[freebeard]

Oregon's Interurban History: Found Largely To The Northwest

Oregon contained a rather substantial network of interurban and streetcar systems, most of which were located in the Willamette Valley. As Drs. George Hilton and John Due note in their book, "The Electric Interurban Railways In America," the state boasted 432 miles of interurbans.

Most of this was operated by the Oregon Electric Railway; its main line stretched 110 miles from Portland to Eugene and operated a total of 190 miles. There was also the Portland Traction, Willamette Valley Southern Railway, United Railways, Southern Oregon Traction Company, and even an electrified branch maintained by the Southern Pacific which acted as an interurban.

Electric interurbans ran on both sides of the Willamette River. One was two miles (walking distance) from where I grew up, 20 years prior.