The Disappearing RR Blues series of caches highlights the remnants of NW Oregon railroad and trolley right-of-ways or structures, railways past and present in NW Oregon.
GC5ANXN Disappearing RR Blues: Interurban Elk Creek Trestle
The Elk Creek Trestle, featured photo, is the old Cazadero Line of the Portland Railway Light and Power (Ancestor to current PGE). The railway was electrified, thus starting an electric Interurban passenger service between Cazadero, Estacada and Portland Oregon.
Oregon State Parks is converting the old interurban line into a trail, Cazadero Trail which starts just north of cache location. With plans to extend the trail over the bridge. Wouldn’t that be great!!
Disappearing RR Blues: Eugene Streetcars GC1F305 – This cache highlights part of the Fairmont line.
Coined the finest small city streetcar system in the US, Eugene’s was the third largest in Oregon behind Portland and Salem. Mules hauled the first railcars in 1891 before being replaced by an electric streetcar system built between 1907-1912 by the Portland Eugene & Eastern. It was purchased by the Southern Pacific RR in 1915. Service ended in 1927. There were 4 lines in 1912.
Disappearing RR Blues: Portland Trolleys
Portland Oregon at one time had a large trolley system heading out into many neighborhoods. It is rare to fine remnants to this earlier time, but at 26th and Morrison, rails of the old narrow gauge system are in plain view: GC1M1ZP. The tracks here were part of the Mt Tabor Line.
The first trolleys in Portland were horse drawn in the 1870’s and the first electric trolley started in 1888. After WWII trolleys were quickly fallen out of favor with politicians and the public. By 1950 the automobile was becoming king and the last of the narrow gauge streetcars ceased running. The interurban line to Oregon City ceased to exist by 1958.
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