| The yard as it appeared back in 2002. photos: 2002 |
| Left photo: No. 801 in pristine new paint and Molalla Western markings in 1993, just after it was purchased and painted by Mr. Samuels. Photo by John Bauer, Rob Jacox collection, Courtesy of Western Rails Right photo: Courtesy of Greg Brown showing the 801 crossing the Molalla River bridge during the early years of the Molalla Western |
| This picture taken near Canby, Oregon in 1930 shows Southern Pacific steam engine No 2833 getting ready to hook up to a load in the days when Southern Pacific owned this branch. This particular engine would later have a fatal encounter with the Baldwin trestle on the Tillamook branch. It would fall a hundred feet or so through the trestle to its death and the death of the engineer and fireman. This photo was taking in 1930 facing south along Highway 99E, with the locomotive on the east wye, in approximately the same location as the Oregon Pacific locomotive in the above aerial photos. Things have definately changed since then. |
| Mr. Samuels purchased this branch line from the Southern Pacific in 1993. The track and equipment are owned by Mr. Samuels, but the land was leased under extremely long term lease by the Southern Pacific to Mr. Samuels. Like many Oregon short lines during the 1980s and early 1990s, the Southern Pacific was eager to divest itself of the branch line either by selling it or abandoning it. Selling the line was far less complicated and time consuming and they were more than happy when Mr. Samuels offered to purchase it. The Molalla Branch would originally be operated as a separate company under Mr. Samuels ownership and the name, Molalla Western, was selected for the branch line. The primary shipper on the line has always been RSG Forest Products, located in Liberal, towards the end of the line, but early on, there were shippers at the line's original terminus in Molalla. In 1997, Mr. Samuels combined his East Portland operations with the Molalla operations and dropped both the East Portland Traction Company and Molalla Western names in favor of the new Oregon Pacific Railroad company name. By 2003, there were no shippers left in Molalla, so it was decided to embargo the line from Liberal to Molalla. The line is not abandoned and could be reinstated at the expense of rebuilding it, if railroad service justifies it in the future. Approximately 3 miles of track were picked up between Liberal and Molalla, railroad crossing signs were removed and at least one major railroad crossing was paved over for safety reasons. Today, only a few years later, the abandoned section is heavily overgrown. The Oregon Pacific Railroad interchanges traffic from the Molalla Branch in Canby, to the Union Pacific Railroad, which merged with the Southern Pacific in 1996. Traffic is set out on a several mile long siding, along side the UP mainline and picked up or dropped off by the local UP switcher. The Oregon Pacific stores its Molalla Branch locomotives at Liberal under the watchful eye of the security ofthe RSG Forest Products as well as on American Steel property and occasionally at the Canby wye. When locomotives need to be switched out from the East Portland operation, which occasionally happens for maintenance, they deadlined and attached to UP trains as freight between the two operations. The Molalla Branch is rather maintenance intensive. It differs from the East Portland branch in that it has multiple bridges and crossings that need to be maintained. Three major bridges along the line exist, including over Canby-Mulino Road, Milk Creek and the Molalla River. Also at least 7 separate road crossings need to be maintained, most of which have crossing guards. This operation is typically run by Mr. Samuels's sons, Tim, Brian and Craig Samuels, who act as engineers, brakemen, conductors, switchmen and maintenance. Recently, the OPR has added a new customer to the line that has dramatically increased traffic and service on the branch. American Steel is located approximately 1 mile south of the Canby and takes in shipments of steel via flatbed and coil cars. A new spur was constructed into the brand new American Steel complex in the summer of 2008. Today, the OPR crew typically switches out American Steel as often as twice a day, Monday through Friday, in addition to the switching at RSG and Willamette Egg as often as 3 days per week. This actually necessitates the use of two locomotives on the branch line, often operated at the same time, with one locomotive switching American Steel and the other taking loads to and from the south end of the branch. The future of this branch appears very secure with the high level of traffic and the prospect of new customers being added near American Steel as the Canby Industrial Park becomes developed with new customers. |
| The interchange at Canby as viewed from the air view maps.live.com. This is the hub between the Union Pacifc and Oregon Pacific railroads on the Molalla Branch. The north end of the Molalla Branch connects to a siding on the Union Pacific, via a wye. Traffic is taken to this siding and left for Union Pacific switching crews to pick up. |
| History of the Oregon Pacific Molalla Branch 1993 - present |
| History of the Southern Pacific Molalla Branch 1913-1993 |
| The Union Pacific interchange at Canby |
| Canby-Mulino Road Overpass |
