Sumpter Valley Ry. 1st #8

Here we have Sumpter Valley Ry. engine #8 on a mixed train. I am not positive on the location. This may be the Styx / Alder Springs trestle on the timetable west side of Larch. Regardless, I believe it is a west bound train as all of the curved trestles that I am aware of, would be westbound for a train heading across like this. Also, that fact that the lumber or log cars are empty suggests west bound. The engine is 1st #8 which came to the railroad in 1900. It was built by Baldwin in 1881 for the Connotton Valley Railroad in Ohio. It passed through various ownerships finally to the RioGrande Western before being sold to the Sumpter Valley. It was renumbered to 11 in 1906 so that gives us a six year date range for the photo. The scan is from the SVRR Archive.