Re: SVRR #720 and SVRy #100 Looking Good

SVRy Eng. #100 which is a 20 ton Whitcomb with a humongous 6 cylinder Climax gas engine was built in 1929. It was purchased new by SVRy in April 1930, and traded in to Davenport Bessler in 1937 when SVRy acquired the #101 which is the diesel mechanical engine now at CRRM. I don't think anyone has been able to track #100's movements over the years except that it ended up in Boise, Idaho converted to standard gauge. Whether this was where it went straight away or if there were intermediate owners I am not aware. When it was found in Boise, it was the property of J.R. Simplot Co. who had used it for switching cars of potatoes. Once SVRR acquired it, the Ron Yanke machine shop in Boise donated material, machinist time and space for our volunteers living in that area to work on it. It was restored to operational status in Boise, with details finished at our McEwen, Ore. shop. #100 had not been serviceable for too many years before the flange broke on the right front wheel. It had a welded repair perhaps from decades before that failed. It sat in the shop out of service for a long time until one of our members donated the funds to purchase new wheels for the axle, which were profiled to match the rear ones and reinstalled fairly recently. Tom Young had it running just a few days ago. Here is a photo circa 1931 of #100.