Molalla Western

Company History: The MWRR was established in 1993 by the Oregon Pacific to take over operation of the 10 mile Molalla Branch from Southern Pacific between Canby and Liberal, Oregon. Within a few years, it became clear that the MWRR would be at least reasonably successful and it was merged into the Oregon Pacific, becoming their Molalla Division. The idea of establishing a subsidiary to build or acquire another stretch of railroad goes back to the Nineteenth Century. It serves to insulate the expanding company from an unforeseen financial disaster on the new unproven segment.

Successor/Parent History: OP&E was established in 1912 and in 1914 purchased the line of the Oregon & Southeastern between a connection with the Southern Pacific at Cottage Grove and Wildwood, Oregon 18 miles away. The Wildwood end was later cut back to Culp Creek. Traffic was primarily forest products. The railroad was owned by a succession of timber companies until 1970 when Georgia-Pacific sold it to Kyle Railways who then sold a half interest to Bohemia, Inc (a customer on the line.) During this period, OP&E operated excursion trains with former Northwestern Pacific RDC’s. Kyle’s 2-8-2 also pulled excursions on the line. The movies Emperor of the North Pole and Stand By Me were both filmed along the OP&E. In 1987, Kyle sold their half to Bohemia. The last train ran in 1994 and the line was abandoned.

Brief History: The U.S. is a country of 50 states covering a vast swath of North America, with Alaska in the northwest and Hawaii extending the nation’s presence into the Pacific Ocean. Major Atlantic Coast cities are New York, a global finance and culture center, and capital Washington, DC. Midwestern metropolis Chicago is known for influential architecture and on the west coast, Los Angeles' Hollywood is famed for filmmaking.