| Willamette Valley Lumber Company |
Created 1/21/06
The Willamette Valley Lumber Company railroad began operations in 1906. The line began in Black Rock, crossed
the Little Luckiamute River and wound it's way up to Boulder Creek. There were five logging camps that were
constructed along the line; Camp 2, Balderee Camp, Camp 18, K Junction Camp, and Boulder Camp. In 1926 the
trestle that crossed the mainline just above Black Rock was used in the movie "The General" by Buster Keaton for
the scene of the locomotive chase where one locomotive was on a trestle above another. Truck logging began
above Black Rock in 1939 above Boulder Camp, which served as a reload facility until the end of rail operations.
Boulder Camp was established prior to 1935. For their production of 4.4 million board feet of aircraft lumber in 1943,
the Willamette Valley Lumber Company received the Army-Navy E award for meritorious achievement on production
front. In December of 1943 railroad operations were stopped and the lines pulled. In the summer of 1945, the same
year as third Tillamook Burn, a large forest fire burned through the timberlands above Black Rock destroying
trestles and any other remnant of the railroad operations. Today, there are a few reminders here and there of the
old steam days. There are no trestles still standing, although there are a couple of spots where there are still some
pilings, and one spot where a trestle had fallen perfectly to the ground preserving the top where the ties were. Rails
and rail joiner are also somewhat plentiful, as are rail plates and spikes. There are at least a half of a dozen donkey
sleds left, with one on a truck operation with fallen spar pole, rigging, tires, and a wooden culvert.
the Little Luckiamute River and wound it's way up to Boulder Creek. There were five logging camps that were
constructed along the line; Camp 2, Balderee Camp, Camp 18, K Junction Camp, and Boulder Camp. In 1926 the
trestle that crossed the mainline just above Black Rock was used in the movie "The General" by Buster Keaton for
the scene of the locomotive chase where one locomotive was on a trestle above another. Truck logging began
above Black Rock in 1939 above Boulder Camp, which served as a reload facility until the end of rail operations.
Boulder Camp was established prior to 1935. For their production of 4.4 million board feet of aircraft lumber in 1943,
the Willamette Valley Lumber Company received the Army-Navy E award for meritorious achievement on production
front. In December of 1943 railroad operations were stopped and the lines pulled. In the summer of 1945, the same
year as third Tillamook Burn, a large forest fire burned through the timberlands above Black Rock destroying
trestles and any other remnant of the railroad operations. Today, there are a few reminders here and there of the
old steam days. There are no trestles still standing, although there are a couple of spots where there are still some
pilings, and one spot where a trestle had fallen perfectly to the ground preserving the top where the ties were. Rails
and rail joiner are also somewhat plentiful, as are rail plates and spikes. There are at least a half of a dozen donkey
sleds left, with one on a truck operation with fallen spar pole, rigging, tires, and a wooden culvert.
Mainline:
Looking west at the concrete tiers for the crossing of the Little Luckiamute River, and the first trestle for
the WVLCo. Judging by their shape and distance apart, there was probably some kind of truss or girder
bridge here. (10/95)
the WVLCo. Judging by their shape and distance apart, there was probably some kind of truss or girder
bridge here. (10/95)
Although a little hard to read, the date "1927" is carved into the base of the tier for the second trestle of
the WVLCo. This trestle crosses Black Rock Creek. (4/2/98)
the WVLCo. This trestle crosses Black Rock Creek. (4/2/98)
Little Luckiamute falls. This was the sight of the trail that followed the river beginning at the second
trestle. It was actually faster to get to the falls by following the old railroad grade, and cutting down an old
skid trail in a clearcut to reach the falls. (3/18/97)
trestle. It was actually faster to get to the falls by following the old railroad grade, and cutting down an old
skid trail in a clearcut to reach the falls. (3/18/97)
Burnt piling of trestle along grade above Little Luckiamute River, about 2.3 up the grade
from Black Rock. (3/1/97)
from Black Rock. (3/1/97)
A close-up of the burned piling. It is possible that this trestle burned in the fire of 1947, but it also
appears to have been burned when the area was broadcast burned following harvesting. (3/1/97)
appears to have been burned when the area was broadcast burned following harvesting. (3/1/97)
My friends Mike and Joe with a couple of rails along the mainline that has since become the 8-7-14.1
Road. (11/18/99)
Road. (11/18/99)
Here are the two rails that are pictured above. (11/18/99)
Here are the same two rails as above. Notice though the obvious broken end on the bottom rail. It's
evident that these rails broke while in service and were thrown aside one they were replaced. (11/18/99)
evident that these rails broke while in service and were thrown aside one they were replaced. (11/18/99)
Water tower remains lying beside the mainline between the Black Rock Mainline and the RR Grade RD.
