 The Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company, a predecessor of the Union Pacific Railroad (UP), completed a branch from the main line at La Grande through Elgin to Joseph in late 1908.The Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad (INPR) leased (from La Grande to Elgin) and bought (from Elgin to Joseph) the line, among others, from the UP in November 1993.The Surface Transportation Board authorized abandonment beyond Elgin in 1997, but this was not consummated, and in 2002 Wallowa County purchased the line, still operated by the INPR.