Camas Prairie Railroad

{{Short description|Short line railroad in northern Idaho (1909–1998)}} {{Infobox rail | gauge={{Track gauge|ussg|allk=on}} |railroad_name = Camas Prairie Railroad Company |system_map = Camas Prairie RR map.jpg |map_size = 250px |marks = CSP |locale=Lewiston, ID to Riparia, WA Lewiston to Stites, ID Spalding to Grangeville, ID Orofino to Headquarters, ID |start_year = 1909 |end_year = 1998 |successor_line = Camas Prairie RailNet (1998–2004) Great Northwest Railroad (2004– ) BG&CM Railroad (2004– ) (2nd subdivision) |predecessor_line = |hq_city = Lewiston, Idaho, U.S. |image = LawyerCanyon.jpg |image_size = 250px |caption = Lawyer's Canyon steel viaduct (1909) ({{coord|46.2|N|116.42|W|scale:10000|display=inline|name=Location of Lawyer's Cnayon steel viaduct}}) }} {{Location map |USA |relief = 1 |label = Camas Prairie Railroad |lat = 46.24 |long = -116.47 |caption = Location in the United States |float = |background= |width = 250 }} '''Camas Prairie Railroad Company''' {{Reporting mark|CSP}} was a short line railroad in northern Idaho jointly owned and operated by Northern Pacific Railway and Union Pacific.<ref name=squab90>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aZ5fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zDEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4221,4430352|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|title=Camas Prairie Railroad was born to squabbling parents|date=September 30, 1990|page=12-centennial}}</ref><ref name=spunk>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ybdeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gDAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4011,2277178|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|last=Campbell|first=Thomas W.|title=Wedding of rails provided spunky offspring|date=July 16, 1961|page=5}}</ref>

Parts of the former railroad are now operated by the Great Northwest Railroad and the BG&CM Railroad.

==History== The Nez Perce Indian Reservation was opened to White settlement in {{nowrap|1895.<ref name=np61>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lYNfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uzAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3160,3901168|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|last=Hamilton|first=Ladd|title=Heads were popping up all over the place|date=June 25, 1961|page=14}}</ref><ref name=unrul77>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qJxfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nzEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4374,7048300|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|last=Brammer|first=Rhonda|title=Unruly mobs dashed to grab land when reservation opened|date=July 24, 1977|page=6E}}</ref><ref name=npop31>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OZ5fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uzEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1072,1295368|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|title=3,000 took part in "sneak" when Nez Perce Reservation was opened|date=November 19, 1931|page=3}}</ref><ref name=21np>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cgpWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=veEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4420,8604920|newspaper=Spokesman-Review|title=Nez Perce Reservation|date=December 11, 1921|page=5}}</ref>}} By the turn of the 20th century, Edward H. Harriman and James J. Hill were engaged in a "railroad war" for control of rail routes through this area to reach the {{nowrap|Pacific Northwest.<ref name=cpruosu>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=73hfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ry8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=4906,2254930|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|title=Camas Prairie Railroad unique operating setup|last=Hanrahan|first=R.E.|date=May 1, 1936|page=3 }}</ref><ref name=cprrm30a>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=i6xfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wDIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1539,5210876|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|last=Campbell|first=Thomas J.|title=Camas Prairie Railroad marks 30th anniversary|date=December 11, 1938|page=12}}</ref>}} Despite their competing interests, the railroad barons co-operated to build the Camas Prairie Railroad.

The CSP was built to tap the rolling, fertile hills of the  Camas Prairie and the timber of the forested hills and canyonlands of the {{nowrap|Clearwater River.<ref name=covrseeus>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ftUUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YJsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6255%2C2377985 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington|title=Come over and see us |date=February 27, 1895 |page=6}}</ref><ref name=unmjrin>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mZpfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hDEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1618,3998625|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|title=Camas Prairie Railroad, unique system owned by competitors, is major industry in Lewiston|date=May 20, 1939|page=3-sec.5}}</ref>}} Service to the south terminus of the second subdivision line at Grangeville commenced in {{nowrap|December 1908,<ref name=cpruosu/>}} and continued for 92 years.

