Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railway

Corporate body

Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railway

• SP & S
• Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway
• S.P.&S.
• S.P. & S. Railroad System
• SPS
• Spokane Portland & Seattle
• Spokane, Portland & Seattle

1905-1970

The Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway (SP&S) (reporting mark SPS) was a United States-based railroad incorporated in 1905. It was a joint venture by the Great Northern Railway and the Northern Pacific Railway to build a railroad along the north bank of the Columbia River. The railroad was chartered in 1905 by James J. Hill to connect the two transcontinental railroads owned by him, the Northern Pacific (NP) and Great Northern (GN), to Portland, Oregon from Spokane, Washington. Construction began in 1906 under the name Portland & Seattle Railway. In January 1908 "Spokane" was added to the railroad's name, making it the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway. SP&S freight and passenger service (from Pasco) to Portland was inaugurated in November 1908. By 1909 the railroad had completed construction of its line up to Spokane along the Snake River. In 1910 SP&S gained control of the Oregon Electric interurban railway, which the Great Northern had acquired two years before. Under the control of the SP&S the railroad was extended southward to Eugene, Oregon by 1912. SP&S also operated a second subsidiary railroad in western Oregon, the Oregon Traction Company, which owned a route to Seaside, Oregon. The SP&S was absorbed into the Burlington Northern in 1970 along with the NP and GN. Remnants of the line are currently operated by BNSF Railway and the Portland and Western Railroad.

Revised

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