Spokane
International Railroad - (en)
The Spokane International Railroad (AAR reporting marks SI) was a
short line railroad which first went into operation December 31, 1887
between Spokane, Washington and the Canadian Pacific at Kingsgate,
British Columbia. The line became an important one for the CP with its
connections to the Union Pacific and Portland, Oregon.
The line, originally named the "Spokane International Railway,"
was built by local businessman and railroader Daniel Chase Corbin
following an agreement between him and the CP, with CP agreeing to
fund much of the line's construction and to secure the loan by holding
the new line's bonds.
Especially significant was the fact that the CP controlled the Soo
Line and its connections to Minneapolis, Minnesota, St. Paul,
Minnesota and Chicago, Illinois. Completion of the Spokane
International now meant that the CP could compete with the Northern
Pacific and Great Northern lines for transportation between the
midwest and the Puget Sound area. Express passenger service was soon
introduced on the line via the Soo-Spokane Train De Luxe.
The SI was reorganized October 1, 1941 following financial
difficulties and receivership during the Great Depression. The line
was renamed the Spokane International Railroad as part of the
restructuring agreement until the 1950s.
On October 6, 1958, Union Pacific Railroad took control of Spokane
International Railroad. In 1962 UP leased SI's 11 Alco RS-1
locomotives for operation. The locomotives were later repainted to
UP's yellow and gray paint scheme, but retained their SI lettering.
Also in 1962, UP sold four of its older steel cabooses to SI. These
were also painted in UP's yellow scheme, but also retained their SI
lettering and numbers. After UP's 1958 control of SI, Union Pacific
continued to lease SI for operation. On December 31, 1987, Union
Pacific formally merged SI into its corporate structure.
The line remains in operation as an important UP connection between
southern British Columbia and the northwest United States.