==Features== The Camas Prairie Railroad was known as the "railroad on stilts" due to the many wooden trestles along its route. In one {{convert|5|mi|0|adj=on|spell=in}} stretch, there were more than a dozen trestles, and along the entire {{convert|66|mi|adj=on}} length of the second subdivision, the line passes over 45 bridges and seven tunnels (though one bridge has since burned down and tunnel #2 was long ago day-lighted).<ref name=riegger>{{Cite book |title=The Camas Prairie |last=Riegger |first=Hal |publisher=Pacific Fast Mail |date=1986 |id=US 86-060949}}</ref><ref name=cplocph /><ref name=jones>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rusticlens.com/2017/12/05/camas-prairie-railroad-part-3/ |title=The Camas Prairie Railroad Part 3 – Reubens to Highway 95|last=Jones|first=Evan|date=December 5, 2017|access-date=March 8, 2025}}</ref> The sub-division's largest timber trestles and all 7 tunnels are between Culdesac and Reubens, where the line continues up Lapwai Creek Canyon then loops back north and finally climbs out through Rock Creek canyon, a {{convert|2000|ft|adj=on}} ascent at a 3% grade.<ref name=cplocph />{{rp|2}}

Among the line's notable features are the curved timber-frame trestle Bridge 22, known as "Half-moon Trestle".<ref name=cplocph /> This bridge, partially visible from U.S. Route 95,<ref name=jones /> has a length of {{convert|685|ft}} and is {{convert|141|ft}} high, and was built with almost 1 million board-feet of lumber.<ref>{{cite web|title=Camas Prairie Railroad |url=https://www.nezpercecountymuseum.com/learn-about-nez-perce-county |website=nezpercecountymuseum.com |location=Nez Perce County, Idaho |publisher=Nez Perce County Historical Society and Museum |access-date=March 8, 2025}}</ref> Tunnel 1, called "horeshoe tunnel", bends at such an angle that neither end can be seen from the middle.<ref name=jones /> This tunnel, and several others are either timber-framed or have timber-framed entrances.<ref name=cplocph />{{rp|6}} In addition to its wooden trestles, the railroad's second subdivision also had a sizable steel viaduct, {{convert|1520|ft|0}} in length with a maximum height of {{convert|280|ft|0}}.<ref name=cplocph>{{Cite web |url=https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/id/id0400/id0437/data/id0437data.pdf |title=Camas Prairie Railroad, Second Subdivision |last1=Renk |first1=Nancy F. |last2=Miss |first2=C. J. |date=2002 |work=Historic American Engineering Record |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=May 8, 2022 |page=6}}</ref><ref name=lcbh>{{Cite web |url=https://bridgehunter.com/id/lewis/bh56256/ |work=Bridgehunter.com |title=CSP – Lawyers Canyon Viaduct |access-date=July 12, 2017}}</ref> Known as Bridge 38 ({{coord|46.2|N|116.42|W|scale:10000|display=inline|name=Location of Lawyer's Cnayon steel viaduct}}), it spans Lawyer's Canyon between Craigmont and Ferdinand, and is also visible from U.S. 95.

==Nezperce & Idaho Railroad== The Nezperce & Idaho Railroad (reporting mark NP&I) was an independently owned short line railroad that connected the community of Nezperce to the Camas Prairie Railroad. Primarily used to ship agricultural products it operated from 1910 until 1975,<ref name="Askari">{{Cite web|last=Askari|first=Mohsin|title=NEZPERCE-CRAIGMONT LINE SCRAP-METAL RAILROAD OWED ITS LIFE TO JOE LUX|url=https://lmtribune.com/feature/nezperce-craigmont-line-scrap-metal-railroad-owed-its-life-to-joe-lux/article_8201b690-9269-53f7-9626-f6f4449977cb.html|access-date=2021-06-02|website=The Lewiston Tribune|date=6 May 1990 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=It's a Short Line, But a Long Story|url=https://lmtribune.com/northwest/its-a-short-line-but-a-long-story/article_696737ac-ac25-56fa-9fe0-9c318bad09a5.html|access-date=2021-06-02|website=The Lewiston Tribune|date=22 August 2011 |language=en}}</ref> it was then used for boxcar storage until the 1980s.<ref name="Askari"/>

