I have to offer an increasingly minority opinion on the mission of Sumpter Valley Railroad Reconstruction Inc. (Our proper corporate name.) The main reason for replicating the 250-251 is that they are historic, they were the best known locomotives on the SV, and they would have more power than any other historically correct lokys we might build.
The chartered purpose of SVRR inc. is to reconstruct and operate a portion of the historic Sumpter Valley Railway. To achieve that goal it has been necessary to acquire off line rolling stock, due to tha scarcity of intact SV equipment. It is hard to sell a concept, but when people see trains running they are more likely to help out. However, one of our major selling points is that it is an historic restoration and while the average rider does not know the difference, many of our benefactors do. I doubt the Eccles Family for instance, would contribute much to the Eastern Oregon Museum of Colorado Railroading. (No offense, I think Colorado railroading is great; in Colorado.) That doesn't mean that we should not persue other off line equipment when it is available and is needed for our operations, but major expenditures like locomotives should be as historic as possible.
There is an article this week in the paper about forming a National Historic District in Baker and Grant Counties, and the Sumpter Valley Railway is central to this district. There are presently only two of these districts west of the Mississippy, and if this designation is achieved it will be a real boost to SVRR as well as the local economy. We need to keep this in mind when making future plans.
In short, I agree with what Tim says but for different reasons.