Although the union pacific railroad and the southern central pacific jointly operated the first transcontinental railroad, elsewhere they competed bitterly throughout their history, and only briefly around the turn of the century did they come under the same ownership, that of edward henry harriman. Founded in 1984, uphs is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of the union pacific railroad. The union pacific railroad from omaha, nebraska, across the continent, making, with its connections, an unbroken line from the atlantic to the pacific ocean. This trail is used as an atv, mountain bike and horse trails in the summer and is maintained as a snowmobile trail during the winter months. Big springs loo road, chick creek road and eccles road.
Emphasis is on its corporate and construction history, and the bulk of the book s pictures concentrate on the 1910s to the 1950s. Oregon railroads in the late 1800s oregon secretary of state. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. Old albany vol 5 book history of union station railroad. This railroad was known as the central railroad of oregon and was later extended to cove. We urge union railroaders to continue being active in their craft union and to join rwu in building solidarity and strength among all rail workers. A more expanded railroad project in union county was that. Railroad workers united is an interunion, crosscraft solidarity caucus of railroad workers, and their supporters, from all crafts, all carriers, and all unions across north america. Hill and the great northern railway reached rival seattle. Union pacific railroad company the online books page. Eastern oregon shortline railroads by jeff moore history books.
Are there reports concerning railroad accident investigations in the custody of the. As oregon was aligned with the union states during the american civil war. Wicked towns along the union pacific railroad is a good introduction to an interesting and important part of american history, specifically the opening and settling of the american west, the construction of the union pacific railroad that ultimately, when it joined up with the central pacific railroad, tied the east. An advertisement for the celebration of the new coos bay railroad. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. More union county oregon railroads oregon history and. Located in coos bay, oregon, the oregon coast historical railway is working to preserve an important. Union pacific currently the important main line from portland south into california is owned by this. Illustrated history of union and wallowa counties, oregon these were typed by janine from the book. On january 1, 20, mckeesport connecting railroad company was merged into union railroad company. On may 10, 1869, the last spike of the transcontinental railroad was ceremonially driven into a polished laurel railroad tie at promontory summit, utah, to commemorate the joining of the rail lines built by the central pacific railroad from the west, and the union pacific railroad from the east. The cove portion of the line was abandoned in 1924, and today only the short two and onehalf mile stretch between union and union junction is operating, under the name of union railroad of oregon.
Mar 17, 2018 by 1900, railroad builders had approached central oregon from all points of the compass. A wikipedia article about this author is available union pacific railroad company. Quarterly of the oregon historical society september 1924 ganoe, john tilson, the. The transtar companies have a long business history, more than 100 years in many cases. Since releasing the book, dick has accumulated additional photographs and other materials, which he has incorporated into 25 extra pages in a. Union county retained all trackage beyond union, and it was abandoned and removed between 8 february 1927 and 26 march 1928. As of the beginning of 2016, the society has about 1,900 members. The union railroad of oregon did both, first storing as many cars as it could fit on its line and then turning its boxcars back to brae in 1986. History of rail in oregon news newspapers books scholar jstor january 2010. The oregon pacific railway, under the leadership of thomas egenton hogg, built a line east from corvallis up the north fork of the santiam river to idanha.
A prized piece in my collection of pnw railroad books, this is a well researched and sought after book that is a must have for any fan of the union pacific or pnw railroads. In 1862, the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies began building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to west. The wallowa union railroad, aka joseph branch, is 63 miles long and. In 1868, bold and colorful entrepreneur ben holladay took up the challenge of connecting oregon to the union pacific transcontinental railroad nearing completion to california. Railroads into central oregon pdf at the turn of the century, when local railroad service had become an established part of the economics and culture of most rural communities in the united states, central oregon was perhaps the largest geographical area in. Founded in 1984, the union pacific historical society uphs is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of the history of the union pacific railroad from its beginning in 1862 to the operation as it is today. Information on the book and how to order a copy can be found at this link.
Union pacific railroad company, company that extended the american railway system to the pacific coast. Issued by the union pacific railroad on the occasion of the celebration at ogden, utah, may 10th, 1919, in. Although much has been written about the union pacific, much remains and this massive and handsomely done book presents many hitherto unpublished photographs and facts to paint a vivid picture of the preeminent railroad of the west and the great cheyenne terminal it built on the plains of wyoming. Due to the secretive nature of the railroad, it is unknown just how many freedom seekers attempted to escape or achieved a new life in freedom. Although highway construction helped one sector of the economy, the advent of automobile traffic sounded the death knell for steamboats on the rivers and, in time, oregons electrical railroad system. The pacific northwest chapter of the national railway historical society. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. The history of rail in oregon predates the transcontinental railroad in 1869. Originally published in 1991, the first edition of this book has long been out of print.
The oregon and california railroad efforts at the first railroad in the willamette valley and portland. Includes corporate reports, legal documents, and joint facility data books. With its acquisition of southern pacific in 1996, union pacific became the largest domestic railroad in the united states. Union pacific brings 21st century technologies to life with positive train. Distributed by the university of nebraska press for caxton press this 352page, triple indexed reference book covers nearly 500 names in the two north pacific coast states. The union railroad of oregon was incorporated on 29 april 1927, and it took over operation of the original 2. Old union pacific railroad island park idaho island. Access points to the trail are at the crossings of the following roads. Union pacific railroad online archive of california. Union pacific railroad company, oregon short line railroad company and others, defendants. All the union railroad of oregon track is gone except the track at the tail of the wye at the juction with u.
