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The Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company (OR&N) was a
railroad Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...
that operated a rail network of running east from
Portland Portland most commonly refers to: * Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States * Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...
,
Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
,
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
, to northeastern Oregon, northeastern
Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
, and northern
Idaho Idaho ( ) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. To the north, it shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border with the province of British Columbia. It borders the states of Montana and Wyom ...
. It operated from 1896 as a consolidation of several smaller railroads. OR&N was initially operated as an independent carrier, but
Union Pacific The Union Pacific Railroad , legally Union Pacific Railroad Company and often called simply Union Pacific, is a freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Pac ...
(UP) purchased a majority stake in the line in 1898. It became a
subsidiary A subsidiary, subsidiary company or daughter company is a company owned or controlled by another company, which is called the parent company or holding company. Two or more subsidiaries that either belong to the same parent company or having a s ...
of UP titled the Oregon–Washington Railroad and Navigation Company in 1910. In 1936, Union Pacific formally absorbed the system, which became UP's gateway to the
Pacific Northwest The Pacific Northwest (sometimes Cascadia, or simply abbreviated as PNW) is a geographic region in western North America bounded by its coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains to the east. Though ...
.


Predecessors

The OR&N was made up of several railroads: *
Columbia Southern Railway The Columbia Southern Railway built a rail line extending from Biggs (on the Columbia River) south to Shaniko, Oregon, U.S. The company was incorporated on March 5, 1897, and intended to continue beyond Shaniko to Prineville, with a branch to Can ...
from Biggs to Shaniko, Oregon. *Oregon ''Railway'' and Navigation Company traces its roots back as far as 1860. It was incorporated in 1879 in Portland, Oregon and operated between Portland and eastern Washington and Oregon until 1896, when it was reorganized into the Oregon ''Railroad'' and Navigation Company. The Oregon Railway and Navigation Company was the core of the OR&N. Its route eventually became the backbone of Union Pacific Railroad's mainline from Utah to the Pacific Northwest. *
Columbia and Palouse Railroad Columbia may refer to: * Columbia (personification), the historical female national personification of the United States, and a poetic name for America Places North America Natural features * Columbia Plateau, a geologic and geographic region in ...
was incorporated in 1882 and built of track. The track ran from
Connell, Washington Connell () is a city in Franklin County, Washington, United States. The population was 5,441 at the 2020 census. History Prior to 1883 the area now known as Connell was used by ranchers as open range for cattle and horses. The community was e ...
, where it interchanged with the Northern Pacific Railway and ran east through Hooper,
La Crosse La Crosse is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, La Crosse County. Positioned alongside the Mississippi River, La Crosse is the largest city on Wisconsin's western border. La Crosse's populat ...
, Winona and Colfax. At Colfax, one line ran northeast to
Farmington, Washington Farmington is a town in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 146 at the 2010 census. History Farmington was laid out in 1878. Farmington was officially incorporated in 1888. At Farmington's peak (1900–1930) the town ...
, located on the Idaho state line. The other line ran southeast from Colfax to Moscow, Idaho. The railroad was a
non-operating subsidiary In the United States, a paper railroad is a company in the railroad business that exists "on paper only": as a legal entity which does not own any track, locomotives, or rolling stock. In the early days of railroad construction, paper railroads h ...
of the OR&N in 1888 and was eventually sold to the OR&N in 1910. *
Walla Walla and Columbia River Railroad The Walla Walla and Columbia River Railroad was a narrow gauge railroad that operated a 46 miles (74 km) of track running east from Wallula, Washington, United States to Walla Walla, Washington Walla Walla is a city in Walla Walla County, ...
