Wendling

From Lane Co Oregon

Wendling was a small mill town for the Booth-Kelly Lumber Company, but it wasn’t the only mill. A large mill was also located at Marcola along with several other smaller operations up and down the valley. The Wendling branch served as a mainline for several small logging railroads, which branched out on either side of the Mohawk River. Passenger trains would make two runs daily to Wendling and back until 1916, when only one run was made. As cars and roads became more prevalent, all passenger service ceased by the early 1930s. The line became exclusively a freight and logging railroad.

In 1946, the Booth Kelly Mill in Wendling closed down due to a labor dispute and then burned to the ground later the same year. This alleviated the need for the line to continue on to Wendling. The line between Marcola and Wendling, which included a bridge over the Mohawk River, was abandoned and torn out by 1948. The town died shortly there after. Southern Pacific apparently kept about 1 mile of track in place for many years afterward, including the bridge over the Mohawk River, to store cars. But the rest of the line to Wendling was torn out. After this, the line became officially known as the Marcola Branch of the Southern Pacific.