Historic Hood River
Parkdale Depot
1-30-2015
Notes
The Parkdale Depot was the end of the line for the Mt. Hood Railroad. It also served as a hotel. The chalkboard indicates it is October 17th, the train will arrive at 10:45 and depart at 1:00.
The History Museum of Hood River County
Bringing the Rich History of Hood River County to Life
Charlott
Too bad this building was destroyed. It would have given a boost to Parkdale as a hotel. It would serve tourists in the summer and skiers in the winter. from the sign it appears that it did have rooms for rent then.
I have seen pictures of this, but nothing like this so up close.
charlott
Should read things thoroughly before I comment.
My question is, if the engine was on the front of the train, did it have to leave Parkdale for Hood River going backwards, until it got to the switch back? Does anyone know how this worked?
l.e.
A bit of Craftsman architecture.
Dan
Charlott, how else could it work? I never given it much thought but I don’t see another option.
Norma
I keep trying to picture the train coming back into town. The caboose was first because we would always wave to Johnny Murray when we were outside. So the engine has to be on the front until the switchback. Don’t know how it was when this picture was taken just know how it is now.
nels
Switch back means turn around? If so, where was it located?
nels
This Craftsman style reminds me of so many orchard homes if you look carefully back into the orchards. Was in one once and it had a beautiful large fire place and a large central staircase to the upstairs. Told it was a bear to heat..
spinsur
Still used nels, train leaves station w/ engine at rear, up the river past the bridge over highway 35; it dead-ends, then switches to line going up out of river canyon, over 35, and up the valley w/ engine in front. it’s on maps.
Jim Gray
I believe they could switch at Dee also, when I worked there they would change the engine front to back of the train.
AndyB
did it burn down? or was it torn down.
Kenn
I think there was a turning Y north of Parkdale near Woodworth Road but I can find nothing to substantiate this at present, will keep searching. In cold weather it was almost impossible to run a steam engine very far backward, no shelter across the back of the cab and the wind would destroy the fire as the firedoor was opened constantly. Engines planned to run backward, such as in the "Relief train at Bridal Veil" picture, ran two engines back to back so one could be occupied each direction..
At the switchback there was a small turntable to turn the Goose to save it having to run backward, some way was also necessary to turn it at Parkdale. The turntable being light weight there are no concrete remains such as at most ex-turntable sites.
At the switchback one can follow a ROW from the tail track down to the dam site for use bringing in construction equipment.
l.e.
One think about bookmarking things, is remembering you bookmarked them. I j ust remembered I had this long PDF History of the Mt Hood Railroad.
I clipped out a few pieces relating to this photo, but I suggest reading the entire article when you have time. Lots of good information in it.
The original HR depot was also Craftsman style.
All portions of the railroad were built under the direction of David Eccles, president of the Mt. Hood Railroad and the Oregon Lumber Company,
At approximate MP 2.5, the railroad starts its gradual climb up the switchbacks; one of the most notable engineering features of the main line.
The grade ranges from 2.86% to 2.88% and the degree of curve varies from 4 to 14 degrees. The 100 Ib. rails date from the
1920s.
The Mt. Hood Railroad was known as the backwards railroad because the engine backed out of the Hood River station, pushing the cars infrontofituntilitreachedthemiddleoftheswitchbacks. In the middle, the engine pushes the cars onto a long tail or track extension. Theenginereversedandthenwasswitchedtotheupper track where it proceeded to pull the train up the switchbacks….
The Mt. Hood switchbacks have only one switch track This unusual design required the engine to push the cars out of the Hood River yards to the switchbacks.
The town of Parkdale was platted in anticipation of the railroad’s extension. R.J. Mclsaac, a shareowner of the railroad company, acquired the right-of-way for the extension and platted the original ten-acre Parkdale townsite. The extension of the railroad, completed in 1910, opened up thousands of acres for development. Orchards were planted as well as potatoes and asparagus. Parkdale became the hub of the UpperValley.
A depot (razed in 1971) stood west of the tracks and north of the Mclsaac store near the corner of Second Street and Baseline Roads. The depot which also served as a hotel, was completed around 1910- 11. A railroad water tank stood near the station. A turntable, located where the Diamond Pre-Sizing Plant is currently located, was installed in 1916.
l.e.
