The Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation (ORHF) is an umbrella organization formed to find a new home for the three City of Portland-owned locomotives, SP 4449, SP&S 700, and OR&N 197, after planned changes by the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) made it necessary that the locomotives be moved out of their longtime home in UP's Brooklyn Roundhouse, a 1941 era roundhouse in Southeast Portland's Brooklyn neighborhood. Their new home, opening just across the street from the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), in September 2012 now houses the three locomotives.

Three distinct volunteer staffed societies are responsible for the restoration, maintenance, and operation of these three city-owned locomotives. Friends of the SP 4449 are currently completing a fifteen year inspection of the locomotive at the Heritage Center. Friends of OR&N 197 are in the process of restoring the engine. The Pacific Railroad Preservation Association's SP&S 700 is operational and recently pulled the Holiday Express and wowed the crowd at the BNSF employee appreciation event in Vancouver, Washington.

To provide for the preservation and public enjoyment of Portland's historic locomotives, railroad equipment, artifacts, and to educate the public about Oregon's rich and diverse railroad history.