Historic Hood River
Cascade Locks RR Station
9-27-2012
Notes
I wish we had more information about this nice image of the railroad station at Cascade Locks. Maybe some of the railroad enthusiasts out there can add some historical context.
The History Museum of Hood River County
Bringing the Rich History of Hood River County to Life
l.e.
A special photo for Arlen!!
Arlen Sheldrake
Location appears to be just east of Marine Park and North of the school. OR&N, Oregon River & Navigation became part of the Union Pacific network. Love the wood box car and the celestory passenger cars. The locomotive headlight looks pretty much the same as the replica that was just installed on Portland’s OR&N 197 locomotive that was built in 1905…so that is an early steamer. I don’t recall ever before seeing a picture of the Cacade Locks depot.
That man standing near the first car (probably baggage) appears to be handing train orders to the crew as the train barrels through the station, the smoke shows some train speed.
You made my day Arthur! thanks,
charlott
That is for certain, we don’t see or hear much about railroads in Cascade Locks, other than the portage, which was on the Washington side. Though not actually in what we would call Hood River County, apparently the train stopped near where Bonneville Dam was. Right along the tracks was what was called Bonneville Eating House. Prior to the 1900’s this place was owned by Silkirk and Katherine Munra. Apparently they were well known in the Cascade Locks area as they went by the name of Grandpa and Grandma Munra. He was somewhat older than she was. Their eatery was almost on top of the tracks, a very long low structured one story building. Just thought I would throw that in.
Arlen Sheldrake
Charlott,
While there also was a portage railroad on the Washington side, the one on the Oregon side has a whole lot of history including its use of the first steam locomotive in the PNW that was the first steam locomoltive built on the west coast. This locomotive, the Oregon Pony, is on display in Cascade Lock’s Marine Park and the subject of a special publication I worked on for the Pacific NW Chapter, National Railway Historical Society. I am hopeful that Cascade Locks starts hyping the fact that this very, very historic locomotive resides in their town.
charlott
Yes, I know about the Oregon Pony, but didn’t the Oregon Pony come many years later than the old portage over near the block houses?
Arlen Sheldrake
Both portage railways were operated earlier but with horse or mule power.
the Washington side portage railway was built in 1851, the Oregon side in the mid 1850s. The Oregon Pony was built in 1862 and entered service on the Oregon Portage Railway on either April 24 or May 10, 1862.