Disappearing RR Blues: Golf Junction Traditional Cache

Old view of a Sellwood car on 13th with the car house to the left

Golf Junction was a busy electric railway junction. In 1893 the nation's first Interurban Line (in today's world "Light Rail") opened, running through here with electric trains going between Portland and Oregon City. This was a major junction for the Interurban. The large Sellwood Car barn and shops was located here, as well as a major substation.

Trains heading north here either went down 13th into the heart of Sellwood, or they used the private right-of-way to Portland via Oaks Park. Trains heading south went to Oregon City and trains heading east to Gresham/Boring and Estacada. So this was a busy place.

Sadly the Interurban closed in 1958. Freight service remained to Oregon City and Boring. The OC line shutdown first, and most of it line is now part of the "Trolley Trail". The Line to Estacada was cut back over the years until it was fully closed in the 1990's. The Springwater trail now uses most of the old line, Freight still operates through Sellwood to an industrial park just east of here, but not like it used to be.

The Sellwood car barn survived long after the Interurban closed. But in 2005, it too was razed for a housing development. The developer did leave partial walls up as a reminder to the area's heritage.

The only structures left is the old substation, with its white stone exterior, In addition, one block to the west is the old crew/company quarters building, now housing business offices.

The cache is located by the old junction. It was called Golf Junction because of the Waverly Country club that is along the fence. Traces of the old 13th St line, and the curving track of the Oregon City line are steadily disappearing. Take a photo or two while here. It is a very interesting part of Portland History. A small portion of the Orange MAX line uses the old Oregon City Right-of-way in Milwaukie.

You are looking for a nano. This cache is eligible for the Disappearing-Reappearing RR Blues Bonus Cache, GC2417R, where you need to find 18 of my RR themed caches including any Disappearing RR Blues, Reappearing RR Smiles and Oregon RR History series caches.  

Almost the same location as above in 2003, car house still exists, tracks are gone

In 2010, the car house is gone, except this wall, with new condos where trolleys were once repaired and maintained

The old Electric substation is still in use in 2010

Upon my maintenance check, I noticed the one remaining wall from the carbarn, as shown in one photo, is now gone, how sad :).