Spokane, Portland & Seattle

Spokane, Portland & Seattle [Burlington Northern Santa Fe]
Wishram, Washington
September 12, 1999




Wishram, Washington, on the north bank of the Columbia River, was at one time a major classification yard for the Spokane, Portland and Seattle, but was severely downsized in the late twentieth century. However, it is still a major junction point with the Oregon Trunk, which diverges from the SP&S via a wye just west of Wishram and crosses the river on the vertical lift Celilo Bridge visible in the distance, then runs east to parallel the Union Pacific higher on the hillside before turning into the Deschutes River Canyon for the run to Bend. The former extent of Wishram Yard is evident from the large expanses of bare gravel visible here from Washington State Route 14. This view faces downstream (west); Mount Hood is visible in the distance.




This page posted 3/1/2019. Text and photo ©2019 Lamont Downs.