A beloved Portland train ride is one step closer to a possible comeback

The zoo operated the Washington Park loop from 1960 to 2013 before nixing it to accommodate a new Elephant Lands habitat

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A long-defunct train through the Oregon Zoo could make a return.

The Oregon Metro Council showed support for the resurgence of the Washington Park Loop during a work session on Tuesday. The regional government agency — representing Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties — plans to allocate $50,000 toward a “comprehensive geotechnical assessment” of the loop, on the condition that other entities invest at least $200,000.

A beloved Portland train ride is one step closer to a possible comeback. The Metro Council voted unanimously to keep working with the city of Portland on planning and funding for the potential return of the train ride from the Oregon Zoo through Washington Park.

Oregon Zoo not yet ‘all aboard’ with reviving historic 3-mile loop

Efforts to restore the historic Washington Park and Zoo Railway are back on track.

Advocates push for return of full Washington Park and Zoo Railway route. A group of advocates held an event Thursday to celebrate the 65th Anniversary of the Washington Park and Zoo Railway and to renew call for a return of the iconic miniature train’s longer route through the park.

Friends of the Washington Park and Zoo Railway host the 65th anniversary celebration for Steam Engine No. 1 Oregon. The nonprofit hopes to see transportation revived between the Oregon Zoo and Washington Park.

The Zoo Train is back in the headlines—and momentum is building.

After more than a decade off the full Washington Park Loop, public support is stronger than ever, with 42,000+ voicescalling for its return—and experts say restoration is absolutely doable.

Now it’s about moving forward.

A 2018 feature in the NW Examiner highlighted a growing concern in Portland: the beloved Washington Park & Zoo Railway was at risk of fading into memory. The article captures both the history and the heartbreak.