H M Wall Railroad Collection
The Sumpter Valley Railroad Restoration (SVRR) group in based Sumpter OR was approached by Mr. Wall about his private 3 foot gauge Bearsview Express Steam Railroad in 2013. He was getting ready to move to Central Oregon and needed to have the entire railroad removed for the sale of the property. Located near Gales Creek OR in the foothills of the Coast Range, the 1/3 mile loop sat on top of a small mountain.
The Western Railway Preservation Society (WRPS) got involved to help the SVRR recover the railroad. All of the rolling stock and trucks would go to the SVRR, and anything track-associated was for the WRPS. The project started in 2015, and will end in 2019 with the delivery of the last stored pieces to the SVRR.
The SVRR ended up with the SVRy #6 caboose, a late 1800’s boxcar frame and parts, several late 1800’s freight trucks, some speeder carts, and pallets of miscellaneous couplers and other parts. The WRPS ended up with 1/2 mile of #60 rail, two turnouts, ties for 1/3 mile of track, and all joint bars, track bolts, tie plates, and other associated rail parts.
Picture Gallery – Click on image for larger view.
Getting ready for the Wall project in 2013. The one turnout to be torn out. The track loop was 1/3 mile long with cuts and embankments. Loading trucks for temporary storage in Canby OR. Canby Builder’s Supply has graciously donated the use of their trucks and forklifts since 2016. Trucks and parts at a temporary storage site, waiting for the trip to McEwen OR. The second truck in is a very rare Utah & Northern item. Original SVRy caboose #6 has been moved towards the truck loading site in April 2016. Time to move the caboose. Donated use of a monster log loader made the loading task relatively easy. SVRy Caboose #6 is loaded for trip to McEwen OR. It was a challenge to get the moving truck on and off of the Wall property, but it is on it’s way to McEwen on 06/05/2016. With the equipment off of the Wall property, track removal began in earnest and ran into late 2017. Most of the work was done by hand. A truckload of ties and rail ready to move off of the Wall property. Stacks of 6 foot long ties on the old roadbed awaiting their trip to Powerland Heritage Park at Brooks OR.
