Re: SVRy locos....

Skip and Bret are correct as to the engine numbers and cause of the damage. According to Nills Christiansen the snow plow was shoved clear off the end of the spur. The 19/81's cab was straight, but had incured some damage while in service. The two sides did not match, the right side having been replaced at some point.

The 20/80 recieved some additional damage during loading at Skagway. Nills was operating a 977 trackloader next to the right cylinder and hit the valve guide, breaking it and bending the valve stem. It was necessary to disconnect the the radius and combining levers in order to move the locomotive.

Some firebox damage was found after the 19 had been in service for a while. There were cracks at some of the stay bolt holes on the lower side sheets, and the door sheet and side sheets had some erosion problems. There is a record, during Army operation, of the 19 recieving damage which rendered it inoperable while out on the line. It became necessary to empty the boiler at well below zero. Possibly the firebox cracks occured at this time due to the extream difference in temprature.