When service commenced on the cable car line on February 22, 1890, it ran from Front and Alder along Alder to Fifth before heading south to Jefferson Street and thence up the steep incline to Portland Heights. The main line wasn’t extended north along Fifth to H street [NW Hoyt] until August 10, 1890.
The Alder Street branch then operated as an integral part of the main line – with cars traveling north up Fifth toward the Union depot taking a detour along Alder to Front on their way. Southbound cars along Fifth continued down to Jefferson street without the detour. In late August 1891, horse cars were temporarily used on the Alder street branch while it was reconfigured to operate as a shuttle line. By late October 1891, a single double-ended cable car began shuttling along Alder between Fifth and Front. The turntable at Front street had been removed; the car simply used gravity to change directions at each end of the short line.
Low ridership meant that service on the branch was suspended in late 1894, and it seems to have remained inactive until being electrified along with the Fifth-street line in July 1896. Electric service initially seems to have been a detour along Alder street and back, but by December 1896 the line had alternating northern termini at Alder and Front and the Union depot.
The Alder Street branch is not mentioned or shown on a mid-1897 promotional map of car lines, so I presume that service along the branch had ended by then. The track was removed and the cable conduit was filled up in August 1898 as part of paving improvements.
See also: Portland Heights – Cable (1890–1904)
| Important Dates: | February 22, 1890 – Portland Heights cable line opens with Alder and Front as its northern terminus. August 10, 1890 – Portland Heights line is extended north to Fifth and H [now NW Hoyt]; northbound cars detour via Alder street. August 30, 1891 – Horse cars used as a shuttle service on the Alder street branch while work is done. Portland Heights cars no longer detour down Alder. Late October, 1891 – A double-ended cable car begins shuttle service on the Alder street branch. Late 1894 – Service on the branch is suspended. July 1896 – The Alder street branch is electrified to become part of the electrified City Park line. | | --- | --- | | Operating Companies: | ‣ ‣ ‣ ‣ | | Succeeded By: | ‣ | | Gauge: | Narrow (3-feet, 6-inches) | | Headboard: | | | Car Barn: | ‣ |