In French it's pronounced "So", and it's the old form of "saut", which means "jump". Then the English-speaking folks come along and say "Soo".
As I understand it, this is the old Northern Pacific line from when NP was routed over a ferry between Kalama, WA, and Goble, OR. I may be wrong, but didn't A&CR link Astoria to Goble? This is also on the line that United Railways used to get between downtown Portland and United Junction. Here's a pin showing where this loco was. There's another loco in the same position on this map. PNWR often leaves a locomotive tied up here, and I can reliably stop by and see one nearly any time I come through here.
