The cable car line that reached famously reached Portland Heights via a massive incline, as seen in the photograph above. The Portland Cable Railway Company was founded in 1887, but the line did not open for service until February 1890 due to problems with raising capital and finding contractors for the work.
See also: Alder Street (1890–1896); City Park (1892–1901*)
| Important Dates: | February 22, 1890 – Line opens from Front & Alder to 15th (now 18th) & Spring. February 23, 1890 – First major accident on the line as a car fails to grip the cable. June 15, 1890 – Position of turntable at 15th and Spring adjusted to be on flat land to allow cars to grip the cable before the steep descent was commenced. August 10, 1890 – Line extended north to Fifth & H [now NW Hoyt]. September 1891 – Line extended north again to Fifth & I [now NW Irving]. November 3, 1891 – Line extended south to SW Spring and 21st. May 1, 1896 – Cable line truncated to 18th & Jefferson at its northern end. July 24, 1904 – Line abandoned in favor of new Portland Heights trolley service. | | --- | --- | | Operating Companies: | ‣ ‣ ‣ ‣ | | Succeeded By: | City Park (1892–1901*) ‣ ‣ | | Gauge: | Narrow (3-feet, 6-inches) | | Headboard: | “Alder, Fifth, Jefferson and Fifteenth/Chapman Sts.” above windows on side; “Portland Heights” on dash. | | Car Barn: | ‣ |