SVR Opening Weekend...

In Northeast Oregon’s Baker County, Memorial Day Weekend is not only the start of the operating season on the Sumpter Valley Railroad, but it this year, it will also be your last chance to ride behind Mikado steam locomotive number 19 before she is removed from service for routine boiler work. Constructed for the line by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in June of 1920, the 113 ton locomotive was the last new steam engine purchased by the Sumpter Valley, and remained in service until 1941 when it was sold to the White Pass & Yukon Route in Alaska. Number 19, by then renumbered 81, was eventually replaced by diesel electric locomotives in 1958, and was stored in the scrap line at Skagway. Languishing until 1977, the number 19 was purchased by the Sumpter Valley Railroad Restoration Inc, and along with a sister locomotive, was returned to Baker County for display and an eventual return to operation. Through the efforts of contractors and volunteers, over a four year period, 1992-1996, the Mikado received a complete overhaul in Portland Oregon, and was once again ready to pull passenger trains. The number 19 has proven to be a popular and reliable addition to the new Sumpter Valley, but like all machinery, from time to time heavy repairs are required.

The current boiler ticket will expire on June 1, 2010, and repairs are expected to take a year or more to complete, with the cost likely to run over $200,000.00. At this time, over a quarter of the needed funds are in hand, and disassembly and prep work can get underway in the first part of June. The Sumpter Valley Railroad is actively seeking the additional funds, as well as volunteers who would like to help out on the rare opportunity of rebuilding a 90 year old locomotive. To help with fund raising, all donations made on the regular trains over the Memorial Day Weekend will go directly towards the overhaul, and all proceeds from the final run benefit train on the evening of May 31. This last train will leave the McEwen station at 7:00PM and is FREE to the public, with donations being accepted instead of regular fare. There will be a cake and ice-cream at the station in Sumpter, as well as a presentation of the initial restoration of number 19. The train will depart Sumpter between 8:30 and 9:00, and will be back at McEwen a half hour after. This will be your last chance to enjoy a trip behind number 19. There are no reservations for this last train.

Schedule for May 29, 30, 31

Round Trip from McEwen at 10:00AM, 12:30PM, and 3:00PM
Round Trip from Sumpter at 11:30AM, 2:00PM

One-Way Only from Sumpter at 4:30PM

Round Trip Fare: Adult, $15.00
Senior (65+) $14.00
Child (6-16) $9.00
Family $40.00
(2 Adults and 2 Children (6-16)

Final Round Trip from McEwen, Monday May 31 Only at 7:00PM

For more information, please visit us online at www.svry.com, or E-Mail us directly at sumptervalleyinfo@yahoo.com. You can also call us toll-free at 866-894-2268, or contact the Baker County Visitors Bureau during the week at 800-523-1235.



This picture is borrowed from Trainorders.com, and was taken by Harou, aka Ardenwood, it's fantastic and really highlights the big Mike at speed.