Historic Hood River
SR 14 Construction
6-13-2014
Notes
Here’s the construction of Washington SR 14 next to the railroad tracks west of Hood River in 1936.
The History Museum of Hood River County
Bringing the Rich History of Hood River County to Life
The History Museum of Hood River County
Bringing the Rich History of Hood River County to Life
Here’s the construction of Washington SR 14 next to the railroad tracks west of Hood River in 1936.
l.e.
Did they clear all of those trees out of there before the Bonneville Pool covered them?
Previously, SR 14 was Highway 8 and then US 830. Before the tunnels were put in, Highway 8 turned up at Cooks, traveled through Willard and back down at Underwood.
What I don’t know and would like to know, is if the highway crossed the White Salmon at the mouth or farther up stream.
longshot
Some of those oil drums are probably still rusting away out there.
longshot
Looks like work is being done on the rails as well. Likely both the highway and the railroad are being raised to allow for the higher pool level behind the then new Bonneville Dan.
spinsur
That was my thought too (on both counts, barrels and work!), but I wonder where the track would’ve been. Note the two tunnels in background, one mortar faced, the other just hewn rock. But if, for instance, the hewn tunnel was the "old" train, then the alignment would be where the vehicle road is being built; not sure that makes sense. Will have to look at the pre-dam Corps mapping when I get a chance, see if there’s any hints there.
Buzz
Maybe I am missing something, but I don’t see any evidence they are raising the railroad bed. There are no new "cuts" in the hillside. And isn’t it already substantially above the elevation of the river? My question is where was Alva Day when he took this picture? Was there a tunnel just preceding this location and Day was standing on the headland that it went under?
l.e.
I think the railroad is where it always was. The railroad tunnel up a head is much older looking than the highway tunnel and shaped more like a train.
Probably building the highway did a lot of damage to the railroad and I’m sure they had to do quite a bit of rock blasting.
The electricity line from Condit Dam ran along the railroad to Camas WA.
l.e.
Half way down this page you will see a green train coming at you. It is traveling this stretch of railway.
http://www.icehouse.net/funnelfan/gorge-1.html
In Alva Day’s photo, you are looking at the Alligator Rock Tunnel. Alva Day is probably standing on Owl Rock Tunnel.
The railroad tunnels are numbered differently than the highway tunnels because #1 is back at Cape Horn.
I think photo # 469 shows the hill Alva Day is standing on for today’s photo.
Arlen Sheldrake
The flat cars seem to be loaded with railroad ties. Also showing is a siding or spur that has been removed. I agree that it looks like the railroad is not being moved, maybe some alterations like taking out the siding/spur to make way for the highway relocate. Appears to be a truck loading the closed spur material. LOTS of great detail again in this photo.
longshot
All or some of tunnels that have concrete facings may have dates on them. Should be easy enough to check.
Kenn
I am sure the RR was not relocated, it was built at 1/4 of 1% from Vancouver to Pasco and 1/2 of 1% Pasco to Spokane.. I believe the first alteration to the grade was at McNary dam and later John Day dam..
musuembound
In 1905 the Washington State Highway Board was created. Washington had been a state for only 16 year, and fewer than 1,000 miles of state roads served the state. Railroads and steamships handled most long distance travel and freight, and people got around locally by foot, horse, wagon, streetcar, or bicycle. There were fewer than 100 automobiles in the entire state. Over the next 30 years various highway numbers were approved by the state legislature. Many times the length of the highway changed during this time. In the 1933-35 biennium a bill was passed to use aerial photos for mapping of the highway system. In the 1935 "“37 biennium, hwy. 8 was called the Evergreen Highway and was designated from Vancouver to Goldendale.
The north bank railroad was completed in 1908 to the town of Bingen from Vancouver. It was completed on up river over the next few years.
This photo seems to indicate the original construction of hwy. 8 which became hwy. 14 years later. The rail road appears to being used to transport construction equipment and supplies to the job site. Trains were most likely limited in 1936.