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The Historic Joseph Branch Railroad

The Joseph Branch was an extension of the original Oregon Railway & Navigation Company (OR & N).  The OR & N’s main trunk line through La Grande was completed in 1884. By 1890, the first 23 miles of the Joseph Branch line were laid as an extension to Elgin. The Joseph Branch, now known as Wallowa Union Railroad, is 63 miles long and connects Elgin, in Union County, Oregon, with Joseph in Wallowa County, Oregon. A detailed timeline of major events regarding the Joseph Branch Railroad, WURA and the JBTC is below.

Timeline

  • 1890: The railroad branch line from La Grande arrives in Elgin.

  • 1907: The completion to Wallowa was celebrated with an excursion train from La Grande to Wallowa. Between 1,500 and 2,000 people gathered with much fanfare to celebrate the arrival of the first passenger train in Wallowa.

  • 1908: Joseph Branch rail line opens through to Joseph for passenger service and freight transport of lumber, grain, and livestock.

  • 1940s: Rise of automobiles and improved system of state and national roads impacts rail use.

  • 1960: Regular passenger service on the line ends.

  • 1993: Union Pacific Railroad sells the branch line to Idaho Northwestern and Pacific (IN&P) for freight only.

  • 1994: Boise Cascade, the largest frieght shipper on the line, closed its mill in Joseph. IN&P files with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) for termination of the rail line.

  • 1995-2000: Protest & petitions regarding the termination go back and forth between the STB and many entities, including the Wallowa County Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee, Wallowa Forest Products, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Oregon Department of Transportation and Wallowa County. 

  • 2001-2002: Oregon's Legislature approves $2 million to support the purchase of the line. Wallowa County files notice with the STB that it intends to acquire and operate the IN&P line between Elgin and Joseph. IN&P receives $6.5million for the branch line.

  • 2003: Wallowa and Union County boards of commissioners form an ORS 190 intergovernmental authority, the Wallowa Union Railroad Authority (WURA). WURA is now the owner operator of the 63-mile branch line from Elgin to Joseph.

  • 2004: Friends of the Joseph Branch (FOJB), a 501(c)(3) organization, operates the first Eagle Cap Excursion train on the line. Run entirely by dedicated volunteers, the FOJB still operates the Eagle Cap Excursion Train. Book a trip or learn more about them here.

  • 2009: Debt on the line retired by the storage of 700 idled centerbeam lumber cars.

  • 2010: WURA and others secured a Connect Oregon III grant to build a multi-modal transit hub building in Elgin to serve as a depot, office, and stop for local bus service..

  • 2013: Memorandum of Understanding agreed to by WURA, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, and Eastern Oregon University for the purposes of advancing public discussion of a Joseph Branch Rail-with-Trail.

  • 2014: Wallowa Union Historic Trail Consortium, now the Joseph Branch Trail Consortium, formed as a

    501(c)(3) organization.

  • 2019: Efforts to secure a Conditional Use Permit in Wallowa County were denied by the Wallowa County Planning Commission despite widespread community support and approval of WURA.

  • 2020: The Joseph Branch Trail Consortium pivots focus to fundraising, community outreach and building two initial sections of trail within City limits of Elgin and Wallowa.

  • 2024: Elgin pocket park and first segment of trail, within the City of Elgin, opened by the Joseph Branch Trail Consortium

  • 2025: Wallowa pocket park and second segment of trail, in the City of Wallowa opened by the Joseph Branch Trail Consortium.

  • 2026: Planning, construction, maintenance, and fundraising for the trail continue.