Sumpter Valley Railway: Difference between revisions
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By 1891, the line had reached McEwen, {{convert|22|mi|km}} west of Baker City, and the railroad began offering passenger and freight service. To reach uncut forests further west, the company extended the line in stages. It reached Sumpter in 1896 and continued southwestward to [[Whitney, Oregon|Whitney]], Tipton, [[Austin, Oregon|Austin]] and [[Bates, Oregon|Bates]]. By 1910, it arrived in Prairie City, a ranching and mining community along the [[John Day River]] in [[Grant County, Oregon|Grant County]].<ref name="SVRR history">{{cite web|url=http://bakercounty.net/parks&recreation/historyrailroad.htm| title =Our History Began in 1890| publisher = Baker County Parks and Recreation Department |accessdate=January 17, 2009}}</ref> |
By 1891, the line had reached McEwen, {{convert|22|mi|km}} west of Baker City, and the railroad began offering passenger and freight service. To reach uncut forests further west, the company extended the line in stages. It reached Sumpter in 1896 and continued southwestward to [[Whitney, Oregon|Whitney]], Tipton, [[Austin, Oregon|Austin]] and [[Bates, Oregon|Bates]]. By 1910, it arrived in Prairie City, a ranching and mining community along the [[John Day River]] in [[Grant County, Oregon|Grant County]].<ref name="SVRR history">{{cite web|url=http://bakercounty.net/parks&recreation/historyrailroad.htm| title =Our History Began in 1890| publisher = Baker County Parks and Recreation Department |accessdate=January 17, 2009}}</ref> |
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Ten years later, the railway began losing business to automobiles and trucks, and in 1933 the {{convert|20|mi|km}} of track between Prairie City and Bates were abandoned. Scheduled passenger service on the remaining line ended in 1937. In 1947, the railroad ceased all operations except for {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} of track in the Oregon Lumber Company yard in South Baker City. This last section was abandoned and removed in 1961.<ref name ="SVRR history"/> |
Ten years later, the railway began losing business to automobiles and trucks, and in 1933 the {{convert|20|mi|km}} of track between Prairie City and Bates were abandoned. Scheduled passenger service on the remaining line ended in 1937. In 1947, the railroad ceased all operations except for {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} of track in the [[Oregon Lumber Company]] yard in South Baker City. This last section was abandoned and removed in 1961.<ref name ="SVRR history"/> |
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In 1971, a group of volunteers set out to rebuild the Sumpter Valley Railway. The new railway opened for business on July 4, 1976, over a track of less than {{convert|1|mi|km}}. Fifteen years later, the track was completed to Sumpter. In 2007, the railway opened its reproduction of the original Sumpter Depot, within sight of the [[Sumpter Valley Gold Dredge|Sumpter Valley Dredge]] State Heritage Area operated by the [[Oregon Parks and Recreation Department]].<ref name = "SVR history"/> |
In 1971, a group of volunteers set out to rebuild the Sumpter Valley Railway. The new railway opened for business on July 4, 1976, over a track of less than {{convert|1|mi|km}}. Fifteen years later, the track was completed to Sumpter. In 2007, the railway opened its reproduction of the original Sumpter Depot, within sight of the [[Sumpter Valley Gold Dredge|Sumpter Valley Dredge]] State Heritage Area operated by the [[Oregon Parks and Recreation Department]].<ref name = "SVR history"/> |
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Revision as of 23:26, 13 January 2010
| Sumpter Valley Railway | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Locale | Sumpter, Oregon |
| Terminus | McEwen, Oregon |
| Commercial operations | |
| Name | Sumpter Valley Railway |
| Original gauge | 3 feet (914 mm) |
| Preserved operations | |
| Operated by | Sumpter Valley Railroad Restoration Inc. |
| Stations | 2 |
| Length | 5.1 miles (8.2 km) |
| Preserved gauge | 3 feet (914 mm) |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | 1890 |
The Sumpter Valley Railway is a heritage railroad located in Baker County, in the U.S. state of Oregon. Built on a right-of-way used by the original railway of the same name, it carries excursion trains on a roughly 5-mile (8.0 km) route between McEwen and Sumpter.[1] The railroad has two steam locomotives and several other pieces of rolling stock.[2] Passenger excursion trains operate on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day through the end of September.[2]
History
Incorporated in 1890, the narrow gauge railway's initial purpose was to haul logs to a sawmill in South Baker City. The builders of the railway owned the Grande Ronde Lumber Company in Perry, Oregon, and the railway was financed by Mormons in Utah.[3]
By 1891, the line had reached McEwen, 22 miles (35 km) west of Baker City, and the railroad began offering passenger and freight service. To reach uncut forests further west, the company extended the line in stages. It reached Sumpter in 1896 and continued southwestward to Whitney, Tipton, Austin and Bates. By 1910, it arrived in Prairie City, a ranching and mining community along the John Day River in Grant County.[4]
Ten years later, the railway began losing business to automobiles and trucks, and in 1933 the 20 miles (32 km) of track between Prairie City and Bates were abandoned. Scheduled passenger service on the remaining line ended in 1937. In 1947, the railroad ceased all operations except for 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of track in the Oregon Lumber Company yard in South Baker City. This last section was abandoned and removed in 1961.[4]
In 1971, a group of volunteers set out to rebuild the Sumpter Valley Railway. The new railway opened for business on July 4, 1976, over a track of less than 1 mile (1.6 km). Fifteen years later, the track was completed to Sumpter. In 2007, the railway opened its reproduction of the original Sumpter Depot, within sight of the Sumpter Valley Dredge State Heritage Area operated by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.[1]
In Prairie City at the western end of the original line, the Sumpter Valley Depot Restoration Committee renovated the Sumpter Valley Railway Passenger Station in the 1970s. The City of Prairie City has used it to house the DeWitt Museum since 1984. Its collections include lanterns, lights, and other railway artifacts, and photographs of train wrecks and of life along the rail line.[5]
Gallery
-
Railcar of the Sumpter Valley Line -
DeWitt Museum in Prairie City, Oregon, a former SVR passenger station
See also
References
- ^ a b "Sumpter Valley Railroad History". Sumpter Valley Railroad Restoration Inc. 2008. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
- ^ a b "Sumpter Valley Railway Home". Sumpter Valley Railroad Restoration Inc. 2008. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
- ^ Bailey, Barbara Ruth (1982). Main Street: Northeastern Oregon. Oregon Historical Society. pp. 32–33. ISBN 0875950736.
principally a logging railroad, was constructed in Baker County with Mormon backing from Utah. Its builders also owned the Grande Ronde Lumber Company, which operated a large mill and mill village at Perry, near La Grande.
- ^ a b "Our History Began in 1890". Baker County Parks and Recreation Department. Retrieved January 17, 2009.
- ^ "The DeWitt Museum". City of Prairie City. 2004–08. Retrieved January 19, 2009.
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