(3/1/97)
(3/1/97)
Another shot of the water tower remains along the mainline. (3/1/97)
What looks like 3 snags are actually the burnt piling still standing from the trestle just before the S-Line
junction. The ground below these piling were littered with metal from the trestle. (10/95)
junction. The ground below these piling were littered with metal from the trestle. (10/95)
Looking at the fallen trestle remains of the trestle on the untouched section of grade between the Black
Rock Mainline, and the RR Grade RD. (4/17/97)
Rock Mainline, and the RR Grade RD. (4/17/97)
Rail joiner located along mainline about 1.7 miles past where the current FAA tower road takes off. When
I was exploring this area in the late 90's, going up to the tower and around it was no problem. Since 9/11,
good luck getting near it. (2/6/98)
I was exploring this area in the late 90's, going up to the tower and around it was no problem. Since 9/11,
good luck getting near it. (2/6/98)
Adams Siding:
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Concrete remains of the second trestle of the WVLCo out of Black Rock. This trestle was also the starting
point of the Little Luckiamute trail. However, since Weyerhaeuser has taken over Willamette, the trail has
fallen under considerable disrepair. The plank foot bridge across this spot and creek is now unsafe to
travel on. (9/2/98)
point of the Little Luckiamute trail. However, since Weyerhaeuser has taken over Willamette, the trail has
fallen under considerable disrepair. The plank foot bridge across this spot and creek is now unsafe to
travel on. (9/2/98)
Looking at the concrete footings for the trestle just west of the Little Luckiamute River crossing.(9/30/97)
Pictured here is the last piling left across a draw on the second switchback, just east of Camp
One.(5/3/97)
One.(5/3/97)
This rail plate was all I could find at the time at Camp One. At the time the area was freshly logged and all
of the different tracks could easily be seen.(5/3/97)
of the different tracks could easily be seen.(5/3/97)
A couple of rail joiners and an old can lie just past the second trestle on the tie line, before the railroad
reconnects with the Black Rock Mainline.
reconnects with the Black Rock Mainline.
Even though there was a railroad siding here, hence Adam's Siding, the pictures below show my friend Ammon on top
of an old donkey sled that was not part of the railroad. After you drive down the Adam's Siding road a long ways and
make a turn, you'll come to a spot that was one of the first areas logged by truck. There's a wooden culvert still in place
and it looks like one day someone finished logging with the donkey and just left. Then, someone came back and
salvaged the steel. The spar tree is still sitting there with the cable wrapped around it. The donkey sled is still there,
and there was some barrels and a couple of truck wheels.
of an old donkey sled that was not part of the railroad. After you drive down the Adam's Siding road a long ways and
make a turn, you'll come to a spot that was one of the first areas logged by truck. There's a wooden culvert still in place
and it looks like one day someone finished logging with the donkey and just left. Then, someone came back and
salvaged the steel. The spar tree is still sitting there with the cable wrapped around it. The donkey sled is still there,
and there was some barrels and a couple of truck wheels.
A collection of bolts and a spike found along the tail track of the second switchback just after the area was
logged.(11/11/06)
logged.(11/11/06)
Here is a couple of railjoiners and a rail plate along the tail track of the second switchback.(11/11/06)
This section of rail was found right near the very end of the second switchback, where it goes into a
throughcut and ends.(11/11/06)
throughcut and ends.(11/11/06)
Here is the steel trestle tier still standing on the west side of the Little Luckiamute River.(11/11/06)
This rail and falling wedge were found along the mainline between the K-Line and the spur
that goes to Silver Creek Falls.
that goes to Silver Creek Falls.
Here's the same rail as above, but the falling wedge is gone.(10/15/97)
This rail lies at the junction of the Luckiamute Road and the Railroad Grade Road.(4/30/97)
Here are the remains of a fallen trestle about 0.7 miles up the grade from the intersection of the 8-7-16.13
road.(4/30/97)
road.(4/30/97)
Here is another fallen trestle. This one is about 11 miles up the Black Rock Mainline, getting nearer to
Boulder Camp.(4/24/97)
Boulder Camp.(4/24/97)
Looking at the trestle ties still lying in place on the trestle in between the RR Grade road and the Black
Rock Mainline. This is on the SW side of the trestle.(4/17/97)
Rock Mainline. This is on the SW side of the trestle.(4/17/97)
Looking across to the NE side of the trestle from the SW side.(4/17/97)
Looking at the collapsed SW end of the trestle.(4/17/97)
Looking at the NE Section of the collapsed trestle on the in between grade.(4/17/97)
These four pictures show objects found at the base of the trestle that stood over Black Rock
Creek. This is the same trestle that was used in the movie "The General", and had the tail
track of the first switchback running underneath it. Note the 2 rails and what appears to be a
coupler pin and chain.
Creek. This is the same trestle that was used in the movie "The General", and had the tail
track of the first switchback running underneath it. Note the 2 rails and what appears to be a
coupler pin and chain.
Here is an obviously pulled spike found in the ditchline of the Railroad Grade road 8-7-14.1
Some trestle spikes and rail plate found at the end of the large trestle crossing the creek just
before Adam's Siding, in two different years..
before Adam's Siding, in two different years..
Here is the other end of the broken rail that is laying nearby on the 8-7-14.1 road. (11/18/99)
These two rail joiners were found in the ground nearby and propped up against the tree. (11/18/99)
This buried rail was also found in the section of the 8-7-14.1 Road as the others. It would seem that these
may be evidence of a derailment that occurred here since there is the broken rail, the rail joiners, and the
other two rails. Incidentally, this section of road had just been cleared by a cat for rebuilding. (11/18/06)
may be evidence of a derailment that occurred here since there is the broken rail, the rail joiners, and the
other two rails. Incidentally, this section of road had just been cleared by a cat for rebuilding. (11/18/06)
