Columbia Southern Railway
Encyclopedia
The Columbia Southern Railway built a rail line extending 69.46 miles (111.8 km) from Biggs (on the Columbia River
) south to Shaniko, Oregon
, U.S. The company was incorporated on March 5, 1897, and intended to continue beyond Shaniko to Prineville
, with a branch to Canyon City
. Operations began October 6, 1897 on 8.5 miles (13.7 km) from Biggs to Wasco
, and the line was extended to Moro
on January 13, 1899, Grass Valley
on March 27, 1900, and Shaniko on May 13, 1900. The Union Pacific Railroad
(UP), owner of the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company
(OR&N), which followed the Columbia River through Biggs, gained control of the Columbia Southern in 1905, and leased it to the OR&N on June 30, 1906. The properties of the OR&N and Columbia Southern Railway were conveyed to new UP subsidiary Oregon–Washington Railroad and Navigation Company on December 23, 1910.
No extension was ever built beyond Shaniko, but UP subsidiary Des Chutes Railroad built a line to the west along the Deschutes River, reaching Bend
in 1911; Prineville built its own railroad, the City of Prineville Railway, to a connection with this line in 1917 and 1918. The Interstate Commerce Commission
authorized abandonment of the old Columbia Southern Railway from Shaniko to Kent
in 1943, and of the remainder between Kent and Biggs in 1967.
The 1898 Columbia Southern Railway Passenger Station and Freight Warehouse in Wasco has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
) south to Shaniko, Oregon
Shaniko, Oregon
Shaniko is a city located in Wasco County, Oregon, United States, on U.S. Route 97 and about eight miles north of Antelope. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 26—a virtual ghost town whose preservation is being spearheaded by investments from Robert B...
, U.S. The company was incorporated on March 5, 1897, and intended to continue beyond Shaniko to Prineville
Prineville, Oregon
Prineville is a city in and the county seat of Crook County, Oregon, United States. It was named for the first merchant located in the present location, Barney Prine. The population was 9,253 at the 2010 census.- History :...
, with a branch to Canyon City
Canyon City, Oregon
Canyon City is a city in Grant County, Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Grant County, and is about a mile south of John Day on U.S. Highway 395. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 703.-History:...
. Operations began October 6, 1897 on 8.5 miles (13.7 km) from Biggs to Wasco
Wasco, Oregon
Wasco is a city in Sherman County, Oregon, United States. The population was 381 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
, and the line was extended to Moro
Moro, Oregon
Moro is a city in Sherman County, Oregon, United States. The population was 337 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Sherman County...
on January 13, 1899, Grass Valley
Grass Valley, Oregon
Grass Valley is a city in Sherman County, Oregon, United States. The population was 171 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
on March 27, 1900, and Shaniko on May 13, 1900. The Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
(UP), owner of the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company
Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company
The Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company was a railroad that operated a rail network of of track running east from Portland, Oregon, United States to northeastern Oregon, northeastern Washington, and northern Idaho...
(OR&N), which followed the Columbia River through Biggs, gained control of the Columbia Southern in 1905, and leased it to the OR&N on June 30, 1906. The properties of the OR&N and Columbia Southern Railway were conveyed to new UP subsidiary Oregon–Washington Railroad and Navigation Company on December 23, 1910.
No extension was ever built beyond Shaniko, but UP subsidiary Des Chutes Railroad built a line to the west along the Deschutes River, reaching Bend
Bend, Oregon
Bend is a city in and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States, and the principal city of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon's largest city, and, despite its modest size, is the de facto metropolis of the region, owing to the low population...
in 1911; Prineville built its own railroad, the City of Prineville Railway, to a connection with this line in 1917 and 1918. The Interstate Commerce Commission
Interstate Commerce Commission
The Interstate Commerce Commission was a regulatory body in the United States created by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. The agency's original purpose was to regulate railroads to ensure fair rates, to eliminate rate discrimination, and to regulate other aspects of common carriers, including...
authorized abandonment of the old Columbia Southern Railway from Shaniko to Kent
Kent, Oregon
Kent is an unincorporated community in Sherman County, Oregon, United States. Although it is unincorporated, Kent has a post office with a ZIP code of 97033. Kent lies at the intersection of U.S. Route 97 and Dobie Point Road.-References:...
in 1943, and of the remainder between Kent and Biggs in 1967.
The 1898 Columbia Southern Railway Passenger Station and Freight Warehouse in Wasco has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.