Junction City in Lane County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

Locomotive 418

Finnish National Railways

— In Service 1904 - 1958 —

Locomotive 418 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, April 22, 2018

1. Locomotive 418 Marker

Inscription. Of this type of railway locomotive, only Engine 418 and a sister, Engine 293, remain. Engine 293 is on permanent display at a Leningrad museum in Russia.

Engine 418 was built in Tampere, Finland, in 1904. In 1939-40 it saw services during the Winter War between Russia and Finland. Clearly visible are shrapnel scars from near-misses by Russia aircraft.

The principal difference between 418 and American locomotives is the track width and the coupling mechanism. The Finnish track width is five feet, the American width 4 feet 8 1/2 inches. Engine 418 uses chain couplings to connect cars while American locomotives use an automatic knuckle coupler.

Engine 418 originally came to Oregon as a gift from the Government of Finland to commemorate the State Centennial. From 1960 to 1980 the engine resided at Oakes Park in Portland.

In 1980, Honorary Finnish Counsul John Virtanen sought a new home for Engine 418, and selected Junction City. On August 7, 1980, Founder's Park and Finland Station became the final home for Locomotive 418.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is August 7, 1980.

Location. 44° 13.11′ N, 123° 12.201′ W. Marker is in Junction City, Oregon, in Lane County. It is at the intersection

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

of Holly Street and W 5th Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Holly Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Junction City OR 97448, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Cascade Range,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Junction City — A Brief History (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lee House (about 400 feet away); Junction City’s First Jail (about 500 feet away); “The Struggle Has Ended” (approx. 4½ miles away); Smithfield (approx. 6.7 miles away); West Side Old Territorial Road (approx. 6.8 miles away); Wilhelm Mill Water Wheel (approx. 7.9 miles away); The Belknap Settlement (approx. 8.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Junction City.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, April 22, 2018

2. Locomotive 418 Marker

Locomotive 418 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, April 22, 2018

3. Locomotive 418

Credits. This page was last revised on June 29, 2018. It was originally submitted on June 29, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 1,960 times since then and 144 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 29, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.