Now a new system is doubling the number of railroad ties that can be disposed of per day, to nearly 5,000. Railroad history in the united states is nearly as old as the country itself, dating back to the mid1820s. Book your train and bus tickets today by choosing from over 30 u. Records, primarily of the law department of the union pacific railroad company, located in portland, oregon.
Oct 03, 2016 jeff moore spent most of his youth in the pine forests of northeastern california and the redwoods along the pacific coast, where his lifelong passion for trains developed into an intense interest in the history of those railroads associated with the timber industry, especially in northeastern california and eastern oregon. The southern pacific few cities in the willamette valley can mention their history without also mentioning the name of this company. The history of rail in oregon predates the transcontinental railroad in 1869 as oregon was aligned with the union states during the american civil war, a railroad connection was proposed to help supply the union and build morale. The first serious attempt to reach the area came from the west in the late 1880s. By the early 1880s, henry villard was one of the most important railroad promoters in the country. Lewis and drydens marine history of the pacific northwest. The role of the federal government in the history of railroads in the united statesa historical overview acknowledgments. Union county historical society these people work hard to assist others in their search of union county, please take a few minutes and visit their pages. Union pacific rail road, union pacific railway, union pacific railroad mark i, and union pacific railroad. All photographs on this page john henderson photographs, jeff moore collection.
It is reported when this branch line was built about 1890, charles ladd, a local resident, had the station named for his wife, alcie ladd. Railroads into central oregon oregon history project. Oregon short line railroad company worldcat identities. Fascinating history of the union pacific in the northwest oregon and washington. Collection of photographs and data for every locomotive class on the union. Under the leadership of transportation tycoon ben holladay, railroad workers, many of them chinese, extended tracks to oregon city in 1869, to. Although highway construction helped one sector of the economy, the advent of automobile traffic sounded the death knell for steamboats on the rivers and, in time, oregon s electrical railroad system. The account covers their histories from inception until sale or. Beginning in 1836, roughly 12,000 emigrants made the 2,000mile trek from independence, missouri, to the oregon territory. Beginning in 1862 when the first steam powered portage railroad was built around the cascades, the columbia river and the up main line. Oregon s first railroads date back to may 20, 1861 when the small 5mile oregon portage railroad took over for mules hauling goods between tanner creek to the head of the cascade rapids the railroad had dated as far back as 1858 using horse and mule power. Since releasing the book, dick has accumulated additional photographs and other materials, which he has incorporated into 25 extra pages in a second edition, now available.
The oregon electric railway operated daily trains over 122 miles of track by 1912 between portland and eugene. The oregon electric railway operated daily trains over 122 miles. For operations of the current railroad, see union pacific railroad. Union pacific annually replaces between 3 million and 4 million railroad ties. Mar 16, 2020 railroad workers united is an inter union, crosscraft solidarity caucus of railroad workers, and their supporters, from all crafts, all carriers, and all unions across north america. Meanwhile, work was progressing on a railroad to the east of portland in a race to get a transcontinental connection before james j. Union county apparently had no desire to be in the railroad business, as on the same day the rails from union junction to union were sold to certain citizens of union. Includes correspondence, ledgers, letterpress copy books, legal records, and materials pertaining to the montgomery ward and company labor dispute and strike, 19211960. The companies provide a broad mix of specialized transportation services by rail and water. Union railroad of oregon central railroad of oregon book.
In the district court of the united states for the district of utah. Incorporated on july 1, 1862, the union pacific railroad constructed the eastern half of the nations first transcontinental railroad during the 1860s, its main line extending from omaha, nebraska, westward to promontory summit, utah, later cut back to ogden, utah by may 1869. Guide to union county, oregon ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage. Old union pacific railroad island park idaho island park. The official website of the oregon secretary of state. Harriman reaches a deal for the up to purchase the 20% company share held by collis huntingon. Brae subsequently leased the cars to the burlington northern. Old albany vol 5 book history of union station railroad 1989. Book information the central railroad of oregon dick roth, a historian of the unionhot lake area, has now released the second edition of his book the central railroad of oregon. The portion from the edge of town and the remains of the yard to the up still exist fully intact. All known common carrier steam powered operations of ten or more miles are included, plus numerous logging companies, electric traction and diesel operations. The history of the union pacific railroad stretches from 1862 to the present. Progress of the union pacific railroad west from omaha, nebraska, across the continent page images at moa help with reading books report a bad link suggest a new listing.
Portland railroad history pacific railroad preservation. Heavily traveled until 1884, the oregon trail was the most used of all. Antique full size railroad snow fighting equipment section of the museum. The railroads emphasized that emigrants would find themselves among likeminded people in the northwest. This 352page, triple indexed reference book covers nearly 500 names in the two north pacific coast states. The history of the underground railroad is a story of human courage, endurance and the belief of individual freedom.
Alicel is a station on the joseph branch of the union pacific railroad. History of the transcontinental railroad spike 150. More union county oregon railroads oregon history and genealogy. Union was platted on november 11, 1864 along the oregon trail. Railroad ties are literally the foundation on which railroads are built. Railroads northwest power and conservation council.
In early 2014, dick roth released his book the central railroad of oregon, documenting the life and times of the named railroad and its successors. The union pacific hauled ballast donated by school children in prineville, ore. A history of the mccloud river railroad, a logging railroad at the base of mt. Oregons first railroads date back to may 20, 1861 when the small 5mile oregon portage railroad took over for mules hauling goods between tanner creek to the head of the cascade rapids the railroad had dated as far back as 1858 using horse and mule power. Construction of the line began in portland during the spring of 1868. The history of the oregon washington railroad and navigation company, by jeffrey asay. As we know, this great nation would not have grown and prospered as it did without the railroads, which brought together the young country and allowed for unprecedented prosperity.