Re: SVRy #4 stack

In the early 1920's the Sumpter Valley seemed to be experimenting with different spark arresting schemes. The 19 and 20 were said to have been delivered with both straight and diamond stacks, and there is photographic evidence to back this up. However, Floyd Carpenter once told me that they had a master mechanic front end. At any rate, at the time of the roundhouse fire, which occured the winter after they were delivered, one had a straight stack and the other a diamond. When rebuilt after the fire #19 had a straight stack, but sometime later all the Mikados and #50 were equipped with Rushton stacks. I think these stayed on for the rest of their time on the SVRy. Other than after the rebuild I have not seen a photo of #4 with other than a diamond stack, evidently none of the earlier locomotives received Rushtons.

Final note on stacks; after the SV converted to oil in 1940 #17 sported a straight stack for the first time. Tonopah mogle #1 might have also been converted, but none of the other locomotives were.