Historic Hood River
Mt. Hood Railroad Depot
11-13-2014
Notes
When the Mt. Hood Railroad was constructed in 1906, Hood River got a second railroad depot. We’ve seen a few images of this, but you can never have too many railroad pictures (I believe that is known as “Arlen’s Rule”).
Bill Seaton
Ah, yes, another picture of my childhood backyard.
Charlott Jones
It always amazes me as there seems to be dog in the photo or a little boy. If I didn’t know how old Arlen is, one might think that was him standing there admiring the locomotive.
Looks like they are burning cord wood.
longshot
I am always amazed at the gorgeous architecture of the era. I am so glad that at least a small part of it has made it down through time to us.
l.e.
Hooray for Arlen. I think you are spoiling him Arthur.
Is that barn in the background the Livery Building that was our very first HHR photo?
https://www.hoodriverhistorymuseum.org?showimage=1
Arlen Sheldrake
All father John’s fault, hard to overcome one’s upbringing (and I am not trying). Just wish he and brother John W. were here to enjoy these great photographs. It sure is true that some great buildings were built in our past….walking in communities like Oregon City, Albany, N. Portland, etc one finds many examples. Thank you Arthur!
l.e.
That looks like a powerful engine. Do you think the car load of logs behind the engine is for the train boiler?
And, where did the trains turn around to go back up the Valley?
Arthur
My understanding is MHRR trains left the station going backwards, and reversed direction at a switched track on the other side of the Hood River before they proceeded up the valley.
spinsur
they still switchback that way, but in the steam era there was a turntable and water tank between the hwy 30 bridge and the rr bridge over the hood, below bluff road so they had the ability when needed to turn engines and cars.
nels
I’ve always wondered about the 2nd story above these depots. They seem to always have curtains, so I assume actively lived in. Is this rather like light house tenders who live where they work? Or is this for train crews?
AndyB
Are we looking south? What is that large building
the background?
Arthur
We’re facing SE, the depot faces NNE. The 1905 Sanborn map shows a few small buildings between the Rand Livery (image #1) and the train depot site. They were all 1 story– an ice cream store on 1st @ Cascade, with a dwelling and a shed behind it. Hard to be sure if we’re seeing those buildings on the steep hillside, or the Rand Livery iteself. By 1909 the dwelling and shed were gone, the ice cream store was an office. We would have had a clear view to the livery by then.
Arlen Sheldrake
Our Pacific Northwest Chapter, NRHS researcher says this locomotive is:
O&WRR Alco 2-8-0 consolidated built January 1908 in Dunkirk, NY, CN 44986, vacated December 1937
Kenn
The turntable at the switchback was just for the jitney, it did not turn the steam engines.
i.e., the wood is for the boiler, the tender behlind the engine carried fuel and water.
nels, the upstairs was living quarters for the agent and family.
Charlie Becker
I’m a former brakeman for the Mt Hood Railway…1976 to 1982…good job…
Yes we pushed out of Hood River caboose first…following the Hood River for a few miles and then into the switchback…I threw the switch and we pulled the train up the upper switchback and crossed HWY 35 and up Pinegrove Hill up the line to Hanel’s and Neal Creek …
We hauled a lot of lumber and wood chips and Pears and Apples…