Oregon and Northwestern Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Oregon and Northwestern Railroad (O&NW) evolved from the defunct Malheur Railroad in 1928 and eventually ran 50.2 miles (80.8 km) between Hines, Oregon
, and Seneca
, along the present-day route of the U.S. 395 in Oregon
. The Edward Hines Lumber Company
, or Edward Hines Western Pine Company, purchased the Malheur Railroad from Fred Herrick in 1928 and expanded the railroad's network in order to make the company's lumber mill more easily accessible from logging locations. The company planned to log 120000000 board feet (283,168.4 m³) of lumber each year.
The railroad received its permit from the Interstate Commerce Commission
and became a common carrier on 24 June 1929. Charles John Pettibone was the superintendent of the railroad and assistant manager of the lumber company.
In the 1940s, most of the logging was done in order to supply airplanes for the U.S. Army
. During this time, the FBI
had been deporting Japanese Americans following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor
, but the lumber company needed new workers. Most of the company's original workers had gone to war. The company began to recruit Japanese Americans for the railroad. Each person was obliged "to swear an oath of loyalty to the United States" before beginning to work.
The lumber company owned and operated the railroad, which had 19 trestle
s, for many decades, but by December 1981, demand for lumber had declined. The company was producing at only one quarter of capacity and employed only 12 workers for the railroad. At the time, it had 229 total employees, which was nearly four times fewer than its peak number, 900. Many workers had been laid off in 1980. The railroad was completely abandoned in 1990 because of damage from the flooding of Malheur Lake
and because it was no longer profitable for the logging industry. Four years later, in 1994, the railroad's 475 feet (144.8 m) tunnel, which had not been used since 1984, was closed to the public because its ceiling was beginning to collapse. Although the tracks were not well-built either, the railroad has been well-preserved.
Hines, Oregon
Hines is a city in Harney County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,563 at the 2010 census.-History:A community named Herrick was formed just southwest of Burns when railroad promoter and sawmill operator Fred Herrick founded a lumber company there...
, and Seneca
Seneca, Oregon
Seneca is a city in Grant County, Oregon, United States. It is located in the Blue Mountains about 23 miles south of Canyon City, on U.S. Route 395, on the edge of the Malheur National Forest...
, along the present-day route of the U.S. 395 in Oregon
U.S. Route 395 in Oregon
In the U.S. state of Oregon, U.S. Route 395 traverses the desert and rural areas on the eastern side of the state. The largest cities that US 395 passes through are Pendleton, the county seat of Umatilla County, and Hermiston, also in Umatilla County....
. The Edward Hines Lumber Company
Edward Hines Lumber Company
The Edward Hines Lumber Company, based in Buffalo Grove, in the U.S. state of Illinois, is a business firm specializing in lumber, plywood, decking, doors, windows, trim, and other wood products. It also sells related services such as consultations and cost estimates for building projects...
, or Edward Hines Western Pine Company, purchased the Malheur Railroad from Fred Herrick in 1928 and expanded the railroad's network in order to make the company's lumber mill more easily accessible from logging locations. The company planned to log 120000000 board feet (283,168.4 m³) of lumber each year.
The railroad received its permit from the Interstate Commerce Commission
Interstate Commerce Commission
The Interstate Commerce Commission was a regulatory body in the United States created by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. The agency's original purpose was to regulate railroads to ensure fair rates, to eliminate rate discrimination, and to regulate other aspects of common carriers, including...
and became a common carrier on 24 June 1929. Charles John Pettibone was the superintendent of the railroad and assistant manager of the lumber company.
In the 1940s, most of the logging was done in order to supply airplanes for the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. During this time, the FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
had been deporting Japanese Americans following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
, but the lumber company needed new workers. Most of the company's original workers had gone to war. The company began to recruit Japanese Americans for the railroad. Each person was obliged "to swear an oath of loyalty to the United States" before beginning to work.
The lumber company owned and operated the railroad, which had 19 trestle
Trestle
A trestle is a rigid frame used as a support, especially referring to a bridge composed of a number of short spans supported by such frames. In the context of trestle bridges, each supporting frame is generally referred to as a bent...
s, for many decades, but by December 1981, demand for lumber had declined. The company was producing at only one quarter of capacity and employed only 12 workers for the railroad. At the time, it had 229 total employees, which was nearly four times fewer than its peak number, 900. Many workers had been laid off in 1980. The railroad was completely abandoned in 1990 because of damage from the flooding of Malheur Lake
Malheur Lake
Malheur Lake is a lake in an arid region of eastern Oregon, United States near Burns, Oregon. The lake is fed by Donner und Blitzen River from the south and the Silvies River from the north. Malheur Lake has no outlet, though water escapes through ground seepage and by evaporation; widespread...
and because it was no longer profitable for the logging industry. Four years later, in 1994, the railroad's 475 feet (144.8 m) tunnel, which had not been used since 1984, was closed to the public because its ceiling was beginning to collapse. Although the tracks were not well-built either, the railroad has been well-preserved.
External links
- Photo of O&NW car by Richard Gibson
- Photos related to the railroad from Flickr