ABOVE: Two orange GP39-2s lead the 663 job across the lower deck of Portland’s landmark Steel Bridge as a MAX light rail train crosses above on the evening of July 8, 2011. Completed in 1912, the Steel Bridge is the second oldest vertical-lift bridge in North America and the only bridge in the world with two independent, telescoping lifts.


RIGHT: High-hood GP9 no. 1803 (ex-SP 5738) usually works in yard and local service, but on the evening of April 25, 2009, it’s leading the westbound Toledo Hauler out of Albany while one of the GP40P-2 slug sets is in the shop for its 92-day inspection.


of diesel doctors maintains the railroad’s motive power. Operations are readily visible from the Amtrak platform, the Pacific Boulevard (U.S. 20) overpass, and the Queen Avenue crossing. There’s also the less-visible OE Yard, located on the Oregon Electric tracks on the north side of town. Switchers work in both yards, with SD7 no. 1501 being the regular power in the former SP yard. The flagship train out of Toledo —


and perhaps on the whole railroad — is the Toledo Hauler, which runs between Albany and the sprawling Georgia- Pacific kraft paper mill in Toledo. The Toledo Hauler currently runs six days per week, departing Albany late every evening except Sunday. The return trip


32 MARCH 2016 • RAILFAN.COM


from Toledo is usually a daylight run, Tuesdays through Sundays. The typical locomotive consist is four to six units, usually including the railroad’s two slug sets.


Though not based out of Albany, the Westsider comes down from McMinnville five nights per week to swap cars in the former SP yard, typically in the wee hours of Tuesday through Saturday


mornings. In the long days of spring and summer, the rising sun often greets the northbound train somewhere on its return trip. McMinnville is also home to the Willamina Job, which makes a turn to Willamina and back on weekday afternoons. The Hampton Lumber mill in Willamina is the primary customer. Several other P&W jobs come to Albany from the south, and those will


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