Western Oregon Railroad
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railroad |
| Founded | 1879-01-27 |
| Defunct | 1880-10-09 |
| Fate | Merged into Oregon and California Railroad |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Oregon |
The Western Oregon Railroad was a rail enterprise based in Oregon, formed by bondholders from the Oregon and California Railroad with the objective of extending the "West Side" route of the Oregon Central Railroad southward toward Corvallis, Oregon. In 1880, all three railroads merged into a single entity. The track segment connecting St. Joseph and Corvallis continues to operate today under the management of the Portland and Western Railroad.
History
In 1872, the "West Side" Oregon Central Railroad completed a 46-mile stretch running from Portland to St. Joseph. The Western Oregon Railroad was officially established on January 27, 1879, with the purpose of extending this line further south. It inaugurated the section between St. Joseph and Corvallis on September 1, 1879. On that same day, it entered into a lease agreement with the Oregon Central Railroad; both companies were financially supported by investors linked to the Oregon and California Railroad.
Subsequently, on October 9, 1880, the Western Oregon Railroad and Oregon Central Railroads merged with the Oregon and California Railroad. This latter company remained under the umbrella of the Southern Pacific Transportation Company until its official merger in 1927. The combined line from both Western Oregon and Oregon Central became known as the West Side branch. As of 2024, ownership of this route lies with Union Pacific Railroad, while operations are conducted by the Portland and Western Railroad.