== Demise == left|thumb|Railroad's water tower in Lewiston (2002) The railroad was sold to North American RailNet in April 1998, and it became the subsidiary Camas Prairie RailNet, Inc. (CSPR). After less than two years, CSPR notified the U.S. government in late 1999 that the second subdivision line to Grangeville could be subject to abandonment, citing lack of profitability.<ref name="abdng66">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nqteAAAAIBAJ&sjid=py4MAAAAIBAJ&pg=3450%2C1451638|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|last=Williams|first=Elaine|title=Abandoning 66-mile stretch a step-by-step procedure|date=February 6, 2000|page=1E}}</ref><ref name="sevties">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9ateAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ti4MAAAAIBAJ&pg=4961,1558122|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|title=Severing ties|last=Williams|first=Elaine|date=August 21, 2000|page=1A}}</ref> It made its formal request in May,<ref name="reqabn">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TaxeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wC4MAAAAIBAJ&pg=5595,459947|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|title=Legal notices: Camas Prairie RailNet, Inc.|date=May 2, 2000|page=9B}}</ref> and it was approved by the Surface Transportation Board in September 2000; the last run to Fenn and Grangeville was on {{nowrap|November 29.<ref name=cpdrmstm>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oMYjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MdEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1412,3889542|newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News|agency=Associated Press|title=Camas Prairie dream out of steam|date=November 30, 2000|page=2A}}</ref><ref name=lrtgrg>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=D6xeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uS4MAAAAIBAJ&pg=6006,4116844|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|last=Walker|first=Jodi|title=Some cracks in the foundation: Last train to Grangeville|date=December 31, 2000|page=3A}}</ref>}} The tracks were to be removed shortly thereafter,<ref name=rrgotsr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=l79eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TzEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3958%2C1824038 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|last=Walker|first=Jodi|title=Railroad gets OK to salvage rails|date=September 7, 2002|page=5A}}</ref> but that was delayed as a new operator for the line was sought. When BG&CM stepped in to operate the second subdivision line in December 2002, it was originally only to extend from Spalding to Craigmont,<ref name=cplwra02>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g79eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UTEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4461,633560|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|last=Walker|first=Jodi|title=Camas Prairie line will run again|date=December 18, 2002|page=1A}}</ref> but a few weeks later decided to continue south, across Lawyer's Canyon to Cottonwood, stopping the salvage crews from going further north.<ref name=cottnwdag>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=t8VeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4903,1943178|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|last=Walker|first=Jodi|title=Cottonwood has a railroad, again|date=January 9, 2003|page=1A}}</ref><ref name=spsb03>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=x7BeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qC8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=4593,2530420 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|last=Williams|first=Elaine|title=Spalding line survives, barely|date=March 23, 2003|page=1E}}</ref>

The tracks from Cottonwood to Grangeville were removed and salvaged in late 2002 and 2003. North American RailNet sold the remainder of the railroad to Watco in March 2004,<ref name=rrchhds04>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bs9eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BjMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2559,178669|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|last=Williams|first=Elaine|title=Railroad changing hands|date=February 17, 2004|page=1A}}</ref><ref name=trkprng>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=98NeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yDEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2602,805813|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|title=Railroad changes hands, trains keep on running|last=Williames|first=Elaine|date=March 4, 2004|page=6A}}</ref> which renamed it the Great Northwest Railroad.

In 2011, Bridge 21-3 was destroyed in a wildfire. Although BG&CM owner Mike Williams indicated plans to rebuild by spring of 2012 at the latest,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tribune|first=ERIC BARKER of the|title=Owner plans to rebuild rail trestle|url=https://lmtribune.com/northwest/owner-plans-to-rebuild-rail-trestle/article_96fede81-83cd-5748-b869-178a57f9df69.html|access-date=2021-06-01|website=The Lewiston Tribune|date=10 September 2011 |language=en}}</ref> no construction has occurred.

By 2021 the tracks had been removed all the way from Grangeville to Ruebens.

