Uintah/Sumpter Valley Mallets in Guatemala

A friend sent me this photo of the two Uintah articulateds in their last days in Guatemala. No date, no attribute regarding source, etc. Most of you know the history of the only two narrow gauge articulateds ever built in the U.S. for use in the U.S.

Built by Baldwin for the Uintah Railway of Colorado/Utah. When that railway quit, they went to the Sumpter Valley Ry. in eastern Oregon. When that line quit after WWII, they were sold to the Guatemala railroad system. Guatemala abandoned the last of its railroads (IIRC) during fighting 20 or 30 years ago down there and the articulateds were abandoned in the jungles at a place called Esquintla, which is where this photo was taken. The last report of which I am aware stated that the engines had been cannibalized substantially and eventually the jungle overgrew what was left.

Which is why I'm guessing this photo was taken some time ago. "250" was this engine's number on the Sumpter Valley line.

Maybe some of you have seen this photo; I have not. Undoubtedly, some of you know a lot more about their final disposition than I do.


Best regards, Hart Corbett