Along with sister car “Champoeg,” this car was the pride of the Oregon Electric’s fleet when introduced to the Portland–Salem run on September 12, 1910. For an extra fare, passengers could luxuriate in the opulent carriage – with individual chairs instead of seats – and be served a buffet meal prepared in the car’s own kitchen.
There were actually two cars that bore the “Sacajawea” name – the first was destroyed by a hot water boiler explosion near Eugene on December 30, 1912, and was replaced by a “fine new observation car from the east” in mid-February 1913. Looking through the Oregon Electric’s Authorizations for Expenditures does not show a cost for acquiring a new parlor car, so it can only be presumed that the Niles Car Co. loaned another car to the company while the original car was rebuilt. This renewal was brief, however: “Sacajawea” was totally destroyed by fire at Fellers station on July 28, 1924 and was retired and demolished.
| Year Built: | 1910 |
|---|---|
| Builder: | Niles Car & Manufacturing Company, Niles, Ohio |
| Trucks: | Two, standard-gauge, Baldwin 78-30B |
| Motors: | Four, GE-73 (75-hp each) |
| Brakes: | Westinghouse, air |
| Dimensions: | Length: 62 ft 1-3/4 in; Width: 9 ft 6 in; Weight: body 37,000 lb, total 88,700 lb |
| Seating: | 24 (21 seats, 1 sofa) in parlor compartment; 9 (6 seats, 1 sofa) in smoking compartment |
| Years of Service: | September 12, 1910-July 28, 1924 (rebuilt in 1913) |