Sumpter Valley Ry. RPO #4

In 1918 Sumpter Valley Ry. bought two sets of 3 cars, which were a full coach, a combine and an RPO. The double set was necessary because railroad operations were typically split at Austin with crews and equipment working between Baker and Austin and a different set of crews and equipment working Austin to Prairie City. Earl Emlaw took this photo at South Baker after passenger operations had ceased in 1937. In it we see Sumpter Valley Ry. RPO #4. Five of the cars from the 1918 purchase ended up on the White Pass & Yukon, but for what ever reason #4 was left behind. #4 like other equipment after shut down of the mainline in 1947, had its heavy iron suitable for scrap removed. It was repurposed as a small house, which was actually recovered by SVRR volunteers. Sadly it was burned by arson before it could be preserved up in the Sumpter Valley at our McEwen site. All that remains are a builder plate and some steel structure from the roof. The scan is from the SVRR Archive.