Oregon Pacific Railroad (1880-1894)
Encyclopedia
Oregon Pacific Railroad was a railroad in western Oregon
, U.S. from 1880 to 1894, when it was sold to the Oregon Central and Eastern Railroad. A substantial part of the railroad is preserved as Oregon Pacific Railroad Linear Historic District.
It was created and owned by Thomas Egenton Hogg
.
Ground was first broken for the railroad in Corvallis
on May 17, 1877.
At the time, the next nearest rails were either in Hillsboro
or Eugene
.
Hogg intended to make Corvallis the western terminal of a transcontinental railway, linked somewhere in Idaho.
Hogg intended to terminate the line at Seal Rock
on the Oregon Coast. In anticipation of the railroad's arrival, the town was platted with pedestrian-friendly public spaces and resort hotels that would accommodate train travelers, but the line was instead routed through Toledo
to end at Yaquina
, resulting in financial ruin for many who invested in Seal Rock.
To the east, the line extended as far as Idanha
, 15 miles short of Santiam Pass
before running out of money. Some additional track laid over Santiam Pass
had mules pull some cars a few times to assert right of way. Hogg Rock
near Santiam Pass
is named for T. Egenton Hogg for his railroad which went around the rock. Track was also laid in Malheur River Canyon to reserve that pass for the railroad.
Some of the tracks were submerged by Detroit Lake
in the 1950s when the Detroit Dam
was completed. In 1999, the line's corridor from Idanha to the Cascade summit was designated as a historic district and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
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...
, U.S. from 1880 to 1894, when it was sold to the Oregon Central and Eastern Railroad. A substantial part of the railroad is preserved as Oregon Pacific Railroad Linear Historic District.
It was created and owned by Thomas Egenton Hogg
Thomas Egenton Hogg
Thomas Egenton Hogg was a master in the Confederate States Navy who participated in raids on Union ships during the American Civil War. He was captured and sentenced to death, but was eventually released from prison, after which he became a businessman and railroad promoter in the U.S. state of...
.
Ground was first broken for the railroad in Corvallis
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
on May 17, 1877.
At the time, the next nearest rails were either in Hillsboro
Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
or Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
.
Hogg intended to make Corvallis the western terminal of a transcontinental railway, linked somewhere in Idaho.
Hogg intended to terminate the line at Seal Rock
Seal Rock, Oregon
Seal Rock is an unincorporated coastal community in Lincoln County, Oregon, United States, between Newport and Waldport on U.S. Route 101.The community of Seal Rock is named for the Seal Rocks, a ledge of partially submerged rocks that parallel the shore for about...
on the Oregon Coast. In anticipation of the railroad's arrival, the town was platted with pedestrian-friendly public spaces and resort hotels that would accommodate train travelers, but the line was instead routed through Toledo
Toledo, Oregon
Toledo is a city located on the Yaquina River and along U.S. Route 20 in Lincoln County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 3,472...
to end at Yaquina
Yaquina, Oregon
Yaquina , at one time a thriving port called Yaquina City, is an unincorporated area in Lincoln County, Oregon, United States. It is located near the mouth of the Yaquina River, on the east side of Yaquina Bay, and is about a 3-mile drive from Newport...
, resulting in financial ruin for many who invested in Seal Rock.
To the east, the line extended as far as Idanha
Idanha, Oregon
Idanha is a city on the Marion County/Linn County line in Oregon, United States, on Oregon Route 22 and the Santiam River. The population was 232 at the 2000 census....
, 15 miles short of Santiam Pass
Santiam Pass
Santiam Pass is a mountain pass in the Cascade Range in central Oregon in the United States. It is located on the border between Linn and Jefferson counties, about northwest of Sisters, between the prominent volcanic horns of Three Fingered Jack to the north and Mount Washington to the south...
before running out of money. Some additional track laid over Santiam Pass
Santiam Pass
Santiam Pass is a mountain pass in the Cascade Range in central Oregon in the United States. It is located on the border between Linn and Jefferson counties, about northwest of Sisters, between the prominent volcanic horns of Three Fingered Jack to the north and Mount Washington to the south...
had mules pull some cars a few times to assert right of way. Hogg Rock
Hogg Rock
Hogg Rock is a tuya volcano in the Cascade Range of northern Oregon, located west of Santiam Pass beside the Santiam Highway . The highway wraps in a nearly 180-degree curve below cliffs on the south and west sides....
near Santiam Pass
Santiam Pass
Santiam Pass is a mountain pass in the Cascade Range in central Oregon in the United States. It is located on the border between Linn and Jefferson counties, about northwest of Sisters, between the prominent volcanic horns of Three Fingered Jack to the north and Mount Washington to the south...
is named for T. Egenton Hogg for his railroad which went around the rock. Track was also laid in Malheur River Canyon to reserve that pass for the railroad.
Some of the tracks were submerged by Detroit Lake
Detroit Lake
Detroit Lake is a reservoir impounded by the Detroit Dam on the North Santiam River southeast of Salem, Oregon, United States.The lake is adjacent to Oregon Route 22 near the city of Detroit....
in the 1950s when the Detroit Dam
Detroit Dam
Detroit Dam was completed in 1953 by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers on the North Santiam River between Linn County and Marion County, Oregon, in the Cascades...
was completed. In 1999, the line's corridor from Idanha to the Cascade summit was designated as a historic district and 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...
.
External links
- Historic images of Oregon Pacific Railroad from Salem Public Library