Background
• 1. The Oregon Central Railroad (East Side) 20.08 miles from east Portland south to New Era, Oregon, was incorporated April
22, 1867, built during 1868 and 1869, and reached New Era December 24, 1869, although it was not opened to traffic until after
sold to the O&C on March 29, 1870.
•2. The Oregon Central Railroad (West Side) 46.80 miles from Portland via Gaston to St. Joseph was incorporated November
17, 1866, and constructed between April 15, 1868, and November 3, 1872. Despite the similarity of names, this was a rival
of the east side company. It was operated by its own organization from the time the first section was put in operation -
December 1871 - to September 1, 1879, although it had come under control of the O&C on July 2, 1870, and from that date until
October 6, 1880, by the Western Oregon Railroad as lessee. It was sold to the O&C October 6, 1880. This section of track
later formed a part of the Southern Pacific's electric interurban service in Oregon which started in 1912 and 1913. The section
between Bertha (near Portland) and Beaverton, 5.92 miles, was abandoned in 1932. [Guy Dunscomb, A CENTURY OF SOUTHERN PACIFIC
STEAM LOCOMOTIVES, 1862-1962 (Modesto, California: 1967), p. 395]
Restrictions
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holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.