Sourthern Pacific ‘Red Electric’
ROSE CITY FLYER
by Percy Hilo
Sung by Percy Hilo
Recorded on "Songs of the Pacific Northwest"
The Oregon Electric 'Rose City Flyer' connected
Portland to Oswego, and beyond south to Tualatin,
Sherwood, Newberg, McMinnville, Amity, Independence,
and Corvallis. The rapid, clean, and quiet trains stimulated
residential development in the 1920s and 1930s.
I rode the finest train that has ever graced the rail
Rest assured I am no pandem lier
She's smooth and fine and runs on time as 'cross the land she sails
She's that train they call the Rose City Flyer
It's that Rose City Flyer rolling 'cross the great Northwest
Sure is a fine sight to see
Ain't no one can deny her, now she surely is the best
Damn train that I ever did see
Now all the kids in every town from nine to over ninety
All go down to the track just to try her
From Vancouver down through Portland town and on to Eugene City
Everybod rides that Rose City Flyer
It's that Rose City Flyer rolling 'cross the great Northwest
Sure is a fine sight to see
Ain't no one can deny her, now she surely is the best
Damn train that I ever did see
In times of sun and shower time and hardship and good cheer
Her lonesome whistle always takes me higher
Through the greenwood landed valley, every season every year
It's a joy to hear that Rose City Flyer
It's that Rose City Flyer rolling 'cross the great Northwest
Sure is a fine sight to see
Ain't no one can deny her, now she surely is the best
Damn train that I ever did see
Now if I had ten million bucks that I could call my own
There ain't now doubt I'd go right out and buy her
Then I'd never know a moment when I feel all alone
And I'd always have my Rose City Flyer
It's that Rose City Flyer rolling 'cross the great Northwest
Sure is a fine sight to see
Ain't no one can deny her, now she surely is the best
Damn train that I ever did see
The line was opened for service from Oswego (now Lake Oswego) to Portland
on July 4th, 1887 as a narrow gauge steam railroad known as the Portland
and Willamette Valley Railroad.
It was later purchased by the
Southern
Pacific and standard-gauged around the turn of the century.
From
1914 to 1929
the S.P. ran their "Red Electric" interurban trains
over the line from Portland to
Corvallis.
After passenger service was terminated, freight service continued until the
1980's when the line was purchased by a consortium of government agencies to
preserve the right-of-way for future streetcar service.