Hinkle Locomotive Service and Repair Facility

The first locomotive shop and servicing facilities at Hinkle were constructed in 1951 as part of the general relocation of railroads and highways in north-central Oregon because of the construction of the McNary Dam on the Columbia River.

Before 1951, the primary yard and locomotive facilities in the area were located at Rieth, Oregon, four miles west of Pendleton.

UP took advantage of this situation to consolidate trackage and replace antiquated locomotive maintenance and repair facilities at Rieth and Umatilla.

Before 1951, Hinkle had merely been the junction of the original Oregon Railway and Navigation Company (OR&N) mainline which ran north to Umatilla and then west to Portland, and the Coyote Cutoff which was constructed in 1914-1915 between Hinkle and Boardman where it rejoined the original OR&N mainline.

This station stop provided rail passenger service to local communities including Hermiston, Boardman, and Stanfield.