Wikipedia:WikiProject Trains/ICC valuations/Bellingham and Northern Railway

Interstate Commerce Commission, Valuation Reports, Volume 44

Bellingham and Northern Railway

Location and General Description of Property

The railroad of the Bellingham and Northern Railway Company, hereinafter called the Bellingham and Northern, is a single-track, standard-gage, steam railroad also located in northwestern Washington. The main line extending northeasterly from Bellingham to Glacier, a distance of 44.247 miles, with branches from Goshen to Welcome, Hampton to Lynden, and Bellingham to Squalicum, comprises 66.818 miles of first main track. Yard tracks and sidings aggregating 29.030 miles are also owned; and the road thus embraces 95.848 miles of all tracks owned and used.

The Bellingham and Northern is controlled by the St. Paul.

Introductory

The Bellingham and Northern is a corporation of Washington, having its principal office at Seattle, Wash., but its accounting records are maintained at Chicago, Ill. Although the company acquired title to its original property on October 21, 1912, it did not commence recording the results of the operations until January 1, 1913.

The Bellingham and Northern is controlled by the St. Paul through ownership of its capital stock. The records reviewed do not indicate that this company controls any common-carrier corporation.

The property of the Bellingham and Northern was operated by its own organization from January 1, 1913, to December 31, 1917. Since January 1, 1918, it has been operated by the United States Railroad Administration.

Corporate History

The Bellingham and Northern was incorporated October 17, 1912, under the general laws of Washington, for the purpose of acquiring by purchase, lease, or otherwise, the property, rights, and franchises of the Bellingham Bay and British Columbia Rail Road Company and the Bellingham Terminals & Railway Company. The date of organization was October 18, 1912. The Bellingham and Northern, itself, and these corporations total three different corporations, and comprise the line of corporate succession culminating in the Bellingham and Northern as at present constituted.

1. Bellingham and Northern Railway Company incorporated under general laws of Washington, October 17, 1912.
2. Bellingham Bay and British Columbia Rail Road Company incorporated under general laws of California, June 21, 1883, sold October 21, 1912, to 1.
3. Bellingham Terminals & Railway Company incorporated under general laws of California, May 3, 1909, sold October 21, 1912, to 1.

Development of Fixed Physical Property

The recorded mileage of the Bellingham and Northern amounts to 66.42 miles. Of this, 11.29 miles were acquired by construction; 49.33 miles were acquired by purchase from the Bellingham Bay and British Columbia Rail Road Company, and 5.80 miles were acquired by purchase from the Bellingham Terminals & Railway Company. The inventoried mileage is 66.818. Further data respecting the construction period and termini for each portion of the property will be found in the accounting report.

Predecessor Companies

Bellingham Bay and British Columbia Rail Road

This company was incorporated June 21, 1883, under the general laws of California. There were no available accounting records prior to July 1, 1904. Although the property of the company was conveyed to its successor by deed dated October 21, 1912, the accounts and operations continued to December 31, 1912.

The company was controlled on October 21, 1912, the date of sale of its property, by the Chicago, Milwaukee and Puget Sound Railway Company through ownership of a majority of its capital stock. The records reviewed do not indicate that it controlled any common-carrier corporation. The property of this company was operated by its own organization from 1891, the year the first section of the road was placed in operation, to December 31, 1912.

The owned railroad, 49.33 miles, consisted of a single-track, standard-gage, steam railroad, extending from Bellingham to Glacier, Wash., and a branch line extending from Hampton to Lynden, Wash.

The company operated under lease 5.80 miles, consisting of a freight terminal railroad in and about Bellingham, Wash., designated as the Squalicum Creek line.

Bellingham Terminals & Railway

This company was incorporated May 3, 1909, under the general laws of California.

Although the property was conveyed to its successor by deed dated October 21, 1912, the accounts and operations continued to December 31, 1912.

The company was controlled on October 21, 1912, the date of sale of its property, by the Chicago, Milwaukee and Puget Sound Railway Company through ownership of a majority of its capital stock. The records reviewed do not indicate that it controlled any common-carrier corporation. The property of this company was operated by the Bellingham Bay and British Columbia Rail Road Company under lease agreement from the date it was placed in operation in June 1910 to December 31, 1912.

The owned railroad, 5.80 miles, consisted of a single-track, standard-gage, steam railroad in and about Bellingham, Wash., designated as the Squalicum Creek line. The construction work was performed by the forces of the Bellingham Bay and British Columbia Rail Road Company and numerous contractors, none of whom appear to have been affiliated with the company.