Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company

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The Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company (OR&N) was a railroad that operated a rail network of 1,143 miles of track running east from Portland, Oregon, United States to northeastern Oregon, northeastern Washington, and northern Idaho. The railroad operated from 1896 as a consolidation of several smaller railroads and was reorganized as the Oregon-Washington Railroad and Navigation Company in 1910. Although the OR&N was initially operated as an independent carrier, by 1898 the railroad was a subsidiary of Union Pacific (UP). In 1936, Union Pacific formally absorbed the system, which became UP's gateway to the Pacific Northwest.

[edit] Predecessor railroads

The OR&N was made up of several railroads:

• Columbia and Palouse Railroad was incorporated in 1882 and built 145 miles of track. The track ran from Connell, Washington, where it interchanged with the Northern Pacific Railway and ran east through Hooper, La Crosse, Winona and Colfax. At Colfax, one line ran northeast to Farmington, Washington, located on the Idaho state line. The other line ran southeast from Colfax to Moscow, Idaho. The railroad was a non-operating subsidiary of the OR&N in 1888 and was eventually sold to the OR&N in 1910.
• Walla Walla and Columbia River Railroad was a narrow-gauge railroad incorporated in 1868 at Walla Walla, Washington and built 46 miles of track from Wallula, Washington. The track went east from Wallula to Touchet, Frenchtown and Whitman. At Whitman, the line continued east to Walla Walla and a branch that was built in 1879 went south to Blue Mountain, Oregon via Barrett (Milton). In 1881 the railroad came under the control of the OR&N and the narrow-gauge was converted to standard gauge. In 1910, the Walla Walla and Columbia River Railroad was consolidated into the OR&N.
• Mill Creek Flume and Manufacturing was incorporated in 1880 as a narrow gauge lumber carrier operating 13 miles of track between Walla Walla and Dixie. In 1903 the Mill Creek Flume and Manufacturing Company was purchased by the OR&N and renamed the Mill Creek Railroad. The track was standardized in 1905. After the track was standardized, the OR&N sold the Mill Creek Railroad and it was merged into the Washington and Columbia River Railway which became part of the Northern Pacific Railway in 1907.
• Oregon Railway Extensions Company was incorporated in 1888 at Portland and built 69 miles of track with two branches. One branch ran from La Grande, Oregon where it interchanged with the OR&N and then ran northeast to Elgin. The other branch ran from Winona, Washington to Seltice via St. John, Sunset, Thornton and Oakesdale. The railroad was a non-operating subsidiary of the OR&N. In 1896 it was sold at foreclosure to the OR&N.
• Washington and Idaho Railroad was incorporated in 1886 and was also sold at foreclosure to the OR&N in 1896. The Washington and Idaho Railroad operated 154 miles of track.
• Oregon Railway and Navigation Company traces its roots back as far as 1860. The Oregon Railway and Navigation Company was incorporated in 1879 at Portland, Oregon and was the core 643 miles of the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company.

[edit] References

• Robertson, Donald B. (1995). Encyclopedia of Western Railroad History - Volume III - Oregon & Washington. Caldwell, ID: The Caxton Printers. ISBN 0-87004-366-8.