Sumpter Valley Railroad
Sumpter Valley Narrow Guage Railroad - 1996
Sumpter Valley Narrow Guage Railroad - 1996
Sumpter Valley Map

An extensive railroad system once extended from Baker, Oregon, into this forested area for logging and other purposes. Gold dredges once worked there way up and down the river.


Between McEwen and Sumpter, a volunteer organization, starting in about 1976, has reconstructed about six miles of the original narrow gauge railroad.

They have retrieved three functioning engines (two of them from Alaska) and some cars - including a rather nice passenger car.

At the time I visited in 1996 they were using the Mikado #19 engine. I believe they rotated it with their Heisler #3 engine. At some point #19 required overhaul and was taken out of service so the Heisler #3 engine is what you see in the movies below. At Christmas 2013 the Mikado #19 was put back in service.

The Sumpter Valley Railroad offers rides between McEwen and Sumpter on this train during summer on weekends. A fun way to get to the Sumpter Valley Gold Dredge. They also have fall color and Christmas time rides. Visit their website for schedule and rates.

At the McEwen end is their shop and other facilities.

Do a Goggle Search for "Sumpter Valley Railroad" for more information including a number of YouTube videos.

Heisler Locomotive Nbr. 3
Heisler Locomotive Nbr. 3


The Heisler Locomotive Works built number 3 for the W.H. Eccles Lumber Company in 1915.

This wood burning geared locomotive weighs in at 42 tons and was principally used for hauling timber on the hastily built logging lines that radiated from the Sumpter Valley mainline.

Operated out of Austin, Oregon until the mid 1920’s, number 3 was later transferred to a company holding in Idaho, where she operated for several years before being set aside as a back-up boiler for a large sawmill.

She was returned to Oregon and restored to service by Sumpter Valley Railroad Restoration Inc. in 1976.

Number 3 is currently one of the only regularly operated wood burning locomotives in North America.


Locomotive 19, built for the Sumpter Valley Railway by the American Locomotive Works in 1920, this 113-ton Mikado type was the last new steam locomotive purchased by the line.

Though built for service in Oregon, number 19 also operated on the White Pass & Yukon in Alaska before being retired in 1958.

In 1977 Sumpter Valley Railroad Restoration Inc. returned the locomotive to Oregon, and undertook a complete restoration in 1992.

Repairs were completed in 1996, and number 19 was in regular service until 2010 when it was taken out of service for overhaul which was completed in 2013.

She has been in regular service ever since.

Mikado Locomotive Nbr. 19
Mikado Locomotive Nbr. 19

Restoration of Sumpter Valley Steam Engine (Cushman - 2015)

Sumpter Valley Narrow Guage Railroad - 1996
Sumpter Valley Narrow Guage Railroad - 1996
Sumpter Valley Narrow Guage Railroad - 1996
Sumpter Valley Narrow Guage Railroad - 1996

Sumpter Valley Narrow Guage Railroad - 1996
Sumpter Valley Narrow Guage Railroad - 1996
Heisler Locomotive Nbr. 3
Heisler Locomotive Nbr. 3


Story of Sumpter Valley Railroad (2015)

Christmas 2012 Train


Sumpter Valley Railroad and Dredge (2012)