was a wood-railed
narrow-gauge railroad A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge narrower than standard . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and . Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with tighter curves, smaller structur ...
incorporated in 1868 at
Walla Walla, Washington Walla Walla is a city in Walla Walla County, Washington, where it is the largest city and county seat. It had a population of 34,060 at the 2020 census, estimated to have decreased to 33,927 as of 2021. The population of the city and its two su ...
and built of track from
Wallula, Washington Wallula () is a census-designated place (CDP) in Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. The population was 179 at the 2010 census. History The Lewis and Clark Expedition reached this area April 27, 1806, on their return journey from the ...
. The track went east from Wallula to Touchet, Frenchtown and Whitman. At Whitman, the line continued east to Walla Walla and a branch that was built in 1879 went south to Blue Mountain, Oregon via Barrett ( Milton). The first took 6 years to build. In 1881 the railroad came under the control of the OR&N and the narrow-gauge was converted to standard gauge. In 1910, the Walla Walla and Columbia River Railroad was consolidated into the OR&N. *
Mill Creek Flume and Manufacturing Mill may refer to: Science and technology * * Mill (grinding) * Milling (machining) * Millwork * Textile mill * Steel mill, a factory for the manufacture of steel * List of types of mill * Mill, the arithmetic unit of the Analytical Engine ear ...
was incorporated in 1880 as a narrow gauge
lumber Lumber is wood that has been processed into dimensional lumber, including beams and planks or boards, a stage in the process of wood production. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing (floors, wall panels, wi ...
carrier operating of track between Walla Walla and
Dixie Dixie, also known as Dixieland or Dixie's Land, is a nickname for all or part of the Southern United States. While there is no official definition of this region (and the included areas shift over the years), or the extent of the area it cover ...
. In 1903 the Mill Creek Flume and Manufacturing Company was purchased by the OR&N and renamed the Mill Creek Railroad. The track was standardized in 1905. After the track was standardized, the OR&N sold the Mill Creek Railroad and it was merged into the
Washington and Columbia River Railway Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered on ...
which became part of the Northern Pacific Railway in 1907. * Oregon Railway Extensions Company was incorporated in 1888 at Portland and built of track with two branches. One branch ran from
La Grande, Oregon La Grande is a city in Union County, Oregon, United States. Originally named "Brownsville," it was forced to change its name because that name was being used for a city in Linn County. Located in the Grande Ronde Valley, the city's name comes ...
where it interchanged with the OR&N and then ran northeast to Elgin. The other branch ran from Winona, Washington, to Seltice via St. John, Sunset, Thornton and Oakesdale. The railroad was a non-operating subsidiary of the OR&N. In 1896 it was sold at
foreclosure Foreclosure is a legal process in which a lender attempts to recover the balance of a loan from a borrower who has stopped making payments to the lender by forcing the sale of the asset used as the collateral for the loan. Formally, a mortg ...
to the OR&N. * Washington and Idaho Railroad was incorporated in 1886 and was also sold at foreclosure to the OR&N in 1896. The Washington and Idaho Railroad operated of track. The O.R.&.N. gained access to Burke, Idaho through the acquisition of the Washington and Idaho Railroad.
Union Pacific The Union Pacific Railroad , legally Union Pacific Railroad Company and often called simply Union Pacific, is a freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Pac ...
continued to operate the Washington and Idaho to
Burke Burke is an Anglo-Norman Irish surname, deriving from the ancient Anglo-Norman and Hiberno-Norman noble dynasty, the House of Burgh. In Ireland, the descendants of William de Burgh (–1206) had the surname ''de Burgh'' which was gaelicised ...
until 1985 after the O.R.&.N. abandoned it in 1936-38. * Idaho Northern Railroad was built as a subsidiary of the O.R.&.N. and was absorbed as a branch-line in 1910.


