Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad is a small railroad that runs in Southwest Idaho
and Eastern Oregon
in the United States
. It operates about 210 miles of former Union Pacific branch lines and is currently a subsidiary of the Rio Grande Pacific Company. As of 2006, the INPR operates three separate sections of rail, one running from La Grande, Oregon
to Elgin, Oregon
, connecting at Elgin with another former UP rail line now owned by Wallowa County
which continues to Joseph, Oregon
. The other two are in Idaho, a portion of the former Union Pacific Boise Cut-off route from Nampa
to Boise
and the other section is one of the most scenic stretches of Union Pacific route, running from Payette
through Emmett
and then into the Canyon of the Payette River
on a northerly route to Cascade
. This line historically continued on to the former logging community McCall
.
As of 2006, INPR operates tourist trains and "river and rail" trips in the Payette Canyon that allow riders to ride a train in one direction and return by river raft
on the water of the North Fork of the Payette River. Both the Oregon portion and the Payette River line were historically built as logging and lumbering lines with large Boise Cascade
mills located in nearby communities, but those mills were disbanded and closed in recent times, consistent with a decline in logging and lumber processing in much of the Northwestern United States
.
The Boise line is operated for freight connection with Union Pacific at Nampa and to serve the industrial areas in East Boise with rail service.
Idaho Northern and Pacific's offices are located in Emmett.
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
and Eastern Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It operates about 210 miles of former Union Pacific branch lines and is currently a subsidiary of the Rio Grande Pacific Company. As of 2006, the INPR operates three separate sections of rail, one running from La Grande, Oregon
La Grande, Oregon
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 12,327 people, 5,124 households, and 2,982 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,833.5 people per square mile . There were 5,483 housing units at an average density of 1,260.3 per square mile...
to Elgin, Oregon
Elgin, Oregon
Elgin is a city in Union County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,654 at the 2000 census. The 2007 estimate is 1,685 residents. The community is named after the Lady Elgin, a ship lost on Lake Michigan....
, connecting at Elgin with another former UP rail line now owned by Wallowa County
Wallowa County, Oregon
Wallowa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the 8 county definition of Eastern Oregon. According to Oregon Geographic Names, the origins of the county's name are uncertain, with the most likely explanation being that it is derived from the Nez Perce term for a...
which continues to Joseph, Oregon
Joseph, Oregon
Joseph is a city in Wallowa County, Oregon, United States. Originally named Silver Lake and Lake City, in 1880 the city formally named itself for Nez Perce Chief Joseph. The population was 1,054 at the 2000 census.- History :...
. The other two are in Idaho, a portion of the former Union Pacific Boise Cut-off route from Nampa
Nampa, Idaho
Nampa is the largest and the fastest growing city in Canyon County, Idaho, USA. The population of Nampa was 81,557 at the 2010 census. Nampa is located about west of Boise along Interstate 84, and six miles west of Meridian. Nampa is part of the Boise metropolitan area...
to Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
and the other section is one of the most scenic stretches of Union Pacific route, running from Payette
Payette, Idaho
Payette is a city in and the county seat of Payette County, Idaho, United States. The population was 7,054 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ontario, OR–ID Micropolitan Statistical Area....
through Emmett
Emmett, Idaho
Emmett is a city in Gem County, Idaho, United States. The population was 5,490 at the 2000 census; it was estimated to have risen to 6,341 by 2007...
and then into the Canyon of the Payette River
Payette River
The Payette River is an river in southwestern Idaho and is a major tributary of the Snake River.Its headwaters originate in the Sawtooth and Salmon River Mountains at elevations over...
on a northerly route to Cascade
Cascade, Idaho
Cascade is a rural city in and the county seat of Valley County, Idaho, United States, in the west central part of the state. It sits at an elevation of , along the North Fork of the Payette River...
. This line historically continued on to the former logging community McCall
McCall, Idaho
McCall is a resort town on the western edge of Valley County, Idaho, United States. Named after its founder, Tom McCall, it is situated on the southern shore of Payette Lake, near the center of the Payette National Forest...
.
As of 2006, INPR operates tourist trains and "river and rail" trips in the Payette Canyon that allow riders to ride a train in one direction and return by river raft
Rafting
Rafting or white water rafting is a challenging recreational outdoor activity using an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on white water or different degrees of rough water, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers. The development of this...
on the water of the North Fork of the Payette River. Both the Oregon portion and the Payette River line were historically built as logging and lumbering lines with large Boise Cascade
Boise Cascade
Boise Cascade Holdings, LLC, which uses the trade name Boise, is an American pulp and paper company, ranked as the thirteenth largest forest products company in the world....
mills located in nearby communities, but those mills were disbanded and closed in recent times, consistent with a decline in logging and lumber processing in much of the Northwestern United States
Northwestern United States
The Northwestern United States comprise the northwestern states up to the western Great Plains regions of the United States, and consistently include the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, to which part of southeast Alaska is also sometimes included...
.
The Boise line is operated for freight connection with Union Pacific at Nampa and to serve the industrial areas in East Boise with rail service.
Idaho Northern and Pacific's offices are located in Emmett.
External links
- Thunder Mountain Line tourist train history page
- INPR information from Rio Grande Pacific CorporationRio Grande Pacific CorporationThe Rio Grande Pacific Corporation is a railroad holding company. It owns four railroads:*Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad*Nebraska Central Railroad*New Orleans and Gulf Coast Railway*Wichita, Tillman and Jackson RailwayIt was founded in 1986....