomchak 1742 Brenthaven St. Idaho Falls, ID 83402-3148 Email: ttomchak@hotmail.com if you have questions.
Mentoring available with EC approval. Pro General order #6 will be in effect. PRO General order #6 (Click the link) NARCOA insurance, operator’s certificates, spark arrestors, installed radios and boots are required. |
The Sag TourJune 10, 2026 - June 14, 2026ConfirmedCentral MT RR and Mission Mtn RR, June 10-14, 2026 Join us in June as we ride the rails, learn about the prehistoric geological features that make up the landscape of central Montana. Pacific Railcar Operators is pleased to announce a spring excursion on the Central Montana Railroad (former MILW) and the Mission Mountain Railroad (former GN). Set on will be at the road crossing west of the engine house in Denton from 3-4:30pm June 10th and at the highway crossing in Fortine, MT from 3-4:30 pm on June 12th. Do not set on in Denton until all paperwork is verified by an EC, and all passengers have signed the NARCOA General Release. Operator insurance, Operator’s Certificate, Mounted radio, Spark Arrestor, new turntable requirements, Boots, and Safety Vest are required. PRO General Order # 6 is in effect. The 5 minute breakdown rule applies. Both days you will need to bring your lunch as we will not be stopping close to any towns. Total Miles around 180.
Excursion Coordinator is Peter Wolfgram Email: rxmaker@gmail.com The run fee is $300 per car, Make checks out to PRO and mail with forms to excursion coordinator Peter Wolfgram, 2701 Sheepshank Dr, Belgrade, MT, 59714. Please include your current mailing address, cell phone number and email address on the registration form. All persons and passengers must attend all safety meetings, or you DO NOT ride. Food, lodging, and fuel information will be in the information packet. Dry camping is allowed in Denton and Fortine on Railroad property next to set on. Please ask for assistance as to where to park. If you would like to join us, please print, and carefully fill out the following four forms. All forms can be found on the PRO Website under the Forms tab. << Click Here for Forms >>
Excursion name: The Sag 2026
In consideration of Central Montana Railroad
In consideration of Mission Mountain Railroad
Excursion: The Sag 2026 Send all forms, and a check for $300.00 payable to PRO, to: Peter Wolfgram, 2701 Sheepshank Dr, Belgrade, MT 59714 Upon receipt of these documents and a check, an information packet will be emailed. All qualified operators and inspected motorcars are welcome. |
Napa Valley Wine TrainJune 13, 2026ConfirmedJoin us on the Napa Valley Railroad and start your summer rail adventures. Travel from Napa to Saint Helena and return, 32 miles round trip, through lush vineyards, rolling hills and quaint towns. Set on at the Railroad yard will be available Friday, June 12, from 3 pm until 5 pm, then Saturday, June 13, 6:30 am until 7:45 am. Following a safety meeting at 7:45 am, the run will depart at 8:00 am. We will have lunch in Saint Helena, bring your favorite meal, and return to Napa at approximately 3:00 pm. The run fee is $100.00 per motorcar, no High-Rail vehicles or Home-made railcars allowed. No mentoring on this excursion. All NARCOA and MOW Rules apply. Sign up now and kick off summer in the beautiful Napa Valley! To join us, carefully fill out the following three forms found on the MOW web site using the information provided below: MOW Excursion Participant Registration NARCOA & Affiliate General Release (printed double sided, single sheet) NARCOA Rail Vehicle Inspection form Send all three forms, and a check made payable to Motorcar Operators West, to EC Glenn Boatman, 77 Solano Square, Suite 333, Benicia, CA 94510-2712. Upon receipt of these documents and a check, a run packet with further information will be e-mailed. NARCOA insurance, operator’s certificate, motorcar spark arrestors, approved up to date turntables, if equipped, installed radios with NARCOA channels in all cars, and long pants, boots and safety vests, are required. Contact EC Glenn Boatman via e-mail at glenn.boatman@att.net or by phone at (925) 289-6423, or EC Carl Shellhorn via email at chaserskip@comcast.net or by phone at (707) 695-9722 should you have any questions. |
June 2026 Coos Bay ExcursionJune 26, 2026 - June 28, 2026ConfirmedExcursion Information: Please join us on this 192 mile 2 day motorcar excursion across approximately 100 bridges and 9 tunnels. This includes two swing bridges and tunnels that range from 477 feet to 4,177 feet long. Due to the FRA closure of the North Bend/Coos Bay bridge, we can no longer run our motor cars into Coos Bay, nor can we make the third day run between Coos Bay and Coquille. This is still an exciting excursion with incredible views of the Oregon coast, mountain passes and coastal lakes. Information for the June Excursion:
Mentoring:
PRO Run Registratiom Form:
Fill out three releases with the following information:
NARCOA Rail Vehicle Inspection Form. Excursion: Coos Bay Motorcar Run Send all five (5) forms and a check made out to Pacific Railcar Operators for $420 via mail to ECIT Ralph Burks at 91149 Territorial Highway, Junction City, Oregon 97448. Upon receipt of forms and a check, additional run information will be sent to you via email. Questions: All questions should be directed to ECIT Ralph Burks. 541 228-0833, ralphburks@rocketmail.com |
Wallowa Union RailroadOctober 2, 2026 - October 4, 2026Save the DatePacific Railcar Operators plans to return to the Wallowa Union Railroad in Elgin, Oregon, October 2-4, 2026. A two day run with an overnight stay, 126 roundtrip miles. We are working on a possible run in advance of this event. |