08-21-26 Douglas County Museum Celebrates 1883 O&C Rail Car Restoration With Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony & Open House (Photo) - 08/21/26
August 21, 2026
Douglas County Museum Celebrates 1883 O&C Rail Car Restoration with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony & Open House
(Roseburg, Ore.) After 16 years of painstaking restoration, the Douglas County Commissioners Tom Kress, Chris Boice, and Tim Freeman along with staff at the Douglas County Museum of History and Natural History and the Douglas County Museum Foundation are preparing to unveil the restoration of a remarkable piece of Douglas County railroad history: an 1883 Oregon & California (O&C) Railroad rail car.
The Museum will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the Douglas County Museum located at 123 Museum Drive in Roseburg to celebrate the completion of the restoration and officially open the restored rail car exhibit to the public. Following the ceremony, the Museum will host a free open house from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, giving visitors an opportunity to tour the restored rail car and learn more about its fascinating history. For the open house the Douglas County Museum is offering free admission for the day.
“This 1883 O&C railcar is more than an historic artifact—it is a piece of Douglas County’s story. It carried passengers through our communities, including stops at the Dillard Depot, and represents an important time when the railroad and timber industry were helping connect Southern Oregon to the rest of the state and beyond. It took 16 years of dedication, craftsmanship and community support to restore this railcar, and I am incredibly proud of everyone who played a part in bringing it back to life. I encourage everyone to come see this remarkable piece of history for themselves and experience the story it has to tell.” — Tom Kress, Douglas County Commissioner and Museum Liaison.
A Piece of Douglas County Railroad History
Built in 1883, the rail car traveled the O&C Railroad route between San Francisco and Portland, carrying passengers throughout the region. The car also served Douglas County, including stops at the Dillard Depot, connecting local communities to the broader railroad network. In 1914, the car was converted into a combine car, with approximately half of the car dedicated to passenger travel and the other half used for mail service. It continued in service until 1925, when it was retired from passenger and mail operations. The O&C Railroad then continued to use the car as a maintenance away car for another 12 years. In the 1940s, the historic rail car was donated to the City of Glendale, where it remained for decades.
From Glendale to the Douglas County Museum
The City of Glendale, through its Community Action Group, donated the rail car to the Douglas County Museum in 2012. The car was moved to the Museum on June 21, 2013, beginning a restoration project that would span the next 16 years. The extensive restoration was led by Dale Greenley, Dave Van Slyke, James Aune and Gary Peske, whose dedication and expertise helped return the historic rail car to a condition worthy of public display. We would also like to recognize a few local businesses that were instrumental with the project: Lone Rock Timber, Addcox Heating Center and Star Fire Lumber. The restoration ultimately represented an investment of approximately $100,000, funded through the Douglas County Museum Foundation and private donors.
“This project is a wonderful example of what can happen when a community comes together to preserve its history,” said James Davis, Douglas County Museum Director. “The restoration team, our local business partners, the Museum Foundation, Board of Commissioners, and private donors all played an important role in bringing this remarkable piece of Oregon railroad history back to life. We are excited to finally share it with the public.”
A Window into Oregon's Past
The restored O&C rail car provides visitors with a tangible connection to an era when railroads were essential to the growth and development of Oregon communities. For Douglas County, the car represents the people who traveled the O&C line, the communities served by the railroad and the important role transportation played in the region's timber and economic history. More than a century after it first began carrying passengers, the 1883 rail car will once again welcome visitors—this time as a historic exhibit at the Douglas County Museum.
“I had no idea what I was getting into when I agreed to work on this project 16 years ago. As a woodworker, the railcar restoration presented a unique challenge and a wonderful opportunity to help restore a piece of our local history. It has been an honor to work on this project, and it has truly been a labor of love.” - Dale Greenley, Local Historian, Douglas County Museum Volunteer, and Member of the Douglas County Museum Foundation
Ribbon-Cutting & Open House
The public is invited to celebrate the completion of the restoration project and experience the historic rail car firsthand. Following the ceremony visitors will have the opportunity to step aboard and tour the restored rail car during the open house. The Douglas County Museum invites the community to join in celebrating 16 years of dedication, craftsmanship and community support in preserving this extraordinary piece of Douglas County's railroad heritage.
WHAT: Ribbon Cutting – Restored 1883 O&C Railroad Rail Car Exhibit
WHEN: Saturday, September 26, 2026
RIBBON CUTTING: 10:00 am
FREE OPEN HOUSE: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
WHERE: Douglas County Museum of Natural & Cultural History
ADDRESS: 123 Museum Drive, Roseburg, Oregon
ADMISSION: Free and open to the public
Douglas County Museum - Preserving Our Past. Connecting Our Future.
For more than 50 years, the Douglas County Museum has been dedicated to preserving and showcasing the region’s rich cultural and natural history. Through engaging exhibits, the museum connects visitors with the industries and communities that helped shape Douglas County, from timber harvesting and farming to transportation and mining. Located at 123 Museum Drive, Roseburg, Oregon (conveniently off I-5 Exit 123, adjacent to the Douglas County Fairgrounds), the museum is open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Lavola Bakken Research Library is open Tuesday through Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission Prices: Free for members and children ages 0-4, $2.00 for students (ages 5-17), $8.00 for adults, $5.00 for seniors and veterans. Visitors can also explore the Museum Mercantile, the museum’s gift shop, offering a fantastic selection of books on Douglas County’s history, Oregon-themed gifts, educational toys, and unique souvenirs. For more information, to plan your visit, or to learn about volunteer opportunities, click here or please call the Douglas County Museum of History & Natural History at (541) 957-7007. The Douglas County Museum system is a division of Douglas County Government.
The Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Museum staff & volunteers, and Douglas County Museum Foundation members invite the public to join them in celebrating the restoration of the 1883 O&C Railcar. Guests are encouraged to step aboard this remarkable piece of local history, explore its connection to Oregon’s railroad heritage, and experience a unique glimpse into the past.
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Media Contact: Tamara Howell, Chief Public Information Officer | Douglas County Public Affairs Office | Office: (541) 957-4896 | Cell: (541) 670-2804 | Email: tamara.howell@douglascountyor.gov
