Oregon, Washington and Idaho Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Oregon, Washington and Idaho Railroad built a 72.03 miles (115.9 km) rail line along the right (north) bank of the Snake River
between Riparia, Washington and Lewiston, Idaho
. The company was incorporated in Oregon
on August 8, 1903, and began operating its completed line on July 7, 1908 as an operating subsidiary
of the Union Pacific Railroad
(UP), which also controlled the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company
(OR&N) through Riparia. A portion of the preliminary work had been done by the Snake River Valley Railroad
, which built a completed line along the Snake River below Riparia. Beginning on December 3, 1909, the Camas Prairie Railroad
, a joint subsidiary of the OR&N and Northern Pacific Railway
(NP), began operating the Oregon, Washington and Idaho Railroad (OW&I) as part of a line between Riparia and Grangeville, Idaho
, including segments owned by the NP and subdidiary Clearwater Short Line Railway. On December 23, 1910, the property of the OW&I was conveyed to new UP subsidiary Oregon–Washington Railroad and Navigation Company, successor to the OR&N, but the Camas Prairie Railroad continued to operate it as agent.
In 1998, the Camas Prairie Railroad was spun off to new shortline Camas Prairie RailNet, which bought the Riparia–Lewiston line from the Union Pacific Railroad. In 2004 the Great Northwest Railroad replaced Camas Prairie RailNet as owner and operator of the line.
Snake River
The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
between Riparia, Washington and Lewiston, Idaho
Lewiston, Idaho
Lewiston is a city in and also the county seat of Nez Perce County in the Pacific Northwest state of Idaho. It is the second-largest city in the northern Idaho region, behind Coeur d'Alene and ninth-largest in the state. Lewiston is the principal city of the Lewiston, ID - Clarkston, WA...
. The company was incorporated in 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...
on August 8, 1903, and began operating its completed line on July 7, 1908 as an operating subsidiary
Operating subsidiary
An operating subsidiary is a business term frequently used within the United States in corporate profile descriptions. In the railroad industry, for example, it refers to a company that is a subsidiary but operates with its own identity and rolling stock...
of the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
(UP), which also controlled the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company
Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company
The Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company was a railroad that operated a rail network of of track running east from Portland, Oregon, United States to northeastern Oregon, northeastern Washington, and northern Idaho...
(OR&N) through Riparia. A portion of the preliminary work had been done by the Snake River Valley Railroad
Snake River Valley Railroad
The Snake River Valley Railroad built a rail line on the left bank of the Snake River between Wallula and Grange City, Washington, United States, a distance of . The company was incorporated in Oregon on March 3, 1898, and opened its line, operated by the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company ,...
, which built a completed line along the Snake River below Riparia. Beginning on December 3, 1909, the Camas Prairie Railroad
Camas Prairie Railroad
Camas Prairie Railroad Company was a short line railroad in northern Idaho jointly owned and operated by Northern Pacific Railway and Union Pacific Railroad. The Camas Prairie Railroad was known as the "railroad on stilts" due to the many wooden trestles. In one five mile stretch, there were...
, a joint subsidiary of the OR&N and Northern Pacific Railway
Northern Pacific Railway
The Northern Pacific Railway was a railway that operated in the west along the Canadian border of the United States. Construction began in 1870 and the main line opened all the way from the Great Lakes to the Pacific when former president Ulysses S. Grant drove in the final "golden spike" in...
(NP), began operating the Oregon, Washington and Idaho Railroad (OW&I) as part of a line between Riparia and Grangeville, Idaho
Grangeville, Idaho
Grangeville is the largest city in and the county seat of Idaho County, Idaho, United States, in the west central part of the state. It had a population of 3,141 at the 2010 census.- Culture :...
, including segments owned by the NP and subdidiary Clearwater Short Line Railway. On December 23, 1910, the property of the OW&I was conveyed to new UP subsidiary Oregon–Washington Railroad and Navigation Company, successor to the OR&N, but the Camas Prairie Railroad continued to operate it as agent.
In 1998, the Camas Prairie Railroad was spun off to new shortline Camas Prairie RailNet, which bought the Riparia–Lewiston line from the Union Pacific Railroad. In 2004 the Great Northwest Railroad replaced Camas Prairie RailNet as owner and operator of the line.