Oregon Interurbans and Streetcars

(Please note that the photos here are not of Oregon interurbans.)

Oregon interurbans were rather numerous considering the terrain and few large towns or cities of any size in the eastern regions of the state. Interestingly, the Pacific Northwest in general was home to several interurbans as Washington also had its share of lines such as the famed Walla Walla Valley and Yakima Valley Transportation Company. One reason for the state's extensive network (which peaked at 432 miles, including a little more than 100 miles of lines operated as interurbans by the Southern Pacific) was its vast resources, notably timber, that drew in thousands of workers and thus supplied the companies with significant passenger traffic. While Oregon's interurbans were able to establish a fair amount of carload freight business, following the typical western pattern, most were unable to survive much further than World War II although the Portland Traction Company (Pepco) remained in operation until the late 1950s.

Pacific Power & Light Company: The Pacific Power & Light Company operated streetcar service in the City of Astoria. It remained in service until a massive downtown fire thoroughly destroyed the interurban's infrastructure causing it to close forever.

Portland Traction Company: The Portland Traction, commonly known as Pepco in its later days, moved significant amount of passengers although its system was only about 50 miles in length altogether. Its history dates back to the earliest days of the industry when a line from Oregon City (just south of Portland) to Portland was completed and known as the East Side Railway, opening in February, 1893. A second route was opened ten years later, covering 36 miles and southeastward to Cazadero. This line was primarily used to tap freight business and interchange with the Southern Pacific and Union Pacific. Later that decade the interurban continued to grow, reaching Troutdale and Gresham as well as Bull Run and Ruby via its ownership of the Mount Hood Railway & Power Company. During the late 1920s and through the Great Depression the company was hard pressed and forced to cut back some of its lines. However, World War II allowed it to rebound to some degree but after the war's end passenger traffic continued to decline. Interestingly, Pepco was the longest operated interurban in the country to carry on passenger operations when it finally ended these in 1958. Its freight business carried on far longer although the company slowly eroded away, especially in the 1980s. The last remnants of the company were abandoned by 1990.

Oregon Electric Railway: The Oregon Electric Railway is the state's most famous interurban, mostly due to the company's many years of operation. It began operations in 1907 connecting Portland and Salem. In 1910 it became part of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway, which extended the main line to Eugene. While passenger service on the line only survive until 1933 freight service remained until the 1990s under then Burlington Northern control. For more information about the Oregon Electric please visit the Oregon Electric Railway Museum's website.

Willamette Valley Southern Railway: This interurban was owned by Portland Electric Power and connected with the Pepco at Oregon City, heading southward to reach Mt. Angel about 32 miles away. It was a late operation and did not begin services until 1915. The company built up some freight service only to lose most of it during the Great Depression. By that point passenger traffic had also severely declined and was completely discontinued by 1933. Total abandonment occurred in 1938.

United Railways: This interurban was one of the few to be owned by a main line railroad, in this case the Spokane, Portland & Seattle. It began as the West Side & Suburban to serve Portland and later renamed as the Oregon Traction. In 1908 Unite Railways took over the company and its charter, opening a route a year later between Portland, Linnton, and Burlington covering about 12 miles. Extensions by 1911 gave the company a 28-mile system and served Wilkesboro and Banks, including a massive 4,100-foot tunnel thanks to financing from parent SP&S. In 1922 it took over the Portland, Astoria & Pacific but a year later slowly began to convert to standard steam locomotives. It continue to operate until World War II and was finally absorbed by the SP&S in 1943.

Southern Oregon Traction Company: This interurban was the only one located in the southern region of the state, opening a six-mile route between Medford and Jacksonville in 1890 as the Rogue River Valley Railway. In 1915 the system became the Southern Oregon Traction but was in bankruptcy by 1918. It ended passenger service by 1922 and was abandoned by 1926.

Portland, Eugene & Eastern Railway: The Portland, Eugene & Eastern Railway, also known as the Red Electric, was a Southern Pacific subsidiary serving Bertha, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Forest Grove, McMinnville, Portland, Lake Oswego, Tualatin, Sherwood and Newburg. The service lasted until 1927 at which point the SP was successful in discontinuing streetcars after several years of bottom line losses.

For a small gallery of photographs highlighting Oregon interurbans and streetcars please click here.

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