ELGIN — The Eagle Cap Excursion Train season picks up again this fall, beginning with exciting train robberies performed by the Gold Rush Bandits Sept. 4 and 5.

“We look forward to welcoming passengers again,” said Ed Spaulding, president of the Friends of the Joseph Branch and one of the volunteer engineers. “It’s been an interesting chapter for the train business, and we are anxious to get things somewhat back to normal.”

Like many businesses, events and visitor attractions, the Eagle Cap Excursion Train was forced to take 2020 off, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Friends of the Joseph Branch, the nonprofit organization that manages the excursion train business on the Wallowa Union Railroad, used the downtime to upgrade equipment and develop safety protocols for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, always with an eye on getting the excursion business back on track.

When, after only one train ride, the Elbow Creek Fire took off north of the tracks in early July, the Excursion Train was forced to take a step backward again and cancel the rest of the trips scheduled for July and August.

Spaulding said the organization added rides on Sept. 5, Sept. 15, and Oct. 2 to make up for the loss of the summer rides.

“The milder weather and fall colors make riding the train in the fall especially pleasant and scenic,” he said.

Eagle Cap will run eight trains in September and three in October. For the fall schedule and trip descriptions, and to book tickets, go to eaglecaptrainrides.com.

To provide extra spacing between travel parties, seating is assigned and there are fewer passengers on each ride — which means some rides are already sold out.

In keeping with current state regulations, masks are required in the Elgin Depot and when on the train, except while eating or drinking. The train is fully cleaned and disinfected between rides.

Trains are scheduled for September and October. For the schedule, see www.eaglecaptrainrides.com. Round-trip excursions depart from the Elgin Train Depot.