==Second subdivision== thumb|200px|Half Moon Trestle (1909) ({{coord|46.325|N|116.5743|W|scale:10000|display=inline|name=Location of Halfmoon Trestle}}) All locations in north central Idaho {| class=wikitable style="text-align:center" |- ! rowspan=2|  County  !! rowspan=2|City / Stop!!rowspan=2|  Mile  !!colspan=2|Elevation |- ! feet !! m |- | rowspan=4|Nez Perce || align=left|Spalding || 0 || {{convert|805|ft|disp=table}} |- | align=left|Lapwai || 3.3 ||{{convert|955|ft|disp=table}} |- | align=left|Sweetwater || 5.3 ||{{convert|1090|ft|0|disp=table}} |- | align=left|Culdesac || 12.1 ||{{convert|1645|ft|disp=table}} |- | rowspan=3|Lewis || align=left|Nucrag || 19.5 ||{{convert|2780|ft|0|disp=table}} |- | align=left|Reubens || 26.1 ||{{convert|3525|ft|disp=table}} |- | align=left|Craigmont || 34.4 || {{convert|3740|ft|0|disp=table}} |- | rowspan=4|Idaho || align=left|Ferdinand || 42.3 ||{{convert|3720|ft|0|disp=table}} |- | align=left|Cottonwood || 51.0 ||{{convert|3495|ft|disp=table}} |- | align=left|Fenn || 59.5 || {{convert|3275|ft|disp=table}} |- | align=left|Grangeville || 66.8 || {{convert|3395|ft|disp=table}} |} Source:<ref name=reqabn/>

==Passenger service== Passenger service on the main line along the Clearwater River to Stites and on the second subdivision to Grangeville was discontinued in August 1955.<ref name=sdcpsssvc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9iBYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rfYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4323%2C6450917 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |title=Camas Prairie trains stop |date=August 24, 1955 |page=b3 }}</ref><ref name=cpbugs>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IrdeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=aTAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1003,2245308|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|title=Camas Prairie Railroad 'Bugs' reach end of the line today|date=August 23, 1955|page=12 }}</ref>

==Popular culture== The 1975 film ''Breakheart Pass'' starring Charles Bronson was filmed on portions of the railroad, as were parts of 1999's ''Wild Wild West.''

==References== {{Reflist|2}} *{{Cite web |author=Railroad Retirement Board |author-link=Railroad Retirement Board |url=http://www.rrb.gov/pdf/bcd/bcd98-55.pdf |title=Employer Status Determination: Camas Prairie Railroad Company |date=1998 |access-date=2006-08-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714163108/http://www.rrb.gov/pdf/bcd/bcd98-55.pdf |archive-date=2007-07-14 |url-status=dead}}

==External links== {{External media |video1 = {{YouTube|Z4CFhSeJVoc|"Camas Prairie Railroad Cab Ride Trailer"}} |video2 = {{YouTube|HB1RVleELVM|"Tribute to the Camas Prairie's 2nd Sub"}} }} *[http://www.american-rails.com/csp.html American-rails.com] – Camas Prairie Railroad *[http://camasprairierails.com/index.htm Camas Prairie Rails] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804015659/http://camasprairierails.com/index.htm |date=2012-08-04 }} *{{HAER |survey=ID-41 |id=id0437 |title=Camas Prairie Railroad, Second Subdivision, Spalding, Nez Perce County, ID |photos=126 |data=57 |cap=8}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20140826134737/http://www.preservationidaho.org/blog/nancy-foster-renk/camas-prairie-railroad Preservation Idaho] – Camas Prairie Railroad *[http://www.lib.uidaho.edu/special-collections/histphoto/PG6183/index2.html University of Idaho Library: Digital Initiatives] – Hal Riegger CPRR Collection

Category:Defunct Idaho railroads Category:Defunct Washington (state) railroads Category:Historic American Engineering Record in Idaho Category:Spin-offs of the Northern Pacific Railway Category:Spin-offs of the Union Pacific Railroad Category:Transportation in Nez Perce County, Idaho Category:Transportation in Lewis County, Idaho Category:Transportation in Idaho County, Idaho