1870s !

All Town Locations Before 11/11/1889, Were In Washington Territory.

  • 07/10/1870 : Northern Pacific Railroad's first locomotive arrives, the Minnetonka.

  • 03/19/1871 : Northern Pacific Railroad lays its first west-end rails at Kalama, Washington.

  • 04/26/1871 : The Olympia & Chehalis Railroad Company was incorporated.

  • 03/22/1872 : Seattle's first steam railway begins operation, started by the Seattle Coal & Transportation Company.

  • 07/01/1872 : Northern Pacific Railroad operations begin from Kalama to Evaline, Washington (25 miles).

  • 07/14/1873 : Tacoma, Washington becomes Northern Pacific Railroads western terminus..

  • 07/24/1873 : Articles of incorporation are filed for the Seattle & Walla Walla Railroad & Transportation Company.

  • 12/16/1873 : Northern Pacific Railroad operations begin from Tenino to Tacoma, Washington and its first train reaches                       Tacoma, WA. (40.0 miles)

  • 04/03/1874 : Construction begins on the Olympia & Chehalis Valley Railroad. (narrow gauge)

  • 09/02/1874 : The Dayton & Columbia River Transportation Company is incorporated.

  • 02/23/1875 : The ILwaco Steam Navigation Company is organized.

  • 08/05/1875 : The Northern Pacific Railroad is sold at auction to a committee of bondholders.

  • 10/23/1875 : Walla Walla & Columbia River Railroad's first passenger train leaves Walla Walla for Wallula, Washington.

  • 03/20/1876 : The Walla Walla & Dayton Railray Company is incorporated.

  • 02/08/1877 : Norhtern Pacific Railroad operations begin from Seattle to Black River, Washington. (9.8 miles)

  • 03/07/1877 : The Seattle & Walla Walla Railroad begins service.

  • 11/01/1877 : Northern Pacific Railroad operations begin from Tacoma to Wilkeson, Washington. (31.2 miles)

  • 02/18/1878 : Walla Walla & Columbia River Railroad is purchased by Oregon Steam & Navigation Company.

  • 04/24/1878 : The Walla Walla, Dallas Railroad Company is incorporated.

  • 08/02/1878 : Northern Pacific Railroad operations begin from Tenino to Olympia, Washington. (14.5 miles)

  • 05/04/1879 : Walla Walla & Columbia River Railroad Company is sold to Henry Villard.

  • 05/23/1879 : Frederick Billings is elected president of the Northern Pacific Railroad.

  • 06/13/1879 : The Oregon Railway & Navigation Co. is incorporated in Washington Territory.

  • 09/15/1879 : The Blue Mountain Railroad Company is organized.

  • 09/15/1879 : Walla Walla & Columbia River Railroad completes Whitman, Washington to Blue Mountain, Oregon.

  • 09/20/1879 : The Seattle & North Coast Railroad Company is incorporated.

  • 09/30/1879 : Workers leave Wallula, by steamboat for Ainsworth, to start the building of the Snake River Bridge.

  • 10/01/1879 : John W. Sprague turns the first shovelful of dirt for the building of the Snake River Bridge at Ainsworth..

  • 10/02/1879 : Graders start work at 1 p.m. at Ainsworht,building the Northern Pacific bridge over the Snake River.

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