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The Liberal Division
of the Oregon Pacific Railroad [ History ] [ Company Info ] [ Pictures ] [ Maps ] [ Links ] |
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The Oregon Pacific Railroad, operating on a Union Pacific right-of-way, is the shortline railroad that forms the north and eastern boundaries of our farm. Originally built in 1912 to compete with an electric interurban line called the Willamette Valley Southern Railway. It eventually became part of the Southern Pacific Railway system. It should be noted that the Southern Pacific was taken over by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1996. In 1993, Richard A. "Dick" Samuels leased the Southern Pacific Molalla Branch, which ran from a connection with the main line at Canby, Oregon to the southwestern corner of Molalla, Oregon (10 miles). He named the operation, the Molalla Western Railroad. Mr. Samuels also owned the East Portland Traction Company and in May 1998, he combined the two operations forming the Oregon Pacific Railroad. [Note: There was another railroad called the Oregon, Pacific & Eastern (1914-1994) but the OPR has no connection.] The Molalla branch of the Oregon Pacific Railroad originally provided freight service into and through Molalla. However, as of 2003, the last three miles of the track from Liberal to Molalla have been abandoned and the tracks ripped up. The traffic now consists of transporting lumber from RSG Forest Products (sawmill) in Liberal, Oregon to Canby and products used to make chicken feed at Satrum-Dybvad Milling, also in Liberal. The train typically runs one to three days per week depending on the operation of the mills. The Oregon Pacific Railroad is based out of an industrial area in Milwaukie, Oregon on Ochoco Road and 17th Street. Company Information
Photos of Locomotives and Yard Scenes
Sources and Interesting Links:
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