Southern Pacific's Cascade Route
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There are three routes I will cover in the SP Cascade picture gallery. The original Siskiyou Line, the Natron Cut-off, and the Modoc Line. The gallery starts in California and moves north, railroad east into Oregon.
The Southern Pacific began to expand northward in California in October 1869. The line from Marysville reached Redding in September 1872. The Oregon & California Railroad Company was building south from Portland and reached Salem in September 1870, Eugene in October 1871, and Roseburg in December 1872. Construction stopped due to financial difficulties, but resumed twelve years later. The Oregon & California Railroad Company was acquired by the SP in July 1887. The lines were finally connected at Ashland in December 1887.
To overcome the steep grades and numerous curves on the Siskiyou Line, the SP built the Natron Cut-off. This line was also started at both ends and built toward the middle. Originally the line east from Eugene was to connect with the Union Pacific near Nampa, Idaho. However, breakup of the Harriman empire stopped construction at Oakridge in 1912. The California portion had reached Klamath Falls in 1909 and stopped at Kirk in 1912. Work resumed in September 1923 and was completed in August 1926. This route was 25 miles shorter than the Siskiyou Line and reduced the maximum grade from 3.3% to 2.2%.
The Nevada California Oregon Railway began construction from Reno in 1888. It reached Alturas in December 1908 and Lakeview in 1912. The Fernley & Lassen Railway crossed the NCO at Wendel, CA in March 1913. SP acquired control of the NCO in 1926 and rebuilt the line from Wendel to Alturas as standard gauge in 1927. The SP extended southeast from Klamath Falls and completed the Modoc Line in September 1929.
CTC was installed in stages. The first was between Redding and Black Butte in 1942, then Eugene to Cascade Summit in 1955, and between Black Butte and Klamath Falls in 1966. The entire route from Portland to Roseville via Klamath Falls now has CTC.
Northern California to Klamath Falls
Oregon California & Eastern
Oregon California & Eastern at Klamath Falls
Modoc Route
Klamath Falls to Eugene
Train CZLAT on the Salt Creek Trestle
Oregon Special at McCredie Springs
Depot at Minnow on Lookout Point Reservoir
Lite engines at Springfield Jct.
Train EUWCM at Springfield Jct.
Gallery