Oregonian anyone?

[Randy Hees]

Oregonian had a tortured history... started as a Granger line, failed, reorganized with Scottish capital, leased to Henry Villard, who nearly destroyed the line in 3 years... then in receivership until acquired by SP interests in 1890.

They purchased what is supposed to be the largest order of Carter cars... 175 or so, 100 box cars, 70 flat cars, 5 passenger cars... other cars came from other sources... most ended up on California lines after the line was standard gauged.

Their locomotive roster is wonderful...

2 Nationals, covered elsewhere on the site...
1 1860 Souther/Globe 0-4-0 via Colorado Central
3 Porter 2-6-0s which will go to the Sierra Valley later, two of which end up on the NCO for a short time
1 Pittsburg 2-6-0 (later used on the C&C)
1 Baldwin 8-18.5c (later used on SJ&SN and C&C)

There is not traditional railroad history of the site... there is a Western Railroader article, Several paragraphs in Hilton, a historical society piece, circa 1918 or so and a few other references...

[elminero67]

Interesting info: Other than the Sumpter Valley and NCO, Not much info available on the Oregon narrow gauges-where did the Oregonian operate?

[Randy Hees]

They started with a line from a landing on the west side of the Yamhill river going to the towns of Dayton, Sheridan, and Dundee, then added a line on the east side of the Willamette River (they intended to build a bridge across the Willamette, but Villard stopped construction and it never restarted)

They also started construction on a connection from Dundee north to Portland, but again, Villard stopped that project.

After the Villard lease, the Portland connection was separately incorporated as the Portland and Willamette Valley and completed with SP (or at least C P Huntington's aid)

At some point SP organized a new company the Portland and Yamhill to operate at least the P&WV, but maybe both the P&WV and ORy.

[Randy Hees]

Oregon didn’t have that many narrow gauge lines... So far I have found…

Portland and Vancouver (3’ gauge steam dummy line)
(there are other Portland steam dummy lines, but the P & V escaped the city and offered some freight service)

Oregonian and associated lines
Dayton Sheridan and Grand Ronde
Willamette Valley Railway
Oregon Ry
Oregonian Ry
Portland and Willamette Valley
Portland and Yamhill
Ultimately all controlled by the Oregon and California (SP owned)

Sumpter Valley
plus logging lines connecting with Sumpter Valley including
Stoddard Lumber
Oregon Lumber

Nevada California Oregon

Oregon Portage Railway (starts as 5” portions re-gauged to 3”, then what was left converted to standard gauge per Hilton)

Coos Bay Coal Mining (locomotive built in SF in 1871)

I also have been tracking rumors… including

A report in Railway Age in 1900 reports that the Silverton Railroad will be narrow gauge

Based on a 1910 Western Railway and Logging Railroad Directory
Bridal Vail Lumber
Campbell & Swigert (Portland)
Portland Lumber Co (Headquarters in Portland, Camp at Rainier)
Aasen Bros (Coquille)
R H Rosa (Brandon)
Seeley & Anderson (earlier Seeley & Thomas) (Coquille)
Sturdivant & Crean (Coquille)

There were likely several Government owned narrow gauge lines used for breakwater construction... one in Coos Bay

Any additions to the list, or details about any are welcome... Ultimately we can build pages in the web site for each with details.

[elminero67]

Good info,thanks for sharing. I've been curious about Oregon Narrow gauge for sometime, and now that I
live in SW Oregon Im a little disappointed by the lack of narrow gauge lines in this part ofthe state...

[Andrew Brandon]

Great finds Randy, I am looking forward to your Oregonian article.