Portland and Western Railroad: Roster, Overview, Photos

Published: January 13, 2025

The Portland and Western Railroad (PNWR) - a Genesee & Wyoming property - is an essential component of the freight transportation network in the Pacific Northwest.

The railroad, a Class II regional, spans 520 miles and is fully contained within Oregon. PNWR also incorporates the Willamette & Pacific Railroad (WPRR) as part of its operations.

Its network travels from Astoria to Portland along the scenic Columbia River, stretches through the heart of the Willamette Valley from Portland to Eugene, and includes various branches running through the Northern Oregon Coast Range.

The PNWR has played a critical role in supporting regional industries and connecting communities. This article provides a detailed exploration of the PNWR's history, operations, economic impact, and future prospects.

Portland & Western SD40-2 #3369, along with a pair of GP40s, pause to work the junction at Whiteson, Oregon on August 17, 2018. Doug Kroll photo.

Historical Background

The roots of the Portland & Western can be traced back to the early 1990s. Founded in 1993 as the Willamette & Pacific Railroad, PNWR has been a subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming since 1995.

The railroad's formation through acquisition of former Southern Pacific branch lines. Among these were the Toledo Branch stretching from Albany to Toledo and the Westside Branch reaching from Monroe to St. Joseph, close to McMinnville.

Other lines included the Bailey Branch extending west from Monroe to a sawmill, the Dallas Branch from Gerlinger to Dallas, the Willamina Branch from Whiteson near Amity to Willamina, and the southern Newberg branch from St. Joseph to Springbrook, just north of Newberg.

These lines primarily transport lumber, paper, and some agricultural products from various shippers. Notably, the Cascade Steel Rolling Mill in McMinnville represents a key shipper, with propane shipments managed by several suppliers.

The P&W aimed to preserve crucial rail services for local industries in this region while enhancing efficiency through more localized management.

In 1995, the Portland & Western was formed to manage the remaining SP branch lines in Oregon. These included the former Tillamook Branch running from Willsburg Junction near Milwaukie to Hillsboro, the Westside–Seghers Branch from Hillsboro to Seghers near Gaston, and the remaining portion of the Newberg branch between Cook and Springbrook.

The Willamette & Pacific utilizes trackage rights on the Newberg branch and a section of the Tillamook Branch connecting Cook and Willsburg Junction, along with rights on a short segment of the SP's mainline to Brooklyn Yard, enabling interchange with Union Pacific.

The P&W officially began service on August 18, 1995, initially covering 52 miles of leased SP trackage. Shortly afterwards, the Burlington Northern, transferred portions of its ex-Oregon Electric Railway branch lines north of Salem to the new short line, including the Forest Grove branch.

Today, operations on most former SP branches are maintained under a twenty-year lease, now overseen by Union Pacific. The former BN branches operate under a combination of leases and straightforward ownership agreements.

Operations and Infrastructure

The Portland & Western - operating 20 to 30 trains per day - serves a diverse range of customers and industries, including lumber, agriculture, metal, and automotive sectors. The rail line primarily operates in the Willamette Valley and extends its network through connections in surrounding regions.

Economic Impact

The Portland and Western is instrumental in the economic vitality of the region it serves. Its primary traffic consists of:

- **Lumber and Forest Products**: Given Oregon's extensive forest resources, the transportation of lumber and other forest products is a significant aspect of railroad's operations.

- **Agriculture**: Oregon is known for its diverse agricultural output, including fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy products.

- **Manufacturing and Heavy Industries**: The transportation of raw materials and finished products for manufacturing industries is critical to maintaining the region’s industrial base.

In addition to supporting these sectors, the PNWR is a significant employer in the region, providing jobs that range from railroad operations to logistical planning and maintenance.

