Incorporated in 1909, the Camas Prairie Railroad (CPRR) was a
successful joint venture between two major competing companies, the
Union Pacific and Northern Pacific Railroads. Despite covering less than
300 miles total, the Camas Prairie Railroad connected the region's
largest exporters of wheat and lumber and was the last vital section of
rail to directly connect the eastern United States with the Pacific
Northwest. In addition to freight, the CPRR was the most reliable method
of transportation for people and the postal service in this rural area,
even allowing for the creation of new towns along the line. The Camas
Prairie itself ranged from desert to mountainous forests, with rugged
river canyons in between. Infamously known as the Railroad on Stilts,
one subdivision alone boasts 44 bridges, many of them made from heavy
timber. No longer in business, portions of the track have been removed
while some remain active, carrying freight to larger markets. Trestles
and tunnels still dot the landscape, giving a peek into the
not-so-distant past.
