Too bad this building was destroyed. It would have given a boost to Parkdale as a hotel. It would serve tourists in the summer and skiers in the winter. from the sign it appears that it did have rooms for rent then.

I have seen pictures of this, but nothing like this so up close.

Charlott on 30th January 2015 @ 7:03am

Should read things thoroughly before I comment.

My question is, if the engine was on the front of the train, did it have to leave Parkdale for Hood River going backwards, until it got to the switch back? Does anyone know how this worked?

charlott on 30th January 2015 @ 7:06am

A bit of Craftsman architecture.

l.e. on 30th January 2015 @ 7:34am

Charlott, how else could it work? I never given it much thought but I don't see another option.

Dan on 30th January 2015 @ 7:35am

I keep trying to picture the train coming back into town. The caboose was first because we would always wave to Johnny Murray when we were outside. So the engine has to be on the front until the switchback. Don't know how it was when this picture was taken just know how it is now.

Norma on 30th January 2015 @ 11:30am

Switch back means turn around? If so, where was it located?

nels on 30th January 2015 @ 12:03pm

This Craftsman style reminds me of so many orchard homes if you look carefully back into the orchards. Was in one once and it had a beautiful large fire place and a large central staircase to the upstairs. Told it was a bear to heat..

nels on 30th January 2015 @ 12:07pm

Still used nels, train leaves station w/ engine at rear, up the river past the bridge over highway 35; it dead-ends, then switches to line going up out of river canyon, over 35, and up the valley w/ engine in front. it's on maps.

spinsur on 30th January 2015 @ 12:47pm

I believe they could switch at Dee also, when I worked there they would change the engine front to back of the train.

Jim Gray on 30th January 2015 @ 3:03pm

did it burn down? or was it torn down.

AndyB on 30th January 2015 @ 4:44pm

I think there was a turning Y north of Parkdale near Woodworth Road but I can find nothing to substantiate this at present, will keep searching. In cold weather it was almost impossible to run a steam engine very far backward, no shelter across the back of the cab and the wind would destroy the fire as the firedoor was opened constantly. Engines planned to run backward, such as in the "Relief train at Bridal Veil" picture, ran two engines back to back so one could be occupied each direction..
At the switchback there was a small turntable to turn the Goose to save it having to run backward, some way was also necessary to turn it at Parkdale. The turntable being light weight there are no concrete remains such as at most ex-turntable sites.
At the switchback one can follow a ROW from the tail track down to the dam site for use bringing in construction equipment.

Kenn on 30th January 2015 @ 5:32pm

One think about bookmarking things, is remembering you bookmarked them. I j ust remembered I had this long PDF History of the Mt Hood Railroad.
I clipped out a few pieces relating to this photo, but I suggest reading the entire article when you have time. Lots of good information in it.
The original HR depot was also Craftsman style.

All portions of the railroad were built under the direction of David Eccles, president of the Mt. Hood Railroad and the Oregon Lumber Company,

At approximate MP 2.5, the railroad starts its gradual climb up the switchbacks; one of the most notable engineering features of the main line.

The grade ranges from 2.86% to 2.88% and the degree of curve varies from 4 to 14 degrees. The 100 Ib. rails date from the
1920s.
The Mt. Hood Railroad was known as the backwards railroad because the engine backed out of the Hood River station, pushing the cars infrontofituntilitreachedthemiddleoftheswitchbacks. In the middle, the engine pushes the cars onto a long tail or track extension. Theenginereversedandthenwasswitchedtotheupper track where it proceeded to pull the train up the switchbacks....
The Mt. Hood switchbacks have only one switch track This unusual design required the engine to push the cars out of the Hood River yards to the switchbacks.

The town of Parkdale was platted in anticipation of the railroad's extension. R.J. Mclsaac, a shareowner of the railroad company, acquired the right-of-way for the extension and platted the original ten-acre Parkdale townsite. The extension of the railroad, completed in 1910, opened up thousands of acres for development. Orchards were planted as well as potatoes and asparagus. Parkdale became the hub of the UpperValley.
A depot (razed in 1971) stood west of the tracks and north of the Mclsaac store near the corner of Second Street and Baseline Roads. The depot which also served as a hotel, was completed around 1910- 11. A railroad water tank stood near the station. A turntable, located where the Diamond Pre-Sizing Plant is currently located, was installed in 1916.

l.e. on 30th January 2015 @ 5:40pm

Having the link might help.
http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/93001507.pdf

l.e. on 30th January 2015 @ 5:43pm

My mom had told me the reason for the switchback was because the man that owned the next propety would not let the railroad access to his property.

Norma on 30th January 2015 @ 8:00pm