In 1887, the newly hired NCO General Manager, Erasmus Gest had an ambitious goal for the railroad to reach its final destination, The Dalles, Oregon. Gest scrapped plans for the railroad to build along west side of Honey Lake and to Susanville. It was Gest’s opinion to build the railroad on east side of Honey Lake to speed up the process. It was not meant to be, in 1890 NCO reached Brubeck’s Ranch, destined to become Amedee construction would stall for nearly decade. In 1900, when Gest retired, the railroad finally reached the Madeline Plains far short of Gest’s goal to Oregon..

Progress was made slowly but surely and by 1908, the NCO arrived at Alturas, the most populous community on the route. On January 10, 1912, it was momentous occasion when the NCO reached Lakeview, Oregon, 238 miles from Reno. Little did anyone know what a historic event it would be. It would remain the northernmost terminus of the NCO, the rails would never be extended beyond that point.

Tim