Stephen Carver’s attempt at gaining railway access to the Portland market. The company was originally formed to build a line from Oregon City to Portland that would have acted as a connecting link for the Clackamas Southern Railway Company, who were constructing a line from Oregon City south through Molalla toward Mount Angel or Silverton.

Carver’s plans changed once the Portland Railway, Light & Power Company became financially invested in the Clackamas Southern. That company reorganized as the Willamette Valley Southern, and Carver instead turned his attention to building a line from Portland to his townsite on the Clackamas River at Baker’s Bridge (this town would eventually be renamed “Carver” after its founder). A franchise for an extensive network of streetcar lines within Portland was also sought by the company in April 1914, but does not seem to have been granted.

The Portland & Oregon City was determined to not share track with PRL&P despite there being a common-carrier clause in PRL&P’s franchise, instead opting to forge a new route into Portland through East Milwaukie and Brooklyn. This led to many delays as property owners vociferously protested at the routes proposed through their neighborhoods. A meandering route which threaded its way through PRL&P’s existing lines to Hawthorne and East Third was eventually selected and constructed, but the problems didn’t end there.

Steam locomotives had been used on the outer end of the line, but these were not permitted within Portland city limits under the terms of the franchise. Unable to procure electric power, Carver jury-rigged a gas bus with flanged wheels and ran that as his one and only passenger car along the line. Service was erratic at best, and the condition of the rails deteriorated rapidly. The City of Portland began seriously considering revoking the company’s franchise in 1922 after years of non-compliance with the franchise and non-payment of taxes.

Mr. Carver was ousted as president of the company in February 1919, with F. M. Carr taking his place. The company even posted advertisements in newspapers asserting that Mr. Carver was no longer associated in any way with the company. However, by August 1920, he was back in charge, and by 1922 he was operating the line and company entirely by himself as a cost-saving measure. An extension past Carver to the rich timber land near Viola was commenced at this time, but construction was slow.

The company reorganized as the Portland Southern Railway in February 1923, attempting to reinvent itself as a logging railroad, but fared little better.

Lines

• “Carver Line” (1915–1928)
• Portland–Oregon City (Never Built)

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