| Before being purchased by Mr. Samuels, the Molalla Branch was owned by the Southern Pacific. Its history dates as far back as 1912, when the Portland, Eugene & Eastern Railway began construction of the line. A year later, in September, 1913, the line was finished to Molalla and the PE&E fell under the ownership of the Southern Pacific. Maximum grade on the branch line was only 1.1 percent and the line only had two curves and two major river crossings, including the Molalla River. That bridge was originally a covered bridge, but was replaced with the current steel structure sometime after World War Two. The line did cross another railroad at Liberal, called the Willamette Valley Southern. The WVS was constructed in 1915 and operated from Oregon City to Mt. Angel. However, little trace is left of this line because it was abandoned in 1933 and the tracks were pulled up in 1938. Original plans for the Molalla branch was to make it part of the Southern Pacific Red Electric passenger lines and it was to connect, Canby, Liberal and Molalla to the Red Electric service by adding 1 mile of track north of Canby to a proposed Red Electric branch line that was never built. By the 1920s, the end of the Molalla Branch was very close to the Eastern & Western Logging Company's Timber railroad and plans were underway to extend the Molalla Branch to connect with the Eastern & Western to receive shipments. However, the Eastern & Western connected with the Willamette Valley Southern instead and fires wiped out the remaining Eastern & Western holdings before the Southern Pacific could build the extension and compete for the log shipments. Log trains did operate on the Molalla Branch as loggers cut the burnt trees into the late 1930s, after the WVS was abandoned. Logs were loaded at a reload in Molalla. The line served passengers as well, operating 1 round trip, 6 days per week after 1924, but likely cutting back that service sometime in the 1930s. By 1980, the Publisher's Mill in Liberal underwent a complete rebuild with all new modern equipment and became a major shipper on the line. This mill is now owned by RSG Forest Products and still operates today as a major shipper. In the final years of the Southern Pacific ownership from the 1980s through 1993, the line was switched by the SP Oregon City switcher, which operated the line in the late evenings 5 days per week. This was probably cut back in the final years, before Mr. Samuels took over and revitalized the line. Main Source: Southern Pacific in Oregon, Austin/Dill, 1987 Click here to read an account of the railroad in its early years in Molalla. |
| These photos were taken from the only highway overpass on the branch line at Canby Road. This approximately 3/4 mile south of the UP Interchange. Here we see Mr. Samuel's son operating the 802 and taking a single load from Canby to Liberal after having taking a long load from Liberal to Canby earlier in the day. The three left photos are looking north towards Canby. The one photo to the right is looking south towards Liberal. B McCamish Photos: 2006 |
| Canby Road Underpass |
| The photo on the left was taken from the same location by Joyce Peters and shows the northbound 801 with a long load from RSG Forest Products destined for the UP interchange. Left photo shows the overpass from track level. Joyce Peters Photo (left) photo on right taken 2007 |
| This photo was taken at the first major bridge along the line and the only easily accessible bridge. This bridge crosses over Canby-Mulino Road about 1.45 miles south of Canby. The photo on the right is from live.maps.com and shows the bridge from the air. Here, the 802 is taking a single load from Canby to Liberal. photos: 2006 |
| Crossing at Canby-Mulino Road |
| This is just one several guarded crossings along the Molalla Branch, this one located at Canby-Mulino road, a little more than 2 miles south of Canby. photos: 2006 |
| Milk Creek Bridge |
| This guarded grade crossing is on Macksburg Road about 5 miles south of Canby. photos: 2006 |
| The 802 southbound passing near by the historical site of the old Oak Grove School, about 5.5 miles south of Canby. photos: 2006 |
| The bridge over Milk Creek as viewed from the air from live.maps.com. This is about 2.3 miles south of Canby. |
| Molalla River Bridge |
| The original structure was built in 1912 and was a covered bridge shown here on the left. That bridge was replaced sometime after WW2 with a new partly steel bridge that's stillin use today. The rare photo on the left is by Greg Brown taken in the early 1990s when the line still went by the name Molalla Western, here powered by 801 in Molalla Western markings. Right photos: Greg Brown 1993 -- Left Photo: Oregon Historical Society 1940s |
| American Steel - August/September, 2008 NEW - 101MB - 28 minutes long - NEW Molalla Branch Operations - April, 2006 30Mb - 8 minutes long |
| Other Crossings |
| RSG Forest Products in Liberal, Oregon photos: 2006 |
| Liberal OPR Yard |
| The "embargoed" last 2.75 miles and Molalla |
| This photo was taken by Greg Brown in 1993 at Canby, showing the 801 at the interchange during the 1st year of Mr. Samuel's Molalla operation. Greg Brown photo: 1993 |
| This Greg Brown photo appears to show a very rare scene during the first few months of Mr. Sameul's Molalla Western operation in which he borrowed a Southern Pacific switcher to operate the line until he could get his own locomotives on the branch. Southern Pacific No. 2603 was the SP Oregon City switcher, but was left tied up at Canby so Mr. Samuels could use it for several months. Within a few months, the EPTC No. 100 was used on the line, but soon Mr. Samuels purchased the 801 and later the 803 to operate and the No. 100 was returned to Milwaulkie. Greg Brown Photo: 1993 |
