Holcomb Creek Trestle – Hillsboro, Oregon

The largest wooden railroad bridge in the United States still in use, 1168 feet long and about 90 feet tall, the Holcomb Creek Trestle was built by United Railways in 1905. United Railways was an electric interurban railway that ran from Portland to Wilkesboro, with a connection to Banks. Although it did have passenger service, its main commodity was lumber. Eventually the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway purchased the line and added a connection to its electric railway, the Oregon Electric. At some point in the 1930’s the overhead wires probably came down and the line was served by steam and later diesel freight trains. The line was almost abandoned by Burlington Northern who eventually obtained it. Currently the State of Oregon officially owns the right-of-way and shortline operator Portland & Western Railroad runs freight trains on the line.