Ted,
Actually, the website you mention was not created directly by the Sumpter Valley Railroad(SVR), but by the sister organization the Western Railway Preservation Society(WRPS). This group was formed with the focus of historic equipment restoration in conjunction with the Restoration Department of the Sumpter Valley. The best comparison would be the Friends of the C&TS, though the WRPS does not strictly limit itself to equipment from the Sumpter Valley Railway and the associated logging lines, and instead has a broader goal of preservation that includes rolling stock such as the Westside Lumber caboose number 3, and Denver & Rio Grande Western outfit car number 04951 that is often erroneously listed as belonging to the SVR.
This partnership in preservation is less than a year old, but significant improvements have already been made on site, and support is increasing. While many may ask why a separate organization with similar goals was necessary, the main reason is that at this time, the main focus of the SVR is on operations, and maintenance of in-service equipment. There has been a resource shortfall in regard to restoration, and the WRPS is doing their best to bridge the gap.
I'm on the Board of both organizations, and am very optimistic about the improvements that have been made so far, and the current plans for future projects.
The business car is in limited service, but has operated several times this summer, especially on the major holidays. The restoration of the number 100,
Leviathan, is far from complete, and we are hoping to do a full tear down and rebuild in the near future.
The following is the President's Message from the latest edition of the railroad newsletter, the
Stumpdodger. It is a general report, so if you have specific questions, please don't hesitate to ask...
Well hopefully I’m not going to be judged on underwhelming punctuality, and at the very least, my excuse for an alarming time span between Stumpdodger editions is that we have had a very busy and productive summer. Also, unless I am appointed again in October, this will be my last President’s Message, but on to more important things. While initially there were many worries as to how well the schedule could be maintained without number 19 on the active roster for the majority of the summer, our old warhorse number 3 seems to be more than up to the challenge. A mild summer played a major role in the success of the season as well, but the dedication of our volunteers and contractors is what really kept everything on the right track (lame pun) and moving forward.
Coming out of a debt crisis in 2009, the financial situation improved steadily throughout 2010, with the general account containing just over $21,000.00 at the time of this writing. While that is not an excessive amount of money, it needs to be viewed in the context of the railroad being in the red nearly $80,000.00 less than two years ago. And, it should also be noted that all designated accounts retain their full value. As an example, the number 19 account is sitting pretty with over $50,000.00.
As I’ve said, there are many factors that helped move the railroad well into the black. Apart from continued diligence and fiscal responsibility, I am very pleased to announce that passenger counts are well up over last season. At the January planning meeting a goal of increasing ridership by ten percent was set, and after the upcoming photo trains, we will have achieved this goal. Last year, 9,388 passengers were carried, and as of the last day of regular season, 10,304 had taken a trip on the narrow gauge, 23 shy of a solid ten percent increase. More passengers naturally means more revenue, as does a well stocked gift shop, and with the help of Leonard Merritt, the Sumpter station and merchandise selection was greatly improved, with the majority of passengers and crew being quite satisfied with the changes. While $2,000.00 is still our base for a good weekend, $2,500 - $3,000.00 were much more common this year. In fact, only one weekend during an unusually wet June failed to meet our base, and it came in at $1,996.40.
Another goal set at the planning meeting was to increase the number of members and active volunteers, and thanks to our cab pass program, the membership once again exceeds 400. We are still working hard to increase the number of active volunteers, and have new programs and activities planned for the coming season. If you have been inactive for a while, I strongly encourage you to once again participate in the preservation and operation of a real treasure of the Northwest.
Of course, the most prominent goal for 2010 was addressing the motive power situation. This has been somewhat more complicated than initially hoped, but in general the progress has been positive, and in the case of diesel-electric number 720 in particular, quite amazing. As most of you undoubtedly know, number 19, our 1920 vintage Mikado was retired just shy of her 90th birthday for a routine boiler overhaul that is required by the FRA after 15 years of service. At this time the locomotive is still in the first phase, disassembly, of a multi-phase refurbishment, though it is hoped that actual repairs can get underway-early next year, with 2012 being the current goal for a return to service. Our Heisler has held up very well despite the fact that it has not been used in regular passenger service for nearly a decade, and it is expected that the wood-burner will be able to handle passenger trains with little trouble for the near future. The most amazing transformation belongs to the number 720 though, having passed a major hurdle with the successful firing of its engine, volunteers are quickly working through a shortening list of repairs as the diesel-electric moves towards full operation. Please see Ryan Dela’s article for more information on the repairs. Unfortunately, all our small switchers are currently out of commission. The number 110 is getting a new set of gears made, the number 100 has a broken wheel that we are actively seeking a replacement for, and the Caterpillar engine in the number 118 is in the midst of being reassembled. Of the three small locomotives, number 110 is the priority, and should be back in business next year.
Improvements have also been made around the yard and at Sumpter. The Sumpter depot is undergoing some upgrades to its weather proofing, and has had a good deal of paint work done, with the rest to be finished up in spring. The restrooms at McEwen have benefited from several repairs, and the depot grounds look better with more trees and grass. The Great Northern caboose has been repainted and looks fantastic, but perhaps the most striking improvement is the new facade on the Restoration Shop. For those who may not know which building the Restoration Shop is, it is the furthest structure to the south, and was built to house the number 19 when it returned from Portland. The building has also been used as a paint shop in the past. Anyway, the metal siding and broken roll-up door were removed, and the front of the building sheathed in board-and-batten siding with antique windows and wooden swinging doors. A small porch was added over the man door and period lighting installed on the exterior. The building now has far more character and really gives the impression of a logging railroad engine house. Please see Jerry Huck’s article on the renovation for more details.
It is my sincere hope that these improvements both big and small continue throughout the coming years, and I encourage volunteers to take on a project of their own. There is plenty of work to be done, and the old adage of “Many hands make light work.” or something like that definitely applies.
Anyway, with the only trains yet to run being the Fall Foliage and Photographer’s Weekend and a private charter the week after, it is nice to be able to look back over such a successful year. The railroad is on a solid financial footing, the operable equipment is in good shape, major progress is being made on returning locomotives to service, passenger numbers are up, most of our volunteers and crew are happy, and if everything goes as planned, 2011 should be even better. Life is good.
Have a Great Winter, Taylor Rush, SVRR President
