Sometimes called the “City View Park Railway Company” after the park in Sellwood that would have been near the southern terminus of the line.

An early attempt at an interurban street railway to Sellwood, though using steam dummies as its motive power instead of electricity. Rights-of-way were gained from the city of East Portland and Multnomah County and some track was laid southwards along Fifth street, V street and Seventh street [SE Grand Avenue, SE Market Street, and SE 7th Avenue].

However, the track was laid without any regard for other users of the street, and discontent with the company grew until the track was deliberately sabotaged by persons unknown – although newspapers reasonably suspected that property-owners along the affected roads may have been involved.

On top of this setback, the manufacturers of the rail that had been laid – the Pacific Rolling Mills of San Francisco – demanded payment in full for their material. The company was unable to pay, and their property was sold at auction in June 1885. Shortly thereafter, all the track was torn out and sold.

The City of East Portland’s street commissioner, Charles Bartel, purchased the company’s franchise at the auction for just $100 and held onto it until 1887, when he sold the franchise to the Sellwood & Vancouver Railway Company for $1000 – a very tidy profit!

Lines

• Some track laid, but no line operated under this franchise.

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