Can Heislers Fly?

Sumpter Valley Railroad Restoration Inc. was formed at the beginning of the year 1971. The first organizing meeting was actually in Dec. 1970 where it was decided to direct an attorney to draw up articles of incorporation, but who's counting a few weeks. By the late fall of '71, "SVRR" had its first steam locomotive, which was the W.H.Eccles Lbr. Co. Heisler #3. This engine had spent its early life operating out of Austin, Oregon where its namesake company had a mill served by the Sumpter Valley Ry. In the mid 1920's W.H. Eccles Lbr. Co. moved their operation to Cascade, Idaho. Their #3 Heisler became an Idaho resident around 1926 where it was put to use on a logging line. Later on it spent many years as a back up steam supply at the Boise Cascade sawmill. This is where SVRR found the engine and secured its donation. Union Pacific donated the transportation of the engine to Baker via flat car. In these two scenes the early SVRR volunteers test the theory that Heislers can fly as they off load it at Baker. The scans are from the SVRR Archive.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/04/2021 03:54PM by J.B.Bane.