Sometimes known as the “Multnomah–Upper Albina” line in its early years before settling on the names of the two streets that defined the two ends of its unique trackage. Originally, the line was meant to be the start of a grand line up the Peninsula to compete with the City & Suburban’s St. Johns line, but these plans never eventuated due to a merging of the two companies. See the page for the never-built Peninsula line for more information.

In 1912, the Portland Railway, Light & Power Company exercised old franchise rights from that Peninsula extension to construct a short stub up Maryland Avenue from the Russell-Shaver line to N Prescott Street. This seems to have been in response to George F. Heusner applying for a standard-gauge franchise from Portland to Vancouver that also would have used Maryland Avenue as part of its route. Although their franchise had a common-user clause, the PRL&P extension can only be seen as an attempt to stymie Mr. Heusner’s plans. Almost as soon as the Heusner line was defeated by a city-wide vote, PRL&P promptly asked for the extension (which was operated as a stub line just 1,100 feet long!) to be abandoned.

The line was abandoned in April, 1937.

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