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PORTLAND & WESTERN’S TUALATIN CROSSING Cornelius Pass BY ROBERT W. SCOTT/PHOTOS AS NOTED E


NGINEER MATT ADAMS has run over this route more times than he can count. Working for


Genesee & Wyoming’s


shortline Portland & Western Railroad, Matt, a Maryland native, has called the northwest his home for the past ten years. It’s the variety of railroading for the P&W that he likes, and running over the Cornelius Pass line has more variety in one short run than most shortline railroads have in their entire system. As the conductor climbs aboard, Adams


kicks off the air and notches out the throttle of his two SD40-2s and begin to pull out of North Plains, Ore., on the climb north up to the top of the grade. “Depending on the ton- nage, we are required to set retainers on the


cars for the steep descent down grade,” says Adams. “Today we have retainers set and will still use a good set of air along with the dynos. It looks like it might be a dicey run today,” he remarks, looking out through rain-streaked windows at the dark gray skies. “Wet rail is not too friendly.” In addition to the rain, autumn is in full swing so the newly fallen leaves that may accumulate along the rails will also have to be dealt with. The two SD40-2s lurch slightly as the slack in the train behind pulls out. A snap of air is heard as Matt pulls open the sander valve. The steady cadence of the twin 645 diesel mo- tors is generating 6000 horsepower, and the units quickly have the train working their


way up the grade. The amp meter bounces between 1200 and 1400. On the drawbar be- hind are 58 loaded bulkhead and spine cars of Pacific Northwest Douglas fir.


Located just a few miles outside Portland, Ore., the Cornelius Pass line is steeped in railroad history and today incorporates the rights-of-way of three previous railroads; Southern Pacific, United Railways (owned by Spokane Portland & Seattle starting in 1910 but retaining its own identity until 1944), and Oregon Electric (SP&S/Burlington Northern). After a series of mergers, consolidations, and spin-offs, the Portland & Western Rail- road operates the route from its north end at United Junction to Banks as the “United


OPPOSITE: Diesel exhaust hangs in the air around the Portland & Western “Harbor Turn” as it exits the Cornelius Pass Tunnel and is beginning the 2 percent grade down with a large load of logs. ABOVE: A warm June afternoon in 2011 finds Portland & Western’s Matt Adams riding in the conduc- tor’s seat as the Harbor Turn returns towards Banks, Ore., with Mount Hood in the background. P&W No. 3052 started its career in 1970 as an SD45 for the Cotton Belt. It has since been downgraded with SD40-2 prime mover, but still retains the SD45 carbody. ROBERT W. SCOTT PHOTOS


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