The first long-distance electric interurban line in the United States, made possible by the hydroelectric plant on the Willamette Falls at Oregon City. The line originally ran along the route of what would later be the Sellwood city streetcar line within the city of Portland, before being rerouted along the waterfront Springwater Division in November 1904.
In September 1956, construction for new approaches for the third Morrison Bridge cut the interurban lines short of crossing the Willamette to the west side, with service terminating at SE First and Hawthorne.
The Oregon City line was one of the last passenger traction lines to be abandoned when the Portland Traction Company abruptly (and possibly illegally) ended service on January 25, 1958.
Freight service on the branch was abandoned in favor of operations via the parallel Southern Pacific main line track on March 25, 1968.
| Important Dates: | November 2, 1891 – Line opens to the Brooklyn School. June 7, 1892 - Line opens to Sellwood. August 13, 1892 - Line opens to Milwaukie. February 16, 1893 - Line opens to Oregon City. May 6, 1902 - Line extended to Canemah. November 1, 1904 - Line rerouted via Sellwood cut-off; Sellwood line becomes a stand-alone city streetcar line. September 17, 1956 - West side service over the Hawthorne Bridge ends. January 25, 1958 - Final abandonment of passenger service. | | --- | --- | | Operating Companies: | ‣ ‣ ‣ ‣ ‣ ‣ | | Gauge: | Standard (4-feet, 8.5-inches) | | Headboard: | “Oregon City” | | Car Barns: | ‣ ‣ ‣ |