Diesel Roster

Model Type	Road Number	Builder	Completion Date	Serial Number	Notes
RP4ED (Norfolk Southern)	101-102	EMD	7/1961	26786, 26795	101 scrapped; ex-W&P 101-102; NS 9738, 9728 (rebuilt as hump engines); built as N&W GP18 943, 956
SW1200m	1201	EMD	10/1953	18861	ex-Rail Link 1201; ex-W&P SW1200m 1201; built as Pittsburg & Shawmut SW9 232
SD7	1501	EMD	11/1952	17145	Retired; ex-W&P 1501; ex-SP 1539/1401/2701; built as SP 5280
SW1500	1551	EMD	12/1969	35293	ex-G&W 47; built as Houston Belt & Terminal 50
SW1500	1552	EMD	1/1970	35792	Renumbered from 41; ex-I&M 41; built as SP 2556
GP9	1801	EMD	4/1959	25130	ex-W&P 1801; ex-SP 3855 (2nd)/3693; built as SP 8830
GP9	1802	EMD	7/1956	22075	Off Roster. ex-W&P 1802; ex-Austin & Northwestern 44; ex-Kyle Railroad 5944; built as Rio Grande 5944
GP9	1803	EMD	1/1957	22920	ex-Louisiana Delta 1752; ex-SP 5790/3579; built as SP 5738
SD9	1851	EMD	4/1954	19449	ex-SP 4326/3819; built as SP 5360
SD9	1852	EMD	5/1955	20216	Off roster. ex-W&P 1852; ex-SP 4397/3916; built as SP 5438
SD9m	1853	EMD	1/1953	17157	Rebuilt as SD9m by SP; ex-SP 1532/1402 (2nd)/2709; built as SP SD9 5288
SD9	1854 (2nd)	EMD	4/1955	20204	ex-Lavacot Locomotive Works 4433; ex-Willamette Valley 4433; ex-SP 4433/3904; built as SP 5426
SD9	1854-1855	EMD	11/1955	20693, 20695	ex-W&P 1854-1855; built as Chicago & Illinois Midland 52, 54
GP38m	2005	EMD	12/1963	28467	ex-Utah Railway 2505; ex-SP GP35E 6526; built as SP GP35 7414
GP38m	2152	EMD	12/1970	36694	ex-GMTX 2683; built as B&O 4818
GP39-2	2301-2317	EMD	8/1974	74602-1 thru 74602-17	ex-AT&SF 3100-3116; built as AT&SF 3600-3616
GP40P-2	3001-3002	EMD	8/1967, 9/1967	33269, 33273	Paired with slugs. 3001 scrapped; ex-NS 1377/1382; built as N&W GP40 1377, 1382
GP40	3003-3004	EMD	1/1967	32606-32607	ex-LLPX 3203-3204; ex-EMD Leasing 200-201; ex-GO Transit 725-726; built as Rock Island 3004/380; 3000/381
GP40	3005-3006	EMD	1/1967	32607, 32600	ex-LLPX 3205-3206; ex-EMD Leasing 202, 205; ex-GO Transit 720-721; built as Rock Island 3005/374, 3002/375
GP40	3007	EMD	1/1967	32603	ex-LLPX 3211/4401; ex-EMD Leasing 206; ex-GO Transit 723; built as Rock Island 3001/377
SD40M-2	3051	EMD	1/1069	34576	ex-Kansas City Southern 612 (2nd); built as C&NW SD45 943
SD40M-2	3052	EMD	1/1070	35754	Renumbered 3603. ex-Buffalo & Pittsburgh 450; built as St. Louis Southwestern/SP SD45 9153
SD40-3	3300	EMD	8/1978	776098-7	Rebuilt from SD40T-2; ex- Missouri & Northern Arkansas 4076; ex-UP 8585/4015; built as Rio Grande 5392
SD40-3	3369	EMD	7/1978	776057-20	Rebuilt from SD40-2; ex-HLCX 7839; ex-BNSF 7839; built as BN/C&S 7839
GP38-2	3532	EMD	1/1973	71702-3	Off property, transferred to Arizona Eastern. ex-HLCX 1829; ex-UP 349; ex-MP 2076; built as MP 925
GP38-2 (EMD)	3570	EMD	10/1972	72604-3	Off property, transferred to Arizona Eastern. ex-HLCX 3866; ex-UP 492/1992; ex-CSX 2602; ex-Seaboard System 4092; built as L&N 4092
SD45-2	3601	EMD	2/1967	32776	ex-I&M Rail Link 462; ex-HATX 462; ex-Huron Central 462 < ex-SP SD45R 7496; built as SP SD45 8862
SD45-2	3602	EMD	6/1967	32842	ex-I&M Rail Link 463; ex-HATX 463; ex-Huron Central 463; ex-Buffalo & Pittsburgh 498; ex-SP SD45R 7498; built as SP SD45 8928
SD45-2	3604	EMD	5/1968	33662	Renumbered from 3053. ex-I&M Rail Link 456; ex-HATX 7565; ex-SP SD45R 7565; built as SP SD45 8973

Portland & Western GP39-2 #2309 at Linnton, Oregon on July 21, 2007. Doug Kroll photo.

Conclusion

The Portland and Western is more than just a transportation service; it is a lifeline for the communities and industries it serves in the Pacific Northwest.

Through its rich history, robust operations, and commitment to sustainable practices, PNWR has established itself as a pivotal figure in the region's economic landscape.

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