The Columbia River Paper Co. tramway known as the Camas and Tacoma Railroad, and the Camas Tramway, continued operated for more than 99 years, until it was finally replaced at the end of February 1982. It first operated with rolling stock July 26, 1913 after purchasing several 24 ft. 40,000 lb. capacity flatcars from the Seattle : Car and Foundry Co. of Renton, Washington, and would continue with that car design for the next seventy years. Although originally established as a horse and mule-drawn tramway on narrow gauge by owners Henry Pittock, J. K. Gill and W. F. Ladd, with Don H. Stearns as the manager. The first electric locomotive was purchased from Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1907, and overhead wires installed which would continue operating until the line was decommissioned in 1982. Railway cars were demarcated in red for the short 24 foot original style sizing, and others marked in green and yellow depending on the size, and although exact track mileage remained elusive after the end of operations, and removal of rails, company documents suggest it extended as far as eight miles.
Donald Elwin Abrahamsen (1929-2007) was a Korean War Veteran, railroad enthusiast, and longtime Director of Logistics and Planning at the Camas Paper Mill.
The collection was created by Don Abrahamsen and contains a 58 page unpublished typescript that gives a detailed summary of the history of the Camas and Tacoma Railroad electric tramway operated by Crown Zellerbach at their Camas Paper Mill the for more than 99 years, until it was finally replaced at the end of February 1982. The history offers specifications on all of the surviving locomotives, and rolling stock, as well as some historic decommissioned, with manufacturer and operation details.
It also includes various papers documenting the efforts by Don Abrahamsen, Muryel Davis, John Lewis, Robb Lemke, and the Sumpter Valley Railroad Restoration, Inc., to preserve the historic locomotives and rolling stock. The documents include: original letters; photographs; miscellaneous documents and memos; brochures; photocopies of original National Historic Landmark application; numerous newspaper clippings documenting the progress of the Sumpter Valley Railroad Restoration, Inc. efforts.
The collection is in the order received.
This collection is open and available for research use.
Copyright restrictions may apply.
[Item description]
Camas Railway Papers, 1980-1985 (Cage 959)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
The collection was purchased by WSU Libraries from Buckingham Books (Greencastle, PA) in 2023 February (MS 2023.09).
This collection was processed by Suzanne James-Bacon in 2023 March.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.