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Substation under construction in 1907
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The Oregon Electric Railway was an Electric Interurban Line that ran from Portland to Eugene via Salem. The line opened to Salem in 1907 and Eugene around 1912. There were elegant overnight sleeper trains as well as the normal daily passenger and freight trains.
The Oregon Electric stopped passenger service in the early 1930's.Freight service remained. The section of the OE from Tigard to Eugene is still in service today as part of the Portland & Western Railroad. There are no longer any electric trains on this line, it is all diesel.
As the original line was electrified, the railway required electrical substations at periodic intervals along the line to convert high tension line power to the power required by the railway cars. The line was originally 600Vdc, later stepped up to 1200 Vdc.
There are a few remaining substation structures that still exist along the old OE. This one is at Waconda. This particular substation also served as a railway station for the OE opening in 1907. There were rotary converters in one part of the building, a traditional station as well as an apartment for the substation caretaker.
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Substation today
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The building shell remarkably still exists. The interior is shot, and is obvious used by squatters or party'ers. It is not recommended to enter this building and the building is on railway property.
There is a slight chance that this area will be served by passenger trains again. WES, the Westside Commuter line by TriMet will run trains from Wilsonville to Beaverton well north of here. But there has been talk of extending WES to Keizer or Salem, which would make it run right past here. You never know when the past might come alive again.
For those interested in electric railways, the Oregon Electric Railway Museum operates old Electric Trolleys close to here at Antique Powerland Museums along Brooklake Road.
The cache however is NOT at the substation but is close by! Please be careful around railroad tracks. Trains still operate here. Remember to Stop Look and Listen! I also do not recommend entering the old structure due to its state of disrepair.