Comments on: NW Hoyt & 3rd, 1948

By: rod taylor

rod taylor — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 19:06:34 +0000

It is a reminder that the ’48 flood waters were already a big problem and a threat to infrastructure before the additional disaster of Vanport.turned it into a tragedy.

Those hoses laying about would provide steam for heating and water heaters on the cars spotted there.

Mike the gas tank actually belonged to Portland Gas and Coke in those days, the predecessor to NW Natural Gas. That coke gas was just nasty, lot’s of sulpher and very corrosive.

We too loved to prowl these industrial areas on our bikes, big clunky old Schwinn’s and J C Higgin’s, Union Station was a big favorite as was the SP&S, NP/GN roundhouse just up the road and for a change the Holgate overpass at Brooklyn.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 17:13:00 +0000

Northwest Natural Gas natural gas holder tank in the background. All are gone now. This one was on the top of a building.

By: oldwxwatcher

oldwxwatcher — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 16:39:02 +0000

Private railcar owners also parked their cars on these stub tracks. In the mid-1950s I often rode my bicycle to the ramp in the background from my home four miles away to watch trains going in and out of Union Station. There was always a lot of action for a kid to see.

By: Sheldon Perry

Sheldon Perry — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 15:43:24 +0000

The tracks you see here are where the SP and UP parked their business cars.

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:52:01 +0000

And, from an earlier VP post, here's the fire station from the front in 1948 (probably from the same set of photos documenting flood control).