The Portland Terminal Railroad Company (PTRC), formerly the Northern Pacific Terminal Company (NPTCo.), was created to be the heart of Henry Villards Northwest rail empire. The NPTCo. survived the whims of the financial markets, two world wars, and numerous corporate mergers. It reached its zenith in the 1950s and changed its name to Portland Terminal Railroad Company in 1965. The company continues to operate as a successful business, serving the local freight needs of the parent railroads and Guilds Lake industrial district.

Using materials from the PTRC corporate archives, Pacific Northwest Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, Oregon Historical Society, City of Portland Archives, and many private collections, this book paints a picture of the development of the railroad and touches on the city that nurtured its development. Alfred Mullett, a longtime Portlander, discovered this railroad while working on another project. Researching this book has given him a new appreciation of the interesting and often surprising history of his hometown and the role played by the railroads in its development.