Oregon's Narrow Gauge Railroads

Dayton, Sheridan & Grand Ronde Railroad

3' Gauge.In 1877, farmers in Bellevue, Dallas, Perrydale, Sheridan and Willamina met to discuss building a railroad that would serve their towns. An agreement was reached, and the railroad was incorporated. The railroad constructed twenty miles of tracks on the Yamhill and South Yamhill rivers between Sheridan in the west and Dayton to the east before entering recievership. The line and debt was purchased by a group of Scottish investors and would later become known as the Oregonian Railway. Dayton to Sheridan, Yamhill County. 1877 - 1879

Oregonian Railroad

3' Gauge.A group of Scot capitalists formed the Oregonian Railway Company, Limited after purchasing the bankrupt Dayton, Sheridan & Grande Ronde railroad in 1879. In 1886 the railroad granted a long-term lease to Henry Villard of the Oregon & California Railroad. In later years, Villard would leave the Oregon railroad scene and the line came to be under the control of Southern Pacific Railroad. Ray's Landing to ?????, Polk, Yahmill and Washington Counties. 1876 - 1878

Sumpter Valley Railroad

3' Gauge. Incorporated in 1890, the narrow gauge railway's initial purpose was to haul logs to a sawmill in South Baker City. By 1891, the line had reached McEwen, 22 miles west of Baker City, and the railroad began offering passenger and freight service. It reached Sumpter in 1896 and continued southwestward to Whitney, Tipton, Austin and Bates. By 1910, it arrived in Prairie City, a ranching and mining community along the John Day River in Grant County. Baker City to Prarie City, Baker, Grant Counties. 1890 - 1947