Another oldie, The Harbor Turn exits the summit tunnel on Cornelius pass. This is former NP territory in the West Hills of Portland Making it's way from the BNSF Lake yard along the Willamette to Banks, Hillsboro and the ex-SP to former OE and points south on the now Portland and Western. An oldie from 2010, but since this section of Railroad is the feature on this month's Railfan and Railroad, relevant. I just noticed that the marker says Southern Pacific which is odd, because this is absolutely not SP track. Also, I didn't know this, but the line used to go over the summit without a bore The route is apparently still visible from overhead photography even though the forest is quick to reclaim it.
Well, I'm confused. The NP Tacoma Division ended at Lake Yard in Portland, for freight. At Union Station for passenger service. There were transfer runs between Lake Yard and the SP&S Hoyt Street Yard. From Hoyt Street south was SP&S. Banks was SP&S, etc. OE cut off at Forest Grove Junction and headed south Beaverton-Salem-Eugene. There were a batch of SP&S branches out there, such as to Vernonia, etc.
Hmmm. I may need to reconfirm. I though Cornelius Pass was ex-NP. Certainly is was BN. Lake yard to banks, but also a portion down to Beaverton and the OE connection. That section became Max light rail.
Ah hah, United Railways was the railroad, an interurban eventually purchased by SP&S to connect to the OE.
Interestingly, Hoyt yard is the site of what is now the Pearl district. It's amazing to think of that much rail yard in what is essentially a walkable area between Hoyt, Lake, Albina and then down to Brooklyn. There are still obvious markers of rail activity amongst the eateries, boutique shops and art studios in the pearl.
I was poking around the UP yard in Hearne, Texas today. I found this tucked away in back. Looks like a grade crossing collision rearranged the front porch.
NS 8114 came to town so I was able to catch her several times. First she is switching in the yard, and in the second pic she is at Apollo Fuels now Middlesboro Mining flood loading a train in a cool, foggy, damp, and rainy day. Seeing she was on the local I may get to see more of her this week.
Lake yard is there the Pearl district mostly covers Hoyt. There is a yard just north of the station on the west side of the river that is distinctly not Lake and is used by both BNSF and UP don't remember it's name.
