The most mysterious 3' narrow gauge north of Panama!

When the Sumpter Valley RR #250 and #251 were sold July 14, 1947 to Hyman-Michaels Co. of Chicago, Ill. They were intended for delivery to Standard Fruit & Steamship Co. for operation out of La Ceiba, Honduras. This company is now Dole Fruit known for the banana distributions. As we know, for some reason the former Uintah Ry locomotives were diverted to United Fruit Co. at Anguita, Guatemala.

The SF company was originally called the Vaccaro Railroad, and then Standard Fruit & Steamship Co. RR. having over 283 miles of line by 1972. Their steam engine roster extended up to the vicinity of 45 engines and No. 61-64 were Davenport internal combustion. On May 29, 1931 they acquired the Shay #39, (Lima #3193) and renumbered #41, formerly McKelvey Brothers Lumber Company No. 3 of Rockhill Furnace, PA, home of the East Broad Top RR shops. At La Ceiba, the Shay received a passenger pilot and handled passenger trains for a while. They also had a Heisler, as well as Porter, Baldwin’s, Alco, Vulcan, and a Portland.

Trains Magazine has only noted this line twice, with brief map and some photos by Frank Barry, but no other fan publications has ever covered its’ history and nothing is know of its sale of equipment upon abandonment. Small parts of it might still be used as a public tram right of way within La Ceiba. It was reported heavily destroyed by a hurricane. Questions have been posted here asking about it but no one has ever been able to respond with factual information.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/12/2010 09:46AM by John E. Bull.