| These Greg Brown photos were taken around 1993 and show the No. 100 in action. The 100 is crossing Hwy 213 near the RSG mill. Greg Brown Photos: 1993 |
| Last Update: May 19, 2009 |
| These photos were taken from a speeder run and show from left to right: Looking east on the OPR interchange. The UP mainline is on the left. The UP, interchange track and west leg of the Molalla branch wye. The east and west branches of the Molalla branch wye coming together heading south. And finally, the south switch of the Molalla branch wye. photos: 2007 |
| Canby-Union Hall Road Crossing |
| These photos were taken from a speeder run and show the crossing, south bound. photo: 2007 |
| These photos were taken from a speeder run and show the bridge from grade level, south bound. photos: 2007 |
| These photos were taken from a speeder run and show the crossings and a short siding, south bound. photos: 2007 |
| These photos were taken from a speeder run and show the bridge from grade level, south bound. photos: 2007 |
| These photos were taken from a speeder run and show the bridge from grade level, south bound. photos: 2007 |
| Scenic Views |
| Several photos along the line showing the very scenic country side. Much of the line is unaccessible except via the local farm land that is passes through. photos: 2007 |
| The OPR Liberal Yard is small yard used to store engines and other equipment. These photos taken in 2007. photos: 2007 |
| RSG Forest Products - Liberal, OR |
| These photos were taken from a speeder run and show the approach to the RSG Forest Products Mill, south bound from Canby. photos: 2007 |
| Until the late 1990s, the OPR served several shippers from the end of the line at Molalla. But this changed and OPR was no longer using the last several miles of the branch line. In 2003, it was decided to embargo the line and pull up the rails including taking out a dangerous crossing near Molalla. The line is not officially abandoned and could someday be returned to service if warrented. Today, the line ends about 1/2 mile south of Liberal. The left photo is looking north from near the current end of the line. The right photo is looking south towards the end at Vaughn Rd. photos: 2007 |
| Passing through the RSG mill complex. Note the loading spur inside the mill property. photos, 2007 |
| Passing through the RSG mill complex. photos, 2007 |
| Current Terminus of the Branch |
| American Steel & the Canby Industrial Park (built 2008) |
| The OPR's newest customer is American Steel which just finished building its new facility near Canby, Oregon. This customer will add significant traffic to the Molalla branch and the OPR addeda new lcoomotive, the 901 to serve this customer. In addition, the rest of the Canby Industrial Park, which American Steel was built on, is expected to add new customers that will likely need rail service. To save space on this page, most photos from this project and customer operation can be seen on our new American Steel OPR page. photos: 2008 |
| Some detailed pictures of the bridge taken from the old abandoned logging road bridge to the west of the railroad bridge. photos: 2008 |
| In 1995 arsonists set fire to this bridge and burned about 55 feet of it. Mr. Samuels and his sons repaired it in about 9 days. This appears to be some remaining evidence of the burned structure. The arsonists even laid down nails in the road to prevent fire trucks from reaching the scene. photos: 2008 |
| Date nails on the bridge pilings date to 1937 and 1945, which presumably mean that these particular pilings are 71 and 63 years old but are still holding up well. The bridge is scheduled to undergo a major rebuild from the top of the bents up, including the deck, ties and rails in the near future. photos: 2008 |
| History of the OPR - East Portland Branch - Molalla Branch - Videos of the OPR in Action News & Upcoming Events - Photos of Past Events - Roster of the OPR Special Features |
| American Steel New page of the construction of the American Steel spur and the first revenue move by the 901. Last Update: 9-25-08 |
| In December 2001, the Oregon Pacific Railroad announced that it would close the last three miles of the branch that ended in Molalla. The last freight was shipped from Molalla in 1995 when Brazier Forest Industries closed their stud mill plant. After the closure, crews used the embargoed stretch of the track to store cars. But by 2001 it was clear there would be no new traffic and since the line was costing thousands of dollars in taxes, it was decided to officially close the line. By approximately 2003, the rails and ties were pulled up. Today, a few small sections of rail can still be seen. But the majority of rail and ties are now gone and the grade is overgrown in most places. The grade within the city limits has been used as an unofficial trail by locals with the weeds and brush cut back. All crossings have been paved over, except for one. No crossing guards or gates remain. The line is not officially abandoned. It is only embargoed and could be restored if service was justified, but it would likely require great expense to rebuild almost 3 miles of railroad and at least five crossings The City of Molalla has proprosed to build a trail using the railroad grade as of 2007, but it's unclear if that will happen. |
