Willamette Valley Railways

Willamette Valley Railways PDF

Author: Richard Thompson

Publisher: Arcadia Publishing

Published: 2008-01-30

Total Pages: 128

ISBN-13: 1439635951

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Willamette Valley Railways tells the story of the electric interurban railways that ran through Oregon’s Willamette Valley and of the streetcars that operated in the towns they served. Long before modern light rail vehicles, electric trains were providing Portland and the Willamette Valley with reliable, elegant transportation that was second to none. Between 1908 and 1915, two large systems, the Oregon Electric Railway and the Southern Pacific Red Electrics, joined smaller competitors constructing railways throughout the region. Portland became the hub of an impressive interurban network in a frenzy of electric railway building. Yet all too soon, this brief but glorious interurban era was over. Highway improvement and the growth of automobile ownership made electric passenger trains unprofitable in the sparsely populated valley. By the early 1930s, the company that had launched the nation’s first true interurban was the only one still offering passenger service here.

Willamette Valley Railways

Willamette Valley Railways PDF

Author: Richard Thompson

Publisher: Arcadia Publishing

Published: 2008-01-01

Total Pages: 132

ISBN-13: 9780738556017

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Willamette Valley Railways tells the story of the electric interurban railways that ran through Oregon's Willamette Valley and of the streetcars that operated in the towns they served. Long before modern light rail vehicles, electric trains were providing Portland and the Willamette Valley with reliable, elegant transportation that was second to none. Between 1908 and 1915, two large systems, the Oregon Electric Railway and the Southern Pacific Red Electrics, joined smaller competitors constructing railways throughout the region. Portland became the hub of an impressive interurban network in a frenzy of electric railway building. Yet all too soon, this brief but glorious interurban era was over. Highway improvement and the growth of automobile ownership made electric passenger trains unprofitable in the sparsely populated valley. By the early 1930s, the company that had launched the nation's first true interurban was the only one still offering passenger service here.

Encyclopedia of Western Railroad History: Oregon, Washington

Encyclopedia of Western Railroad History: Oregon, Washington PDF

Author: Donald B. Robertson

Publisher: Caxton Press

Published: 1986

Total Pages: 362

ISBN-13: 9780870043666

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Distributed by the University of Nebraska Press for Caxton Press This 352-page, triple indexed reference book covers nearly 500 names in the two north Pacific coast states. All known common carrier steam powered operations of ten or more miles are included, plus numerous logging companies, electric traction and diesel operations. The account covers their histories from inception until sale or abandonment - or until 1993 if still active. Railroad titles are full and exact.