NW TRACTION HISTORY: 
Portland, Oregon

Portland Car # 506

Portland Car #504

Portland Car # 806

Snow Sweeper 1455

Oregon's Economic center had a huge streetcar system and was served by several Interurban systems. Many people may be surprised that the current MAX Light Rail system sits on portions of two different interurban right of ways. Several former Portland cars have been preserved, 3 of them are in the OERHS collection.

To the left are a few vintage photos of Portland's streetcars and interurbans. For more photos and information I would suggest that you visit OERHS Member Dick Thompson website on Vintage Trolleys. He has created a route by route history of Portland streetcars. 

NEW: See Portland's Trolley past peeking through the pavement, and other trolley remnants in our new feature. Portland's Trolley Past Today

For more resources you may also want to consult your local library for these other book which capture Portland's streetcars.

Ed Austin, Tom Dill, The Southern Pacific in Oregon, Pacific Fast Mail, Edmonds WA 1993

Edwin D. Culp, Early Oregon Days, Caxton Printers LTD, Caldwell ID 1987

Edwin D. Culp, Stations West, the Story of the Oregon Railways, Caxton Printers LTD, Caldwell, ID 1982

John T. Labbe, Fares Please, Those Portland Trolley Years, Caxton Printers LTD., Caldwell, ID 1982

Randall V. Mills, "Early electric Interurbans in Oregon Part 2, the Oregon Electric and Southern Pacific Systems", Oregon Historical Quarterly, vol. 44 # 4 (12/1943), pp. 386-410