Nevada-California-Oregon Railway
Encyclopedia
The Nevada–California–Oregon Railway was a narrow gauge
railroad originally planned to connect Reno
, Nevada
to the Columbia River
. However, only 238 mi (383 km) of track were laid so service never extended beyond Lakeview
, Oregon
. Because of the company’s reputation for mismanagement, it was often called the "Narrow, Crooked & Ornery" railroad.
. It was decided that the best plan was to build north to the Columbia River to service cattle ranches and farms in northeastern California
and eastern Oregon
. The northern terminus was to be The Dalles, Oregon
since that city was located on the Columbia River and had no eastern or southern rail connections at that time.
The company decided to lay narrow gauge track because it was cheaper than standard gauge
construction. Site survey and grading work for the railroad began in December 1880. The first spike was driven in Reno on May 28, 1881. However, the company was short of money so construction was slow. In addition, the board of directors was plagued by corruption and intrigue. One board meeting actually ended with a gun fight between two members. For a period of time, there were two separate boards of directors trying to run the company.
The railroad reached Oneida, California, 30 mi (48.3 km) north of Reno, on October 2, 1882. Regular service between the two cities began a month later. However, track construction remained slow, and the company’s business problems continued to grow. The Moran Brothers bank in New York was the company’s largest investor. In April 1884, the bank took full control of the railroad, purchasing the company at a court ordered auction for just over $372,000. The company spent the next few years improving existing lines and trying to build up local business.
On January 1, 1893, the name of the railroad was changed to the Nevada–California–Oregon.
The next northward extension commenced in 1899. In April 1902, the line reached Madeline, California. The tracks were extended to Likely, California, in October 1907; Alturas, California
, in December 1908; and finally, Lakeview, Oregon
, on 10 January 1912. The company planned to continue north through Prineville, Oregon
, to The Dalles, with separate branches running west to Klamath Falls
and on to the Rogue River Valley, and over the Cascade Mountains to Eugene, Oregon
, in the Willamette Valley
. However, no further construction ever took place.
Financially, the railroad's best year was 1913, but decline followed quickly. In 1917, the company began selling branch lines in California. The next year, the Reno station was closed, and the company headquarters and maintenance shop were relocated to Alturas. By 1922, the railroad was in serious financial trouble, and the Moran Bank wanted out of the business. On April 30, 1925, the Southern Pacific Company purchased the company. By 1928, Southern Pacific had converted all the remaining Nevada–California–Oregon track to standard gauge
and sold its narrow gauge equipment. Several locomotives subsequently ran on the former Carson and Colorado Railroad
. One was sold to the Pacific Coast Railway
, and later passed to the Oahu Railway and Land Company
during World War II.
On October 20, 1985, Southern Pacific abandoned the 54.45 mile section between Lakeview, Oregon
and Alturas, California
, which is now operated by Lake County Oregon as the Lake County Railroad
, running about 20 cars per week in two trips per week. At Alturas it joins with Union Pacific.
in Reno
and Lakeview. A smaller stone masonry station was constructed in Alturas. All three passenger depots still exist, and are listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places
along with the locomotive house and machine shop
in Reno. The N-C-O railway office in Alturas and the depot at Lakeview are examples of the 1880s style of architecture known as Mission Revival. The features include solid massive walls with buttressing, broad unadorned wall surfaces, wide projecting eaves, low-pitched tile roofs,corridors with Roman aqueduct-like arches, terraced bell towers and mission belfry facades. (See The Journal of the Modoc County Historical Society, No. 11, 1989.) The style showed up at Stanford University, the Southern Pacific depot in Santa Barbara and the Mission Inn in Riverside. The architect for the N-C-O buildings was Carl Werner of San Francisco.
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
railroad originally planned to connect Reno
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
to the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
. However, only 238 mi (383 km) of track were laid so service never extended beyond Lakeview
Lakeview, Oregon
Lakeview is a city in Lake County, Oregon, United States. The population was 2,294 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Lake County. Although it is an incorporated city, the municipal government refers to the community as "The Town of Lakeview", and bills itself as "Tallest Town in Oregon"...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. Because of the company’s reputation for mismanagement, it was often called the "Narrow, Crooked & Ornery" railroad.
History
The railroad was organized in Reno in June 1880 as the Nevada and Oregon RailroadNevada and Oregon Railroad
The Nevada and Oregon Railroad was an American narrow gauge railroad that operated from Reno, Nevada then northwest to the California state line near present day Hallelujah Junction. A portion of the route is part of today's Union Pacific Railroad branch connecting their Feather River mainline...
. It was decided that the best plan was to build north to the Columbia River to service cattle ranches and farms in northeastern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and eastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon is the eastern part of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is not an officially recognized geographic entity, thus the boundaries of the region vary according to context. It is sometimes understood to include only the eight easternmost counties in the state; in other contexts, it includes...
. The northern terminus was to be The Dalles, Oregon
The Dalles, Oregon
The Dalles is the largest city and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The name of the city comes from the French word dalle The Dalles is the largest city and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The name of the city comes from the French word dalle The Dalles is...
since that city was located on the Columbia River and had no eastern or southern rail connections at that time.
The company decided to lay narrow gauge track because it was cheaper than standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
construction. Site survey and grading work for the railroad began in December 1880. The first spike was driven in Reno on May 28, 1881. However, the company was short of money so construction was slow. In addition, the board of directors was plagued by corruption and intrigue. One board meeting actually ended with a gun fight between two members. For a period of time, there were two separate boards of directors trying to run the company.
