About SideTracked Caches
This cache belongs to the SideTracked series. It is not designed to take you to a magical place with a breath taking view. Its a distraction for the weary traveller, but anyone else can go and find it too. More Information can be found at the SideTracked Website
This cache also qualifies for the Disappearing RR Blues bonus cache. This series highlights railways of NW Oregon
About Oregon Electric Railway Waconda Station
The Oregon Electric Railway (OE) was one of Oregon’s great electric interurban lines, running from Portland to Eugene by way of Salem. Service reached Salem in 1907 and extended to Eugene around 1912. In its early years, the OE offered not only frequent daily passenger and freight trains but also elegant overnight sleeper service—an impressive amenity for an interurban system.
Passenger service ended in the early 1930s, but freight operations continued. Today, the former OE main line from Tigard to Eugene remains active as part of the Portland & Western Railroad, now operated entirely with diesel locomotives.
Powering the Electric Railway
Because the OE was electrified, it required a chain of electrical substations along the route to convert high‑tension AC power into the DC current used by the trains. The system originally operated at 600 VDC, later increased to 1200 VDC to support heavier and faster equipment.
A handful of these substation buildings still survive. The structure visible from this cache location is the Waconda Substation, which opened in 1907. This building served multiple roles:
- A substation housing rotary converters
- A passenger station
- An on‑site apartment for the substation caretaker
The Substation Today
The exterior shell of the building remains remarkably intact, but the interior is in severe disrepair and shows signs of trespassing and vandalism. Do not enter the structure—it is unsafe and located on active railroad property.
A Possible Return of Passenger Trains
While the OE’s passenger trains are long gone, the idea of service returning to this corridor isn’t entirely far‑fetched. TriMet’s WES Commuter Rail currently operates between Wilsonville and Beaverton. There has been occasional discussion of extending WES south toward Keizer or Salem—an extension that would pass very near this historic site. Sometimes the past has a way of circling back.
Nearby Electric Railway History
If you’re interested in electric railways, the Oregon Electric Railway Museum operates historic trolleys just a short distance away at Antique Powerland Museums on Brooklake Road.
About the Cache
The cache is not located at the substation itself. Instead, the building is visible from the cache site across a small field and the railroad tracks. Please use caution—trains still operate here. Remember to Stop, Look, and Listen.
Note: This cache replaces the earlier Disappearing RR Blues: Waconda Substation cache, which was archived and located elsewhere.