Southern Pacific Red Electric Lines

Southern Pacific Red Electric Lines
Southern Pacific Red Electric Lines
	A Red Electric train at Southern Pacific Depot in Beaverton
Overview
Service type	Interurban passenger
Locale	Oregon
First service	January 17, 1914
Last service	October 5, 1929
Former operator(s)	Southern Pacific Company; operated as Portland, Eugene and Eastern Railway 1914–15 only
Technical
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	Overhead line, 1,500 V DC
Track owner(s)	Southern Pacific Company
Route map
Route map

The Southern Pacific Red Electric Lines, also known simply as the Red Electric, was a network of interurban passenger train services operated by the Southern Pacific Railroad in the Willamette Valley of the U.S. state of Oregon from 1914 to 1929. The service got its name from the bright red color of its cars. Despite its short history, among West Coast interurbans it was unique, and it was considered the finest such system in the Pacific Northwest. It was the only major electric interurban railroad converted from steam to electric passenger use. It was also one of few systems using all-steel equipment, and one of the largest 1500-volt systems in the country.