Sumpter Power: Mikado #20. The Sumpter Valley Railway's "other" Mikado is this 1920 Alco 2-8-2, which carries the line's number 20. The 20 and its sister engine, the 19, were identical locomotives and the only ones that the railroad ever purchased new from the factory. The pair were built as wood-burners, but were later converted to burn oil. They served the SVRy for 20 years, until 1940, when the line purchased a pair of big articulated engines. The two quickly became surplus and were sold to the White Pass & Yukon in Alaska. There, they spent another 18 years, hauling freight between Skagway and White Horse. Retired in 1958, the two engines sat unused in the Skagway Yard until 1977, when the restored SVRy inquired as to whether or not they could be donated back to their home operation. The White Pass agreed and the two were repatriated to Oregon, where they sat until the mid-1990s, when funds finally became available to restore one of them to operation. It was decided that the 19 was in the better condition of the two, so she was given the complete overhaul, while the 20 remained parked, awaiting a time when funds might become available to restore her as well. She is seen here behind the McEwen Shops in October of 2012. Viewers will note that the tender is reversed and the cab is in pretty rough shape. The SVRy Folks would love to put this engine back in service, but with the 19 currently undergoing a 1,472-day inspection, and Heisler #3 not far behind, the 20 is pretty low on the priorities list at this time.
