Oregon Pacific Railroad (1880–1894) facts for kids
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Corvallis, Oregon |
| Reporting mark | OPR |
| Locale | Oregon |
| Dates of operation | 1880–1894 |
| Predecessor | Willamette Valley and Coast Railroad |
| Successor | Oregon Central and Eastern Railroad |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
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Oregon Pacific Railroad Linear Historic District
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 Location in Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Santiam Junction, Oregon |
|---|---|
| Area | 172.3 acres (69.7 ha) |
| Built | 1887 |
| Built by | Colonel Eccelson |
| NRHP reference No. | 99001285 |
| Added to NRHP | October 29, 1999 |
The Oregon Pacific Railroad was a railway company in western Oregon, United States. It operated from 1880 to 1894. After that, it was sold and became the Oregon Central and Eastern Railroad. Today, a big part of the old Oregon Pacific railway path is protected. It is known as the Oregon Pacific Railroad Linear Historic District.
A man named Thomas Egenton Hogg started and owned this railroad.
Contents
Building the Railroad
Thomas Egenton Hogg had a big dream. He wanted to build a railway line that would cross the entire country. This line would start from the Oregon coast and go eastward. He also wanted to connect the city of Corvallis to the railway system.
In 1872, Hogg created the Corvallis and Yaquina Bay Railroad. Later, he renamed it the Willamette Valley & Coast Railroad. Construction began in Corvallis on May 17, 1877. On September 15, 1880, the Oregon Pacific Railroad was officially formed. It took over from the Willamette Valley & Coast Railroad.
Coastal Plans and Changes
Hogg first planned for the railway line to end at Seal Rock on the Oregon Coast. People invested money in Seal Rock, hoping it would become a popular resort town. They built hotels and planned public spaces for train travelers.
However, the railway line was changed. It went through Toledo instead. The line finally ended at Yaquina. This change caused financial problems for many who had invested in Seal Rock.
Reaching Eastward
To the east, the railway line stretched as far as Idanha. This was about 15 miles (24 km) short of Santiam Pass. The company ran out of money before reaching its full goal.
Hogg bought a steamship called Yaquina City. This ship was meant to connect his railway at Yaquina directly to San Francisco. The Yaquina City made several successful trips. But in 1887, it ran aground at Yaquina Bay because of a rudder problem. Even though the ship was insured, Hogg lost his main way of making money. He could not replace the steamer right away.
Crossing the Cascade Mountains
Hogg had a contract with the government. It said that if he could build a railway service over the Cascade Mountains, he would get a huge piece of land. By selling this land, he could get enough money to keep the railroad going.
To get this land grant, some extra track was laid over Santiam Pass. Hogg even used mules to pull some cars a few times. This was to show that he had the right to build there. A rock near Santiam Pass, called Hogg Rock, is named after T. Egenton Hogg because his railroad went around it. Track was also laid in the canyon of the Malheur River. This was to save that path for the railroad.
Shipwrecks and Financial Trouble
In 1888, Hogg bought another large ship. It was the Ocean liner Caracas from the Red D Line. He planned for it to replace the Yaquina City. The ship was renamed Yaquina Bay and towed to Yaquina.
However, before it could start service, the Yaquina Bay broke free from its tugboat on December 9, 1888. It ran aground near where the Yaquina City had wrecked. Like the Yaquina City, the Yaquina Bay was completely destroyed.
The railroad faced serious financial problems. It went bankrupt in October 1890.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1894, the Oregon Pacific Railroad was sold to A.B. Hammond. It was renamed the Oregon Central and Eastern Railway. Then, in 1897, it was reorganized again as the Corvallis and Eastern Railroad. Finally, in 1907, the Corvallis and Eastern Railroad was sold to the Southern Pacific.
Some of the original tracks were covered by Detroit Lake in the 1950s. This happened when the Detroit Dam was finished. In 1999, the railway's path from Idanha to the Cascade summit was recognized as a historic district. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
