Unloading the Speeders |
Unloading the speeders at RSG Forest Products in the early morning hours on March 22nd. Speeder on the far left belongs to Guy Howard and is one of several that owns and operates on various railroads, including the OPR. B. McCamish photos, March, 2008 |
Last Update: April 7, 2008 |
Return to the Oregon Pacific "Past Events" Page Return to the Main Page of the Oregon Pacific Railroad |
On March 22, 2008, the Oregon Pacific Railroad hosted a Speeder event on the Molalla Branch of the OPR. Several speeders led by OPR's Speeder Event Coordinator, Guy Howard, set on the OPR at RSG Forest Products in Liberal, Oregon. The speeder operators and other volunteers embarked for the north end of the branch, near the new American Steel facility. The purpose of the run was to allow the speeder and volunteers to experience running a branch line that is largely hidden from public view as it runs in between and behind private timber and farm land. But also to help the OPR clean up the north end of the branch line in anticipation of the grand opening of American Steel and construction of a new OPR spur into the facility. All attendees were invited to Mr. Samuels house and given a great barbecue lunch by the Samuels family. The event was a great success and a large amount of garbage left behind by people who trespass on the tracks near Canby, was removed and disposed of. |
Speeders on the OPR March, 2008 |
On our way to the north end of the branch |
The Clean Up |
History of the OPR - East Portland Branch - Molalla Branch - Videos of the OPR in Action News & Upcoming Events - Photos of Past Events - Roster of the OPR Oaks Pioneer Transportation Museum |
Copyright © 2004-2008 All Rights Reserved Webmaster Brian McCamish In Search of History Expeditions Active & Abandoned Railroads of the Northwest Webmaster |
Special thanks to Kevin Novak for allowing to me ride in his speeder. We were behind the lead speeder operated by Guy Howard. These photos show us leaving the mill and heading north through the country side. B. McCamish photos, March, 2008 |
Back at RSG |
On the left, going over the Milk Creek Bridge. On the right, going over a wood bridge that allows a local farmer to access his fields. B. McCamish photos, March, 2008 |
With the clean up finished, it was time to head back to the south end of the branch. Here, Kevin Novak uses the feature on his speeder, which allows it to be lifted and turned around on the tracks and faced whichever direction he's running. B. McCamish photos, March, 2008 |
With the clean up over, the speeder operators and volunteers returned to RSG, secured their speeders and went to the Samuels residence for a great barbecue lunch. The operators then returned back to RSG and made another run..this time just for fun and experience. Once back to RSG for the second time, as shown here, it was time to pack up the speeders, load them on their trailers and call it a day. By all accounts, everyone had a great time! B. McCamish photos, March, 2008 |
Operating over the Molalla River Bridge. This it the largest bridge on the Oregon Pacific Railroad and it has quite the history. Originally constructed as a covered bridge in 1913 it was rebuilt in the 1940s. Arsonists attempted to burn it down in 1995 and the Samuels family repaired several sections of the bridge single handedly in 9 days. Some of the bents still date to the 1930s, but the top deck is scheduled for a complete rebuild in the near future. B. McCamish photos, March, 2008 |
On the left, going over the Canby-Mulino Road overpass trestle....on the right, passing by a local farmer, who probably wasn't used to seeing half a dozen speeders. B. McCamish photos, March, 2008 |
Approaching the new American Steel Facility, currently under construction and passing through the beginning of the long cut that would mark the first couple miles of the Molalla Branch. The speeders stopped at all major crossings to make sure the gates were down, such as here at the Canby-Union Hall Road Crossing. B. McCamish photos, March, 2008 |
Unfortunately, the proximity of this part of the tracks to the City of Canby and their seclusion make it attractive to trespassers and vagrants and thus the trash that has collected over the years. Right photo, shows the speeders approaching the Canby wye and the north end of the branch. B. McCamish photos, March, 2008 |
From Canby-Union Hall Road, north, the speeders and volunteers slowly made their way north to the Canby wye, picking garbage and trash along the way. A large shopping cart was even recovered (2nd photo) and later returned to its rightful owner. Far left and right photos are of speeder operator/owner Kevin Novak. B. McCamish photos, March, 2008 |
At the Canby Wye. Here, OPR trains cross 99E and interchange with the Union Pacific Mainline on the north side of the highway. The red truck, is the OPR hy-railer, which was brought along to assist to carrying away the collected trash. B. McCamish photos, March, 2008 |
Guy Howard brought his own trailer to help with the clean up, but speeders stopped at one of the Canby-Mulino Road crossings to pick up a second speeder trailer that was owned by the OPR. This trailer was towed by Kevin Novak's speeder B. McCamish photos, March, 2008 |