Switching South Baker

This photo was taken in South Baker on the Sumpter Valley Ry., about 1928, capturing the designated switch engine #14. #14 was built by Baldwin for the Eureka & Palisade Railroad in Nevada as their #8 in 1906. She was an outside frame consolidation weighing in at 94,880lbs. with a tractive effort of 16,279lbs. In 1912 a trade was made between the Eureka Nevada which was the successor to the Eureka & Palisade which saw their #8 come to the Sumpter Valley as #14. Up to 1920, she was used in general service, but at that time, the dual gauge coupling system was added and she replaced #15 in switching duties. And a lot of duty it was. We see in extant conductor reports from the mid 1920's 50-60 cars arriving at South Baker from points west that had to be sorted and spotted each day. Outgoing std. gauge finished lumber loads also had to be moved on the dual gauge track system to the OWR&N. A couple of points of trivia in the photo are that she is burning coal in this shot, vs. more typical wood waste material from the mills seen in so many Sumpter Valley shots. Note the battery brakeman lantern hanging below the head light. I was surprised to see that but discovered that they were invented about ten years prior. The scan is from the SVRR Archive.