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Crews from will break ground Oct. 21 for the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation’s Enginehouse and heritage center. The new center, when it opens late next spring, will house historic three steam engines that have been cared for and rehabilitated by the foundation.

The ORHF had been waiting to break ground on the building until enough funds were raised to move the project forward. Capital Campaign Manager Bill Failing said that the project is now $1.1 million away from having all the funds it needs to construct and service the loan on the $5.5 million project.

鈥淲e still have more to do, but we have raised the lion’s share and we’re able to cover all our expenses,鈥� Failing said. 鈥淲e’ve gone a long way.鈥�

The new enginehouse will be 19,200 square feet. In the first phase of funding and construction of the -designed building, crews will make a building to house the engines. Later, when the foundation has more funding, the center will have interpretive exhibits about the engines and their rehabilitation.

鈥淰isitors and onlookers will be able to see the work in progress, and get up close and get a sense of what behemoths the engines are,鈥� Failing said. 鈥淭hey’re a marvel of machinery.鈥�

The engines are currently housed at the Brooklyn Roundhouse owned by Union Pacific, but Union Pacific needs that building for expansion next year, and the site is not accessible for public viewing.