Vernonia Branch

Abandoned trestle at Tophill, Oregon.

This abandoned trestle in western Oregon ends abruptly after crossing state highway 47, six miles north of Buxton. From 1922 this line was part of the United Railways and connected the Oregon-American Company's sawmill in Vernonia to the national rail network, via the town Banks. The mill, which was the line's primary reason for existence, closed in 1957 and all rail service ended in 1969. Today this line is the Banks-Vernonia rail trail, a paved, 21 mile recreational trail. A series of switchbacks bypass the remains of this trestle, which was damaged by fire in 1986.