The railroad reached Oneida, California, 30 mi (48.3 km) north of Reno, on October 2, 1882. Regular service between the two cities began a month later. However, track construction remained slow, and the company’s business problems continued to grow. The Moran Brothers bank in New York was the company’s largest investor. In April 1884, the bank took full control of the railroad, purchasing the company at a court ordered auction for just over $372,000. The company spent the next few years improving existing lines and trying to build up local business.
On January 1, 1893, the name of the railroad was changed to the Nevada–California–Oregon.
The next northward extension commenced in 1899. In April 1902, the line reached Madeline, California. The tracks were extended to Likely, California, in October 1907; Alturas, California
Alturas, California
Alturas is the county seat of Modoc County, California, United States. Alturas is located on the Pit River, east of the center of Modoc County, at an elevation of 4370 feet...
, in December 1908; and finally, Lakeview, Oregon
Lakeview, Oregon
Lakeview is a city in Lake County, Oregon, United States. The population was 2,294 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Lake County. Although it is an incorporated city, the municipal government refers to the community as "The Town of Lakeview", and bills itself as "Tallest Town in Oregon"...
, on 10 January 1912. The company planned to continue north through Prineville, Oregon
Prineville, Oregon
Prineville is a city in and the county seat of Crook County, Oregon, United States. It was named for the first merchant located in the present location, Barney Prine. The population was 9,253 at the 2010 census.- History :...
, to The Dalles, with separate branches running west to Klamath Falls
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Klamath Falls is a city in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. Originally called Linkville when George Nurse founded the town in 1867, after the Link River on whose falls this city sat, although no falls currently exist; the name was changed to Klamath Falls in 1892...
and on to the Rogue River Valley, and over the Cascade Mountains to Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
, in the Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
. However, no further construction ever took place.
Financially, the railroad's best year was 1913, but decline followed quickly. In 1917, the company began selling branch lines in California. The next year, the Reno station was closed, and the company headquarters and maintenance shop were relocated to Alturas. By 1922, the railroad was in serious financial trouble, and the Moran Bank wanted out of the business. On April 30, 1925, the Southern Pacific Company purchased the company. By 1928, Southern Pacific had converted all the remaining Nevada–California–Oregon track to standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
and sold its narrow gauge equipment. Several locomotives subsequently ran on the former Carson and Colorado Railroad
Carson and Colorado Railroad
The Carson and Colorado Railway was a U.S. narrow gauge railroad that ran from Mound House, Nevada, to Keeler, California below the Cerro Gordo Mines. It was incorporated on May 10, 1880 as the Carson and Colorado Railroad, and construction on the railroad began on May 31, 1880. A track gauge of ...
. One was sold to the Pacific Coast Railway
Pacific Coast Railway
The Pacific Coast Railway is a defunct narrow gauge railway in the Central Coast of California. Not to be confused with the Pacific Coast Railroad Company, a tourist operation in nearby Santa Margarita, California, near Atascadero which has operated since 2000.Originally a 10 mile link from San...
, and later passed to the Oahu Railway and Land Company
Oahu Railway and Land Company
The Oahu Railway and Land Company, or OR&L, was a narrow gauge common carrier railroad that served much of the Hawaiian island of Oahu until its dissolution in 1947.-Origin:...
during World War II.
On October 20, 1985, Southern Pacific abandoned the 54.45 mile section between Lakeview, Oregon
Lakeview, Oregon
Lakeview is a city in Lake County, Oregon, United States. The population was 2,294 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Lake County. Although it is an incorporated city, the municipal government refers to the community as "The Town of Lakeview", and bills itself as "Tallest Town in Oregon"...
and Alturas, California
Alturas, California
Alturas is the county seat of Modoc County, California, United States. Alturas is located on the Pit River, east of the center of Modoc County, at an elevation of 4370 feet...
, which is now operated by Lake County Oregon as the Lake County Railroad
Lake County Railroad
The Lake County Railroad , based in Lakeview, Oregon, United States, is owned by the Lake County government and operated by the Modoc Northern Railroad. It runs south from Lakeview to Alturas, California, and then back every Thursday...
, running about 20 cars per week in two trips per week. At Alturas it joins with Union Pacific.
Stations
The Nevada–California–Oregon Railroad built classic brick depotsTrain station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
in Reno
Nevada-California-Oregon Railroad Depot
The Nevada-California-Oregon Railroad Depot was built by the Nevada-California-Oregon Railway in 1910 in Reno, Nevada. It is Nevada Historical Marker number 210. It is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places....
and Lakeview. A smaller stone masonry station was constructed in Alturas. All three passenger depots still exist, and are listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
along with the locomotive house and machine shop
Nevada-California-Oregon Railway Locomotive House and Machine Shop
The Nevada-California-Oregon Railway Locomotive House and Machine Shop was built by the Nevada-California-Oregon Railway in 1889 in Reno, Nevada....
in Reno. The N-C-O railway office in Alturas and the depot at Lakeview are examples of the 1880s style of architecture known as Mission Revival. The features include solid massive walls with buttressing, broad unadorned wall surfaces, wide projecting eaves, low-pitched tile roofs,corridors with Roman aqueduct-like arches, terraced bell towers and mission belfry facades. (See The Journal of the Modoc County Historical Society, No. 11, 1989.) The style showed up at Stanford University, the Southern Pacific depot in Santa Barbara and the Mission Inn in Riverside. The architect for the N-C-O buildings was Carl Werner of San Francisco.
Further reading
- Myrick, David. Railroads of Nevada and Eastern California (Vol. 1). Howell-North Books, 1962.