About SideTracked Caches
This cache belongs to the SideTracked series. It is not designed to take you to a magical place with a breathtaking view. It's a distraction for the weary traveler, but anyone else can go and find it, too. More Information can be found on the SideTracked Website.
This cache also qualifies for the Disappearing RR Blues bonus cache. This series highlights the railways of NW Oregon.
About Beaverton Creek MAX Station
Welcome to Beaverton Creek Station
This stop sits on historic rail ground. The MAX Blue and Red Lines follow the former route of the Oregon Electric Railway (OE), an interurban line that once connected Forest Grove and Portland. When MAX service expanded west, TriMet reused the OE alignment between Beaverton and Hillsboro, continuing a transportation corridor that has served Washington County for more than a century.
Based on historic Oregon Electric schedules and maps, this location appears to be near the former St. Mary’s stop on the OE. The Sisters of St. Mary’s campus lies just south of here, though the OE’s stop was farther from the campus than the competing Southern Pacific Railroad’s St. Mary’s station, which was much closer. The MAX station itself opened in 1996 as part of the Westside MAX extension.
A Clue in the Rails
As you walk toward the MAX platform, you’ll cross a short stretch of rail that doesn’t appear to connect to anything. This is a remnant of a former freight spur that once served an automotive parts warehouse—but its history goes back even further.
In 1984, Burlington Northern removed the old Oregon Electric line between here and Beaverton. To maintain freight access, BN constructed a connecting track west of this station that linked to the Southern Pacific line along TV Highway near the St. Mary’s area. When TriMet rebuilt the corridor in the 1990s for light rail service, the alignment was adjusted slightly toward Merlo Road. This allowed the warehouse to retain freight access and enabled TriMet to accept deliveries of new light rail vehicles by rail.
Freight service on this spur ended in 2009, after which the remaining track was removed. Today, new MAX vehicles arrive by truck instead.
A Brief Experiment in Commuter Rail
Beaverton Creek also played a role in shaping regional commuter rail. Washington County once ran a demonstration commuter service here, operating a passenger train from Tigard to Beaverton Creek using existing tracks to allow transfers to MAX. While the indirect route proved impractical for long-term service, the experiment helped build support for what eventually became WES Commuter Rail—now running between Wilsonville and Beaverton Transit Centers on a faster, more direct alignment.
The Station Today
Today, Beaverton Creek Station serves as the closest MAX stop to the world headquarters of a major international athletic wear company, along with nearby shops, apartments, and a large park-and-ride facility.
Take a moment to notice the station artwork, Navigation Station, created by the Westside Light Rail artist team in collaboration with Anne Connell. Its design reflects the area’s long transportation history.