August 19, 2007 - Unloading the Speeders |
After running the Milwaulkie Branch earlier in the day, the speeders were invited to load up and meet on the Molalla Branch at RSG Forest Products in Liberal, Oregon. RSG Forest Products is one of the primary shippers on the Molalla Branch is located about 1/2 mile inbound from the current terminus of the line in Liberal, Oregon. RSG Forest Products with its street trackage inside the mill complex offered a perfect set down location for the speeders. Once off loaded, RSG allowed the speeder trailers and vehicles to be stored on property during the run. Most employees were off for the weekend, so the mill was not in full operation at the time. |
Speeders unloading at the RSG Forest Products mill in the early afternoon, in preparation for the run along the Liberal Branch. . McCamish photos, August, 2007 |
Last Update: November 28, 2007 |
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On August 18, 2007, the Oregon Pacific Railroad hosted a Speeder event on both branch lines. A number of speeders ran the OPR East Portland Branch in the morning hours. The speeders started out at the OPR Milwualkie shops and ran to the East Portland Yards and back, passing through the Milwaulkie neighborhoods and along side the Willamette River on the more than 116 year old railroad. Later in the day, a very rare event took place. The speeders were invited to run on the OPR Molalla Branch. Due to its more remote location, public events are generally not held on the Molalla Branch and it's strictly used for freight service. But that changed on this day as speeders ran from the RSG Forest Products mill to well inside the Canby City limits and back. The primary focus of this photo page will be that run. Special Thanks to RSG Forest Products for allowing the speeders to offload and store their vehicles and equipment on their property during this run. |
Speeders on the OPR August, 2007 |
August 19, 2007 - Special Barbecue Lunch |
August 19, 2007 - The Molalla Branch Run |
August 19, 2007 - Loading up the Speeders |
From RSG Forest Products, the line runs north to Canby about 7 miles and south about 1/2 mile to the current terminus. Until a few years ago, it continued south another few miles to the city of Molalla. On this day, the run would begin by reversing to the very end of the line as seen above so that the speeders could see the entire branch line. . McCamish photos, August, 2007 |
As part of the invitation to run the Oregon Pacific's two branch lines, Dick and Kelly of the OPR, hosted a barbecue at their home near Canby, OR. Many members of the Speeder club commented to me how they were surprised and happy that the owners of a railroad would go to such effort to make their trip and day this enjoyable. The OPR is a very friendly and community oriented railroad and events like this prove that. McCamish photos, August, 2007 |
From the southern terminus near Vaughn Rd, the speeders headed north back towards RSG and beyond. . McCamish photos, August, 2007 |
Passing north through RSG Forest Products . McCamish photos, August, 2007 |
This photos is in Canby. I took more video than photos on the northbound run, but you'll a lot more photos from the southbound run below. This photo is the end of the east leg of the OPR interchange track in Canby. The track on the right is OPR track, while the track on the left is the Union Pacific Mainline from Portland south to Eugene. . McCamish photos, August, 2007 |
Speeders are now preparing to head west bound on the OPR interchange track. This track is about 1.3 miles long and runs much the length of the City of Canby. McCamish photos, August, 2007 |
A coffee shop near the west end of the interchange track was a welcome break while the speeders waited for a north and south bound UP to pass. . McCamish photos, August, 2007 |
A Northbound UP passes by the speeders on the mainline. . McCamish photos, August, 2007 |
Heading back, east bound on the OPR interchange track. The UP mainline is the track on the left. McCamish photos, August, 2007 |
As we headed east, the west leg of the Molalla branch wye comes into view. The West leg is the leg that is primarily used by the OPR. The east leg is functional, but typically not used. Mr. Samuels himself was on hand to help flag traffic and make sure the gates were down for the speeders to pass safely across 99E. McCamish photos, August, 2007 |
Continuing along the west leg until the switch. Here the switch was lined for the branch line and off we were, southbound on the historic Molalla Branch. McCamish photos, August, 2007 |
The first major bridge structure on the line is this bridge over Mulino-Canby road. The line then passes mile marker 749, which dates back the Southern Pacfic days, when the SP operated this branch line. McCamish photos, August, 2007 |
Here line crosses over Canby-Mulino Road again, but this time at ground level. The OPR stores some equipment near this intersection due the extra space provided by a wide right of way and siding. A short trestle is located just south of the intersection to allow for a local farmer to pass under the tracks. McCamish photos, August, 2007 |
The next major bridge is this structure over Milk Creek about 2.25 miles south of Canby. McCamish photos, August, 2007 |
Line first goes through a fairly deep cut, before crossing its first major intersection at Canby-Union Hall road, and passing through another shallower cut. McCamish photos, August, 2007 |
Most of the branch line passes through beautiful farm country that is generally inaccessible except by private roads and the railroad. McCamish photos, August, 2007 |
The next major bridge is the largest bridge on the line, passing over the Molalla River about 3.5 miles south of Canby. The old bridge on the right is part of a now abandoned logging truck road. Most of that road is now washed out or overgrown. The large bridge in Canby over Highway 99E that the OPR passes under is part of this now abandoned trucked road. McCamish photos, August, 2007 |
Passing through the scenic countryside. McCamish photos, August, 2007 |
Approaching RSG Forest products, Mr Samuels greets the speeders after a successful run. McCamish photos, August, 2007 |
Passing through the RSG mill complex. Note the loading spur inside the mill property. McCamish photos, August, 2007 |
Street track at the south end of the mill. This street track made loading and unloading the speeders a breeze. And this is where our trip ended for the day. Just south of here, the OPR stores its diesels and equipment for the Molalla branch. The line continues another 1/2 mile before ending. Until 2003, the line continued approximately 3.3 miles south of here to Molalla, the city that the branch is named after. But because there were no more shippers in Molalla and several crossing posed problems for traffic, the last few miles of the branch was removed, but remains available to be relaid if ever required. McCamish photos, August, 2007 |
the roof of the cab, where the speeder can also be stored when the couple is pulling a 5th wheel. Very cool! the roof of the cab, where the speeder can also be stored when the couple is pulling a 5th wheel. Very cool!McCamish photos, August, 2007 |
As folks finish up loading their speeders, this marks the end of the day. The run was very successful and plans are to do it again next year! I think everyone had a good time and Mr. Samuels and the OPR was more than happy to accommodate a such nice group of rail fans and their speeders on this rare run on the Molalla Branch. McCamish photos, August, 2007 |
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