No End in Sight: 1939

Not that far from where I live, and it doesn't look that much different today.

[I drove across Oregon to Idaho in 2000. The high-desert part was gorgeous. - Dave]

Irrigon is near Hinkle, almost on the banks of the Columbia River. Western Pacific never got to Oregon except by trackage rights on the Great Northern "Northern California Extension" from Klamath Falls, finished just in time (1931) for the depths of the Depression, but now possibly with its heaviest use ever. The track shown is now and has been for at least a century Union Pacific. Oops, wait a second -- depending on the actual location, that particular piece may have been lifted on account of river work, as Terraserver indicates a dead end at Irrigon. Perhaps it was originally Oregon Railway and Navigation, but the dog ate my homework.

The pic was taken from some height over the tracks. I wonder if it was taken from a bridge.

Can't be certain of the status of the rail line. It would be a Union Pacific line now and from Google Earth I do know that there is a rail line running east to west through the town of Irrigon, Oregon (what a great name), but I can't verify that this is it. In looking at the Google Earth images of this place I noticed these circular areas of presumably irrigated land along the rail line (Irrigon, Oregon, irrigation!) so it would seem that this area is being "reclaimed." I do know as someone who grew up and still lives in Saskatchewan the concept looks entirely foreign. Talk about crop circles!

The picture is a beauty. I can't stop staring at it. It makes a great case for the Flat Earthers. Anyone know if the land's been reclaimed or if those tracks are still being being used?