Kennewick Northern Railway Co. - Northern Pacific Archive - Unissued Railway Stock Certificate - Washington State

Unissued Stock.

The Kennewick Northern Railway Company, a strategically important branch line, was established in the early 20th century as a subsidiary of the Northern Pacific Railway. Its primary objective was to secure a foothold in the rapidly expanding agricultural landscape of the Yakima Valley. The line extended from a junction near Kennewick, Washington, and headed north along the west bank of the Columbia River. The Northern Pacific made this strategic move to preempt competition from the North Bank Road (the Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railway) and to capitalize on the lucrative transportation of fruit, wheat, and livestock that characterized the region’s economy at the turn of the century.

Despite its independent incorporation in 1902, the Kennewick Northern essentially functioned as an extension of the Northern Pacific’s extensive infrastructure. The line played a crucial role in the “irrigation boom” of the Tri-Cities area, providing the necessary logistical link to transport local produce to national markets. However, as the rail industry underwent significant consolidation, and the reliance on localized branch lines shifted towards long-haul trucking and major arterial tracks, the Kennewick Northern was fully absorbed into the parent company’s operations. Today, while much of the original corporate identity has faded into railroad history, the path it paved remains a testament to the era of rapid Pacific Northwest expansion.