Backwoods Railroads: Branchlines and Shortlines of Western Oregon

Today, a freight train rolling over a rural feeder track on its way to or from a western Oregon railroad town is almost an anachronism. Routes may host only one train a day, or two trains a week, but still provide an economic lifeline for a number of businesses. These evolving branchlines and shortlines are taken out of service, sold or leased to new owners, and sometimes abandoned. Many are endangered, and once gone will be gone forever.

Originally published in 1994, and now updated with ne...