Historic Hood River
OR&N Depot
Notes
For some reason I haven’t yet shown a clear view of the original (1883?) depot of the Oregon Rail and Navigation Company at Hood River. Here you go!
A few railroad related dates:
- First train between the Cascades and Dalles City, March 17, 1882
- First train between Portland and Wallula WA, November 20, 1882
- First train between Portland and New York City, October 2, 1883
It must have been exciting for the handful of souls in Hood River in 1883 to be near this ribbon of steel which ran all the way to New York City.
This station was apparently too small for the level of use that developed at Hood River, so it was replaced by our current depot in 1911. The February 2, 1911 Glacier reported the OR&N was in Hood River showing a few different drawings for the station; the September 21, 1911 Glacier reported on the opening of the new station. I enjoy the detail, “The station has one of the new drinking fountains, where the traveller drinks from a flow of water bubbling from a basin as though from a spring.”
l.e.
An Arlen Special!
There is even smoke coming out of the smokestack.
What a neat building with character.
What is to the left of us behind the fenced yard? That doesn’t show up in the Watkins photo.
Thanks for the dates. A useful reference.
Charlott
Wonder how long it took to get from Portland and New York City.
There is the dog that we see in so many photos.
After my great-grandfather came to Columbus/Maryhill in 1880, he worked for a time on the construction of this railroad. I will have to look it up as to what he did. I want to say that he worked in the cook car, but am not totally sure. Know I have it in my family records.
l.e.
I just read the September Glacier article and there is even some news about my area. Horse stealing. Not much has changed.
Arlen Sheldrake
Talk about make my day, WOW……great picture….love the freight specific box car, and dog, and loco, and dates. is that a date or name block in the arch at the top of the building? I need to do some research on that 4-6-0 loco….
AndyB
Watching the Sense of Place lecture last night about the Historic Hwy I was wondering when then train was put in place between Portland and Hood River. And why the stern wheeler was still operating if there was a train? Wouldn’t the train be much faster than the boat?
Arlen Sheldrake
Andy, my take on your question would be that modes of transport didn’t change overnight and keep in mind that both were owned by the same corporation.
Arthur
Also, the ships could handle large cargo. For example, Hood River’s fire engine arrived by steamer in 1921. (Not sure why they couldn’t drive it on the new highway.)
Arlen Sheldrake
The locomotive pictured is: OWRR&N 4-6-0 No. 135 CN-512 built by New York Locomotive Works in March 1889, class T-63, 63" drivers, 150 lbs steam pressure, 19X24 cylinders, 92,350 libs on the driving wheels coal fueled, vacated October 1928. Information provided by Bruce Strange, a volunteer working in the archives of the Pacific NW Chapter, National Railway Historical Society.