Engine pop off valve letting off excess steam, RR water tank, store and school, great photo. Engine is already turned for return to HR.

Kenn on 13th December 2016 @ 7:55am

Not a very long train for Arlen, but it sure is blowing off a lot of steam.

Must be late, late summer, because the cabbage heads are huge and the corn is already cut and shocked.
That train must have been a huge benefit to the upper valley.

L.E. on 13th December 2016 @ 8:06am

Both Robert and his wife, Gertrude Gregory were from Iowa. Not only did they have the store but at one time they actually had about 400 acres of farm land there in Parkdale. This boy would go on to marry Leana Funk, the sister of Jesse Funk, who I think worked at the Ford garage.

One of Robert John and Gertrude;s grandsons was in my class in school, not to mention the probable outhouse.

I am wondering if the family lived in the upstairs portion of the building? I am sure it was used for various things in later years. Was that where Job's Daughter's met?

I am marveling at the size of those cabbages.

So much of interest in this photo. Good clear image of the school

Charlott on 13th December 2016 @ 9:25am

Kenn, how did/do they turn the locomotive at Parkdale? It look to me like the locomotive is still facing south in this image.

Arthur on 13th December 2016 @ 10:03am

I was surprised by Kenn's comments. I thought that was the purpose/use of the switchback. And the only turntable I'm aware of was below Bluff Road, outskirts of HR.

spinsur on 13th December 2016 @ 11:12am

But then I must be seriously turned around. (nothing worse than a lost surveyor!) I thought we were looking east, south of baseline; with the storefront on baseline, engine heading north, water tank at present location of Hutson Museum, and the building being where the current mercado is located. Hard to tell where background is in google maps due to low sun in current photo.

spinsur on 13th December 2016 @ 11:23am

Some one correct me if I am wrong, but Baseline Rd is to the left in this picture and the false front of McIsaac Store overlooks it. The locomotive is pointing south.

I would suspect that in that time period the locomotive didn't turn around anywhere along the way, just reversing at the switchback as today's diesel electric units still do.

Longshot on 13th December 2016 @ 2:34pm

You guys had me running... Fortunately we have another image in the collection which clarifies which way is north. We are looking west just north of Baseline. McIsaac's store was in the same spot as it is today, north of baseline facing south. I was surprised to see the depot was actually north of this location, just off the right of the frame. I had assumed it was on the other side of Baseline where the current terminus is located.

I'll post the image next week.

Arthur on 13th December 2016 @ 3:00pm

the WOWs just keep on coming....Roger and my father John L. was born not far from this location 11/21/1915 in the community of Mt. Hood (last I looked the house was still there). He would have remembered this view of Parkdale, the MHRR, and for sure his father John H Sheldrake"s store competition McIsaacs in downtown Parkdale.
thanks Arthur for yet another memory burst........

Arlen Sheldrake on 13th December 2016 @ 6:59pm

Steam engines had to be turned, the cabs were open on the back to reach fuel in the tender in wood burning days, running backwards for far would destroy the fire and freeze the crew. According to "Riders guide to the Mt Hood RR" there was a turning Y at Parkdale and would have been necessary.

The switchback near HR was not to turn engines, it was to gain elevation.

The pop off valve in the picture was sometimes "tied down" for extra pressure near a stall on a hill. This was unsafe and illegal and could be as fatal as a dry crown sheet to the engine and crew.

Kenn on 14th December 2016 @ 3:50pm

I was always told the reason for the switchback was because a property owner would not give permission to cross his land.

Norma on 15th December 2016 @ 3:16pm

South of the switchback it is almost cliff side while the RR had to follow contours. It may be the only RR that had an odd number of switchbacks as it was necessary to get the engine going forward except for a short run as down to HR. There was once a small turntable at the switchback to turn the jitney or galloping goose, no concrete trace remains so for its light use it was probably all wood base.
There was a downhill extension from the tail of the switchback down to the dam to bring in equipment, as was the case for other dams. This can still be walked.

Kenn on 16th December 2016 @ 10:18am

BPA maps of 1937ish show a turntable below Bluff Road, just out of the rail yard, along w/ the old water tank.

spinsur on 16th December 2016 @ 12:34pm

This is what I love about this site. Nothing about history is for sure, but photos help raise questions, give some answers and raise more questions.

L.E. on 16th December 2016 @ 3:06pm

we purchased the Craven House, built 1910, in 2003 from Heidi McIssac. The House was built just east the Parkdale Church on Baseline Drive, maybe right behind where this photo was taken? We are looking for any photos of the Craven House. Will keep perusing through these archives. Thanks for cataloging

Mary Pellegrini on 3rd April 2020 @ 9:34am

I grew up in Parkdale and bought everything from McIssacs store. I remember Lyle Malcolm Pete and Louella. We moved to hood river in 1960 so I remember the 50th anniversary of the store. I can’t remember when the store burned down. Can anyone help? Thanks.

Sammy on 8th June 2022 @ 3:18pm