| Vaughn Road Crossing |
| S. Vick Road Crossing |
| Toliver Road Crossing |
| Heintz Street Crossing |
| Main Street Crossing |
| Section Street Crossing |
| Willamette Egg Feed Mill |
| Abandoned Mill Site |
| The Vick Road crossing is the only remaining crossing with rails still in place, or at least, not paved over and even a crossing sign still left. photos: 2008 |
| Toliver Road is now a neighborhood street and the crossing has since been paved over. Locals have kept the brush clear for use as an unofficial trail. photos: 2008 |
| Main Street Crossing. On the left is the crossing as it appeared in 2008, tracks gone, crossing long since paved over. On the right is one is one of the first runs during the intiital months of Dick Samuel's Molalla Western in 1993. By 1995, the mill shut down and this crossing was no longer used. The crossing was pulled up about 6 years later. Right photo courtesy of Greg Brown. photos: 2008 |
| Heintz Street is also a neighborhood street. photos: 2008 |
| The old mill site as of 2008. Sometime after 1995, the mill here was demolished and today, very little remains, except a giant empty lot. photos: 2008 |
| This is the last crossing, before the grade enters the old mill complex in Molalla. Today, the grade crossing at Section Street is paved over. Looking north, you can see that the scrappers took up the mainline, but left some track of siding still in place. Looking south, the grade going into the abandoned mill complex is now fully overgrown. photos: 2008 |
| At the Main Street crossing, looking north is a rare section of track that was not pulled up. photos: 2008 |
| Vaughn Road is where the Molalla Branch now ends and the embargoed remaining section begins. The orange piece of railroad equipment marks the end of the operational Molalla Branch. The railroad crossing has now been paved over and the road completely rebuilt, leaving no hint of the former grade crossing. Looking south, the grade is very overgrown. photos: 2008 |
| The Satrum-Dybvad Feedmill. Here chicken feed is made for Willamette Egg Farms who then trucks the feed to its farms throughout the community. This is a major customer of the Oregon Pacific Railroad and also the last customer on the line. photos: 2008 |
| Photos of the west leg of the wye, the primary leg, as it crosses 99E, looking north. |
| Special Features |
| Videos Related to the Molalla Branch |
| Locomotives Currently in Active Service on the Molalla Branch |
| Maps of the Molalla Branch |
| OPR 901 Roster Page No. 901 is the newest locomotive in the OPR fleet and is the primary American Steel switcher. |
| OPR 801 Roster Page No. 801 has served on this line since 1993 and is the primary RSG/Willamette Egg switcher |
| OPR 802 Roster Page No. 802 has spent the last several years as the primary Molalla Branch locomotive, but is now in back up service awaiting a full overhaul. |
| Video Tour of the OPR Molalla Branch NEW - 175MB - 32 minutes long - NEW This video was made in the summer of 2008 and is a video tour of the Molalla Branch from the very south end to the north end including the UP/OPR interchange. Footage was shot by cameras mounted on Kevin Novak's motor car speeder. Take a non-stop video tour of the branch in real time. |
| MOLALLA BRANCH of the OREGON PACIFIC RAILROAD |
| These photos were taken of a rare diesel double header near the Canby wye. Richard Samuels photos: 2008 |
| Photo Tour of the Molalla Branch from Canby to Molalla of th |
| Photos of taking a train of loads into the Canby Interchange from the south end of the branch. photos: 2009 |
| The bridge as viewed from a north bound train (engine 801) photos: 2009 |
| Canby Storage Siding (built 2008-2009) |
| The new 800 foot long storage spur just south of the Canby wye on the Molalla Branch. This is one of several new spurs and sidings that the OPR has constructed and plans to construct on the Molalla Branch. The switch for the siding was placed on the mainline about 1/4 mile south of the Canby wye back in October 2008. Worked continued on this project in February. Currently the siding is about half complete, with all new rails, ties and ballast in place. The siding is designed to make switching cars from the three major mills on the branch, easier. photos: 2009 |
| The first five pictures are looking south at the newly completely siding. The far right picture is looking north from the new siding switch. |
| The siding as viewed from a northbound train (engine 801) photos: 2009 |
| Views of the bridge taken from a north bound train (engine 801) photos: 2009 |
| Views of the Molalla River Trestle from a north bound train (engine 801) photos: 2009 |
| Meadows just north of RSG Forest Products mill as viewed from a northbound train. photos: 2009 |
| These Greg Brown photos were taken around 1993 and show the No. 100 in action. 100 is switching cars at Willamette Egg. Greg Brown Photos: 1993 |
| Engine 801 and the crew switching cars at the RSG mill. photos: 2009 |
| Engine 801 and the OPR crew switch out cars at the feed mill. photos: 2009 |
| History of the OPR - East Portland Branch - Molalla Branch - Videos of the OPR in Action News & Upcoming Events - Photos of Past Events - Roster of the OPR Special Features |
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