By Peter DeKeles LSOL.com Special Projects Editor

Author  Bio In 1882, Loomis started to raise funds for a railroad. In 1888 construction began and 3.5 miles of track were completed. In 1889 the line was finished and regular service started from llwaco to Nahcotta. The extreme shallow water at the railroad's dock in Ilwaco restricted steamboat access to times when it was permitted by the tide. The railroad's schedule was based on the tide charts.

Lewis Loomis was born in New York in 1830. At the age of 22, he travelled to California and then to the Pacific County. In 1872, he purchased land that would become Loomis station. He formed the Ilwaco Wharf Company and with his brother Edwin, started the first stage line running from Ilwaco to Oysterville carrying freight passengers and the U.S. Mail.

In 1882, Loomis started to raise funds for a railroad. In 1888 construction began and 3.5 miles of track were completed. In 1889 the line was finished and regular service started from llwaco to Nahcotta. The extreme shallow water at the railroad's dock in Ilwaco restricted steamboat access to times when it was permitted by the tide. The railroad's schedule was based on the tide charts. For example, a schedule for April, 1905, shows times of departure from Astoria for the steamer varying from as early as 5:00 a.m. to as late as 8:30 a.m.

For 41 years the narrow gauge railroad made thousands of journeys from one end of the peninsula to the other. With the age of the automobile the train became less of a necessity. The railroad had a number of nicknames, including the "Clamshell Railroad" and the "Irregular, Rambling and Never-Get-There Railroad (IR&N). The final run of the IR&N was on September 9th, 1930.

Unfortunately, there is not much left of the railroad today. But with the help of a map called, The Clamshell Railroad Driving Tour, you are able to travel the route that the narrow gauge railroad followed.

Click here to download a PDF of the Brochure

We started our tour at the most northern end of the line, Nahcotta. From this terminal, passengers and freight were transferred to steamers for the trip to South Bend. The railroad built a long dock out into deep water in Willapa Bay at Nahcotta. The only thing left to see at this site are some of the wharf pilings.

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The nickname of the railroad, "Clamshell", is evident by looking at the thousands of clamshells scattered on the ground. The railroad had a three-stall roundhouse, water tank, and a gallows turntable at Nahcotta.

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As we headed south, we had to drive 10 miles to the city of Long Beach, by-passing four stops that no longer existed. Long Beach preserved the depot structure and moved it to its present location.

Seaview, 1 mile south, has the only depot still in its original location. It is currently the home of The Depot Restaurant which has maintained the structure and decorated the interior with railroad murals and memorabilia.

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We continued north on "L" St. for a few blocks and found a remaining railroad crossing sign on the southwest corner at 41st

We then travelled on to Fort Columbia. This depot was used by the U.S. Army to transport supplies and personnel to the active Fort situated on top of the hill. The Fort is in pristine condition and the view is spectacular. The tunnel (situated under the Fort) used by the highway today was originally blasted for the railroad.

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Mr. Loomis was an entrepreneur who had a great vision and drive. He died on July 19, 1913 and is buried in the historic Oysterville cemetery.

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