.Development of the Oregon ''Railway'' and Navigation Company

The Oregon Railway and Navigation Company's purchase of the Oregon Steam Navigation Company in 1880 gave it a partial route on the south (Oregon) side of the Columbia River. The company then pursued expansion of its Columbia River route, surveying from where the Oregon Steam Navigation tracks ended at Celilo and continuing east to
Wallula Wallula () is a census-designated place (CDP) in Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. The population was 179 at the 2010 census. History The Lewis and Clark Expedition reached this area April 27, 1806, on their return journey from the ...
. By 1882 the route along the Columbia River was complete. Starting in 1880, one of the competitors of the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company was the
Shaver Transportation Company The Shaver Transportation Company is an inland water freight transportation company based in Portland, Oregon, Portland, Oregon, United States. The company was founded in 1880 and played a major role in the development of freight transport in the Po ...
.


Blue Mountain route

The company purchased right-of-way in 1882 from
Alfred B. Meacham Alfred Benjamin Meacham (1826–1882) was an American Methodist minister, reformer, author and historian, who served as the U.S. Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Oregon (1869–1872). He became a proponent of American Indian interests in the ...
and John Harvey Meacham, along their
Meacham Road Meacham is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bob Meacham, former Major League Baseball player *Doug Meacham, American football coach *Ellis K. Meacham (1913–1998), author and jurist * F. W. Meacham (1856–1909), American comp ...
through the Blue Mountains. The Meacham road, built in 1862, had a lower pass () than competing roads, and was a corduroy road, allowing it to hold up in poor weather conditions. The railroad was laid in 1884.


Shipping

Before 1879, the Oregon Steamship Company provided passenger service onboard coastal steamships from
San Francisco, California San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...
, to
Portland, Oregon Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous co ...
, while the
Oregon Steam Navigation Company The Oregon Steam Navigation Company (O.S.N.) was an American company Incorporation (business), incorporated in 1860 in Washington (U.S. state), Washington with partners J. S. Ruckle, Henry Olmstead, and J. O. Van Bergen. It was incorporated in Was ...
operated multiple steamboats along the
Columbia River The Columbia River (Upper Chinook: ' or '; Sahaptin: ''Nch’i-Wàna'' or ''Nchi wana''; Sinixt dialect'' '') is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, C ...
. That year, the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company purchased the entirety of both companies, which helped to create a monopoly over transportation in Oregon. The large steamships '' City of Chester'', '' George W. Elder'' and ''
Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
'' were included in the purchase.


''Columbia''

In 1880, the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company accepted delivery of the steamship ''Columbia'' from
John Roach & Sons John Roach & Sons was a major 19th-century American shipbuilding and manufacturing firm founded in 1864 by Irish-American immigrant John Roach. Between 1871 and 1885, the company was the largest shipbuilding firm in the United States, building m ...
in
Chester, Pennsylvania Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located within the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area, it is the only city in Delaware County and had a population of 32,605 as of the 2020 census. Incorporated in 1682, Chester i ...
. ''Columbia'' was innovative for her time as she featured a dynamo that powered electric light bulbs, instead of oil-based lanterns. ''Columbia'' mainly served on the
San Francisco, California San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...
, to
Portland, Oregon Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous co ...
, run in her career. ''Columbia'' remained with the company after the Union Pacific takeover in 1898. The shipping faction of the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company that operated ''Columbia'' was renamed the San Francisco and Portland Steamship Company in 1904. ''Columbia'' was lost on July 20, 1907, following a collision with the
schooner A schooner () is a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig: fore-and-aft rigged on all of two or more masts and, in the case of a two-masted schooner, the foremast generally being shorter than the mainmast. A common variant, the topsail schoon ...
'' San Pedro''.Belyk, Robert C. Great Shipwrecks of the Pacific Coast. New York: Wiley, 2001. Print.


''George W. Elder''

The ''George W. Elder'' was another steamship operated by the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company. Originally an east coast steamer built by
John Roach & Sons John Roach & Sons was a major 19th-century American shipbuilding and manufacturing firm founded in 1864 by Irish-American immigrant John Roach. Between 1871 and 1885, the company was the largest shipbuilding firm in the United States, building m ...
in
Chester, Pennsylvania Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located within the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area, it is the only city in Delaware County and had a population of 32,605 as of the 2020 census. Incorporated in 1682, Chester i ...
, the ''George W. Elder'' was purchased by the
Oregon Steamship Company The Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company (OR&N) was a railroad that operated a rail network of running east from Portland, Oregon, United States, to northeastern Oregon, northeastern Washington, and northern Idaho. It operated from 1896 as a ...
and sailed around
Cape Horn Cape Horn ( es, Cabo de Hornos, ) is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island. Although not the most southerly point of South America (which are the Diego Ramírez ...
to Oregon in 1876. The Oregon Steamship Company later sold the ''George W. Elder'' to the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company. On May 31, 1899, the ''George W. Elder'' left
Seattle, Washington Seattle ( ) is a port, seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the county seat, seat of King County, Washington, King County, Washington (state), Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in bo ...
, carrying 126 passengers and crew on a scientific expedition to
Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
, visiting
Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...
and
British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
along the way. Later that year, the ''George W. Elder'' was used as a troopship in the
Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...
by the
U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...
. The ''George W. Elder'' Continued to operate with the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company until 1904, when it was transferred to the San Francisco and Portland Steamship Company. In 1905, the ''George W. Elder'' struck a rock in the
Columbia River The Columbia River (Upper Chinook: ' or '; Sahaptin: ''Nch’i-Wàna'' or ''Nchi wana''; Sinixt dialect'' '') is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, C ...
and sank into of water. The ship was subsequently raised and acquired by the North Pacific Steamship Company. In 1907, the ''George W. Elder'' helped rescue the survivors of the ''Columbia''. The ultimate fate of the ''George W. Elder'' following its retirement in 1935 remains uncertain.


Other ships

The 1899 Annual Report of Directors for the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company lists 26 or 27 other ships besides the ''Columbia'' and ''George W. Elder'' between June 30, 1898, and June 30, 1899. The fleet listing from June 30, 1898, to June 30, 1899, goes as follows : Steamships *''Columbia'' *''
State of California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
'' *'' City of Chester'' *''
Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
'' *'' George W. Elder'' *''Victorian'' - Reported to have been sold between 1898 and 1899. *'' Olympian'' River Steamers *'' T.J. Potter'' * *''Harvest Queen'' *''D.S. Baker'' *''Sehome'' *''Almota'' *''Emma Hayward'' * (Original) - Removed from service between 1898 and 1899. Reasoning given says ''Hassalo'' was "worn out". *''Modoc'' *''Oklahoma'' *''Elmore'' * *''Gypsy'' *''Lewiston'' *''Spokane'' - Constructed between 1898 and 1899. *''Hassalo'' (Later) - Constructed between 1898 and 1899. Tug boats *''Escort'' *''
Wallowa Wallowa may refer to: Places *Wallowa, Oregon *Wallowa County, Oregon *Wallowa Lake *Wallowa Lake State Park *Wallowa Mountains *Wallowa River Other *''Acacia calamifolia'', a shrub or tree *''Acacia euthycarpa'', a shrub or tree * ''The Wallo ...
'' - Constructed in 1889 and still exists today. Barges *''Columbia's Chief'' *''Atlas'' *''Wyatchie'' *''Autocrat'' *''Siwash''


