Lewis and Clark Railway
Encyclopedia
The Lewis and Clark Railway is a county-owned railroad located in Clark County, Washington
. The line is 33 miles long, beginning at the BNSF
interchange at Rye Junction in Vancouver, Washington
and stretching northeast, passing through Brush Prairie
and Battle Ground
to the line's northern end past Yacolt
.
1898: Renamed to Portland, Vancouver and Yakima Railroad
1903: Northern Pacific Railway
acquires the line.
1960: Longview, Portland and Northern Railway acquires the line.
1981: Chelatchie Priarie Railroad acquires the line.
1984: Service discontinued.
1985: Abandonment authorized on August 29
1987: Line purchased by Clark County and begins operation as LINC
2001: Chelatchie Prairie Railroad
(BYCX) leases the portion of the line from Battle Ground to Chelatchie and begins excursions.
2004: The line is leased to the Columbia Basin Railroad to take over operations. The lease agreement specifies that the Columbia Basin will begin paying for the lease once the line is profitable. Columbia Basin operates the line as the Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad.
Clark County, Washington
Clark County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Washington, across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon.Clark County was the first county of Washington, named after William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition...
. The line is 33 miles long, beginning at the BNSF
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
interchange at Rye Junction in Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...
and stretching northeast, passing through Brush Prairie
Brush Prairie, Washington
Brush Prairie is a census-designated place in Clark County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,384 at the 2000 census.Based on per capita income, one of the more reliable measures of affluence, Brush Prairie ranks 57th of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be...
and Battle Ground
Battle Ground, Washington
Battle Ground is a city in Clark County, Washington, United States. The population was 17,571 at the 2010 census. According to the Washington State Office of Financial Management, Battle Ground ranked 4th of 279 eligible incorporated communities in population growth between 2000 and 2005.-Origin of...
to the line's northern end past Yacolt
Yacolt, Washington
Yacolt is a town in Clark County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,556 at the 2010 census.-History:Yacolt is an Indian term meaning "haunted place". In September 1902 the town, which consisted of only 15 buildings at the time, was nearly destroyed by the Yacolt Burn, the largest...
.
History
1888: Built as a retard1898: Renamed to Portland, Vancouver and Yakima Railroad
1903: Northern Pacific Railway
Northern Pacific Railway
The Northern Pacific Railway was a railway that operated in the west along the Canadian border of the United States. Construction began in 1870 and the main line opened all the way from the Great Lakes to the Pacific when former president Ulysses S. Grant drove in the final "golden spike" in...
acquires the line.
1960: Longview, Portland and Northern Railway acquires the line.
1981: Chelatchie Priarie Railroad acquires the line.
1984: Service discontinued.
1985: Abandonment authorized on August 29
1987: Line purchased by Clark County and begins operation as LINC
2001: Chelatchie Prairie Railroad
Chelatchie Prairie Railroad
The Chelatchie Prairie Railroad is a heritage railroad and former freight railroad in Yacolt, Washington. Freight service was taken over by the Lewis and Clark Railway in 1987....
(BYCX) leases the portion of the line from Battle Ground to Chelatchie and begins excursions.
2004: The line is leased to the Columbia Basin Railroad to take over operations. The lease agreement specifies that the Columbia Basin will begin paying for the lease once the line is profitable. Columbia Basin operates the line as the Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad.