The name of the trail, the Yamhelas Westsider Trail, was named as early as 2015, five years ago, so it has nothing to do with the current political environment.

I don't really care for the "Westsider" moniker, because the name of the line was the Westside Line and one of the several freight trains that went over the line was named the Westsider. There was also a Northsider, and there were various Red Electric trains...

As for the railroad history? Built in 1870-1872 by the Oregon & California Railroad. Extended to Corvallis by 1880. O&C was purchased by the Southern Pacific in 1887. Electrified in 1914-1929 as part of the Red Electric service. The line was embargoed in 1980 and abandoned between Gaston and Carlton in 1985, and then stretches north of Gaston and Carlton shortly thereafter. Today, the Portland & Western Railroad operates the Westside Line south of St. Joseph to Corvallis, and the Seghers District from Seghers north to Forest Grove and east to Hillsboro.

Two shortlines once connected to the line; the Carlton & Coast Railroad at Carlton (abandoned in 1942) and the Willamette Valley & Coast Railroad (1912-1935).