Having the link might help.
http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/93001507.pdf
Norma
My mom had told me the reason for the switchback was because the man that owned the next propety would not let the railroad access to his property.
TR Amnesia
So, the train would PUSH the train and back out of the Hood River Rail yard uphill and into the switchback. Then PULL the train forward the rest of the way uphill to the Mt. Hood Station. This way, pulling into the Mt. Hood Depot and the end of the line, the Engineer is not backing in "blind".
Kenn
Found the train turning information for Parkdale.
"To the north of the present store an engine turntable was built in case of need but never used, according to a veteran train crew member. The steel portion is now useful elsewhere as a county road bridge .In the days of steam, the locomotive turned around on a wye at Parkdale, today the diesel engines use a siding."
This is from Mt Hood Railroad Riders Guide, page 22 last paragraph.
Jeffrey Bryant
The Hood River Glacier, September 2, 1909, page 1
Parkdale the New Station
O. M. Bailey was down from Mt. Hood Saturday and stated that a vote was taken by the residents of that section as to the name of the new station at the terminus of the Mt. Hood railroad. The name of Parkdale was decided on, and it has been accepted by the company.
The bridge across the East Fork and a fill just the other side of Dee remain to be completed before the rails can be laid, and it is expected that the road will be finished for traffic by the first of October.
Jeffrey Bryant
The Hood River Glacier, November 4, 1909
MT. HOOD EXTENSION TRACK IS FINISHED
The track laying gang on the extension of the Mt. Hood railroad from Dee to Parkdale drove the last spike on the six miles of new track Saturday and work of ballasting and getting the road in shape for operation is being pushed as rapidly as possible. The big steam shovel will be put in operation today, and it is expected that in a few weeks the track will be put in shape that regular trains may be operated. The contract for the telephone line along the right-of-way from Dee to Parkdale has been let by the railroad to Harry Bailey, of this city, and he now has a force of men engaged in putting up the line. The company had a locomotive here trying it out the other day and are contemplating getting another engine to aid handling the increased business.
Jeffrey Bryant
The Hood River Glacier, May 5, 1910
Two New Towns
On the Map
—
Postoffices In Parkdale and Fir
—
Discontinuance of Hood River "“ Mt. Hood
Star Route May Result in
Another Office
—
"The postoffice department of the U. S. Government has established two new postoffices in Hood River county, one at Parkdale, the new terminus of the Mt. Hood railroad, and the other at Fir, nine miles south of Hood River in the Neal Creek country. The postmasters have been commissioned and the supplies received for the new offices and it will be only a short time until there will be two brand new full-fledged towns on the postoffice map of Hood county."
R. J. McIsaac was the postmaster at Parkdale.
Ernest A. Cole was the postmaster at Fir.
Jeffrey Bryant
The Hood River Glacier, May 12, 1910
TRAINS NOW RUN
TO PARKDALE
—
Mt. Hood R. R. Opens New Line
—
Excursion of Business Men Planned to Booming Upper Valley Country "“ New Depot
—
The Mt. Hood Railroad began operating trains on its extension from Dee to Parkdale in the upper valley Tuesday, and that enterprising village is booming. ++
http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn97071110/1910-05-12/ed-1/seq-1/
Jeffrey Bryant
The Hood River Glacier, February 2, 1911, page 6
Parkdale’s New Station Completed
All of the exterior work of the new passenger station of the Mt. Hood R. R. at Parkdale has been completed and J. M. Clark is putting the finishing touches to the interior. The new building will meet the requirements not only of a station but also of a hotel. It is two stories in height and the second floor has been fitted up with rooms for guests. The rooms are well arranged and the building is equipped with all modern conveniences. The first story is taken up with a large baggage and freight room, ticket office, combined hotel and station waiting room and dining room and kitchen.
The contract for the construction of the building was given to J. M. Wright last fall. Mr. Wright sub-let the contract to J. M. Clark, who has brought the work to completion. Mr. Clark is at present the station agent at Parkdale and has charge of the new hotel.