Predecessors of the Oregon ''Railway'' and Navigation Company

*
Oregon Steam Navigation Company The Oregon Steam Navigation Company (O.S.N.) was an American company Incorporation (business), incorporated in 1860 in Washington (U.S. state), Washington with partners J. S. Ruckle, Henry Olmstead, and J. O. Van Bergen. It was incorporated in Was ...
was incorporated in 1862 in Portland. It operated steamships between
San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...
and ports along the
Columbia River The Columbia River (Upper Chinook: ' or '; Sahaptin: ''Nch’i-Wàna'' or ''Nchi wana''; Sinixt dialect'' '') is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, C ...
at Astoria, Portland, and
The Dalles The Dalles is the largest city of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The population was 16,010 at the 2020 census, and it is the largest city on the Oregon side of the Columbia River between the Portland Metropolitan Area, and Hermiston ...
, serving the
lumber Lumber is wood that has been processed into dimensional lumber, including beams and planks or boards, a stage in the process of wood production. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing (floors, wall panels, wi ...
and
salmon Salmon () is the common name for several list of commercially important fish species, commercially important species of euryhaline ray-finned fish from the family (biology), family Salmonidae, which are native to tributary, tributaries of the ...
fishing industries. The company built the railroad to serve the
steamship A steamship, often referred to as a steamer, is a type of steam-powered vessel, typically ocean-faring and seaworthy, that is propelled by one or more steam engines that typically move (turn) propellers or paddlewheels. The first steamships ...
operation. The Oregon Steam Navigation Company was sold to Oregon Railway and Navigation in 1880. *Oregon Steam Navigation Company (of Washington) was incorporated in 1860 to operate via land along a portion of the
Columbia River The Columbia River (Upper Chinook: ' or '; Sahaptin: ''Nch’i-Wàna'' or ''Nchi wana''; Sinixt dialect'' '') is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, C ...
that was unnavigable by steamship because of the rapids. The railroad operated from The Dalles to
Celilo Falls Celilo Falls (Wyam, meaning "echo of falling water" or "sound of water upon the rocks," in several native languages) was a tribal fishing area on the Columbia River, just east of the Cascade Mountains, on what is today the border between the U.S. ...
. *
Oregon Portage Railroad The Oregon Portage Railroad was the first railroad in the U.S. state of Oregon. It originally ran for , with an accompanying of telegraph line, and was later extended to a length of . The railroad was located on the south bank of the Cascades ca ...
operated of track between Bonneville (on the Columbia River) and Cascade (
Cascade Locks, Oregon Cascade Locks is a city in Hood River County, Oregon, United States. The city took its name from a set of locks built to improve navigation past the Cascades Rapids of the Columbia River. The U.S. federal government approved the plan for the l ...
) from 1858 to 1863. The railroad hauled primarily military and immigrant traffic. In 1862 the railroad was sold to the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company for $155,000. *
Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company The Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company operated a Narrow gauge railways, narrow gauge railroad that ran for over forty years from the Columbia Bar, bar of the Columbia River up the Long Beach Peninsula to Nahcotta, Washington, on Willapa Bay ...
ran a narrow gauge rail line on the
Long Beach Peninsula The Long Beach Peninsula is an arm of land on the southern coast of the state of Washington in the United States. Entirely within Pacific County, it is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, the south by the Columbia River, and the east by Wi ...
from
Ilwaco Ilwaco ( ) is a city in Pacific County, Washington, United States. The population was 936 at the 2010 census. Founded in 1890, the city was home to the Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company along the Long Beach Peninsula, with its core economy b ...
in the south, to Nahcotta in the north, with steamboat connections at both ends. In 1900, the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company bought a controlling interest in the company.


See also

*
Colgate Hoyt Colgate Hoyt (March 2, 1849 – January 30, 1922) was an American businessman active in the late nineteenth century. Early life Hoyt was born on March 2, 1849, in Cleveland, Ohio. He was one of six children born to Mary Ella ( née Beebe) Hoyt ( ...
* Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company 197 * Idaho Northern - Absorbed into OR&N in 1910. * Henry W. Corbett


References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Oregon Railroad Navigation Company Former Class I railroads in the United States Predecessors of the Union Pacific Railroad Steamboats of the Columbia River Defunct Idaho railroads Defunct Oregon railroads Defunct Washington (state) railroads Defunct transportation companies of the United States History of transportation in Oregon Columbia River Railway companies established in 1896 Railway companies disestablished in 1910 1896 establishments in Oregon 1910 disestablishments in Oregon Defunct companies based in Oregon 1898 mergers and acquisitions Transportation companies based in Oregon