Oregon Electric


	In 1905, the Willamette Valley Traction Company was organized to build an electric interurban railroad from Portland south to Salem. Planned branches included Hillsboro, Forest Grove, Newberg, McMinnville and Dallas. When it opened, it was christened the Oregon Electric Railway.

Early view of the Oregon Electric Railway at the 10th & Hoyt St Station


	Send us an email


	Oregon Electric Champoeg Car in Portland

An Oregon Electric Train from Portland on the way to Eugene is stopped at Fulton Park Station in 1912

An Oregon Electric Train bound for Portland is stopped at Multnomah

The Oregon Electric stopped at Multnomah Station on its way to Salem


			A section of the double track near 45th and Multnomah Boulevard


	Early view of the Garden Home Junction and Depot



		Orenco Station

Oregon Electric Railway’s First Car to Hillsboro on September 30, 1908. Among the passengers and guests were officials from the Railway.

Oregon Electric Train at the Hillsboro Depot


	Early view of the Hillsboro Depot


	Oregon Electric Champoeg Car at Hillsboro

Oregon Electric Train at the Forest Grove Depot




	OE Train stopped at the Wilsonville Station


		In 1910, the powerful Jim Hill, who owned the Northern Pacific, bought the Oregon Electric Railway and made it a subsidiary of the Spokane Portland and Seattle Railway. The first step was to build lines from Portland to Salem.


Early view of the Oregon Electric Train at Salem. The first train run to Salem was on January 20, 1908.

An Oregon Electric Train Stopped in Salem in 1912. The building under construction is a new Masonic Temple.

The Champoeg Car was used on Special Runs and for Presidents, Politicians and their Political Campaigns


	Interior view of the Champoeg on the Luckenbach Special going from Portland to Eugene in November 1929. The Atwater Kent Screen Grid Radio is on loan for the trip. The gent on the left is reading a schedule for the Spokane Portland & Seattle Railway.

Oregon Electric Santiam Sleeper Car No. 1010 in Portland in 1913


	Even though the Red Electrics boasted faster schedules, the Oregon Electrics were more elegant. The Oregon Electrics boasted parlor observation cars and sleepers.

Interior view of an Oregon Electric Railway Car

Oregon Electric Mail Car in Portland in 1939



	Early view of the Oregon Electric Depot in Eugene. Train service to Albany started July 4, 1912. Service to Eugene began October 15, 1912.


	Southern Terminal for the Oregon Electric Railway at Eugene. Today this beautiful building houses a restaurant. Passenger Service ended June 30, 1933 and Electric Operations ended July 10, 1945.


	Last updated 06-25-06


	copyright © 2008 PdxHistory.com


	[Home] [Site Map] [Amusement Parks] [Historic Portland] [Department Stores] [Streetcars] [Go By Streetcar] [Trains] [Mt Hood] [Oregon Coast] [Post Card History] [Portland Hotels] [Portland Neighborhoods] [Getaways] [News] [Links] [Contact Us]