Sumpter Valley Ry. Eng. #20

Here is a narrow gauge engine that has survived and gets very little attention. Sumpter Valley Ry. #20 sits stored behind the SVRR shop. #20 was built along with well known sister #19 in 1920 for the SVRy. #20 came numbered 101 but was changed to #20 soon after arrival. She and 19 went through the Jan. 1921 round house fire, but were soon put back in service. The arrival of the two big Uintah articulated engines in 1940 spelled the end for need of #19 and #20 which were both sold in early 1941 to the White Pass & Yukon. Their original tenders were retained for use behind the former Uintah engines which became SVRy #'s 250 and #251. Like the #19 and #20, the tenders became world travelers when they were shipped to Guatemala in 1947 with the #250 and #251. SVRR was able to bring #19/ WP&Y #81 and #20 / WP&Y #80 back to Oregon in 1977. SVRR then acquired the two tenders from Guatemala, with the best of the two used in #19's restoration. So, the tender behind #20 in this photo taken April of 2019, is actually #19's original tender with Central American modifications to the water tank. #20 has to some extent been a parts donor for #19, but lacks nothing that can't be replicated. Maybe someday we will see #20 restored.




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/30/2021 07:18PM by J.B.Bane.