Log Train In Boulder Gorge

Boulder Gorge also known as Devil's Gate was a popular place for photos of trains on the Sumpter Valley Ry. from the early days up through the 1940's. This early day photo was probably taken in the 1890's and captures a log train bound for South Baker with the rear of the train still in the narrow part of the gorge. A similar but different photo appears on the top of page 22 in "Rails Sagebrush and Pine". The caption says that the train has 30 cars of logs. That is quite a long train to be behind the diminutive Brooks mogul. This long train was possible because it was all down hill to Baker from the Sumpter Valley where this train likely originated. The little engine is #2 (Brooks C/N 626) which came to the SVRy in 1890-91. It was built in 1881 for the Utah Northern as #42, later #99 on the Utah & Northern roster. In 1906 Sumpter Valley had a general renumbering which placed it as #7 (2nd). It was retired around 1910. The scan is from the SVRR Archive.