Sumpter Power: Mikado #19. The Sumpter Valley Railway's other "runner" is this 1920 Alco 2-8-2, which carries the line's number 19. The 19 and its sister engine, the 20, were identical locomotives and the only ones that the railroad ever purchased new from the factory. The pair were built as wood-burners, but were later converted to burn oil. They served the SVRy for 20 years, until 1940, when the line purchased a pair of big articulated engines. The two quickly became surplus and were sold to the White Pass & Yukon in Alaska. There, they spent another 18 years, hauling freight between Skagway and White Horse. Retired in 1958, the two engines sat unused in the Skagway Yard until 1977, when the restored SVRy inquired as to whether or not they could be donated back to their home operation. The White Pass agreed and the two were repatriated to Oregon, where they sat until the mid-1990s, when funds finally became available to restore one of them to operation. It was decided that the 19 was in the better condition of the two, so she was given a complete overhaul before going back to work hauling tourists on her home rails. Alas, 1,472 days seems to pass quickly, and the engine was parked again in 2010 to await another FRA Form 4 Inspection. She is seen here in Stall 2 of the McEwen Shops in October of 2012 undergoing this work. As of the date of this photo, the inspection had been completed and the loco was awaiting some door sheet work, as well as the installation of new boiler flues. The line hopes to have her operational sometime in 2013.
A collection of engines, cabooses, cars, etc., great and small that are past their prime, but represent a spirit of railroading that will never pass away!!
