August 25, 2026 3:40 a.m. 

Douglas County Commissioners 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 piece of Douglas County railroad history: an 1883 Oregon & California Railroad rail car.

The museum will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, September 26th, at 10:00 a.m. at the museum, which is located at 123 Museum Drive next to the fairgrounds 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 until 5:00 p.m., 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.

Douglas County Commissioner and Museum Liaison Tom Kress said, “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”.  Kress said, “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”.

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. In 1914, the car was converted into a combine car. It continued in service until 1925, when it was retired from passenger and mail operations. In the 1940s, the historic rail car was donated to the City of Glendale, where it remained for decades.

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 21st, 2013, beginning a restoration project that would span the next 16 years. The restoration ultimately represented an investment of approximately $100,000, funded through the Douglas County Museum Foundation and private donors.

More information on the restoration is available by calling the museum at 957-4896.