Steam & Excursion > Vernonia, South Park & Sunset

I recently scanned my entire OP&E slide collection (about 120 images or so) and ran across the attached 2-6-2 lettered for the Vernonia, South Park & Sunset.

Joe Strapac wrote me that the 2-6-2 was built by Baldwin in 01/1925 for the Oregon-American Lumber Co. as their #105 at Vernonia, Oregon.

He went on to write that "The VSP&S had a relatively short life and this locomotive eventually became the property of Fred Kepner. I understand that it is on display at Cottage Grove."

My question for you Oregonians is if this handsome 2-6-2 is in fact on display at Cottage Grove.

Thanks.

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Sorry...she was moved in August 1995 from Cottage Grove Oregon to: not sure where. The remaining steam engines were moved out of the storage area to make way for a Wal-Mart store.
Also moved in August 1995 was OP&E #1. Coos Bay Lumber #10 left earlier on a flat car to someplace back east. Notice the parts on the tender, and one dome sitting on the ground.
August 1995
You got a great picture of her however.
Todd Montgomery

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rattenne Wrote:

> My question for you Oregonians is if this handsome
> 2-6-2 is in fact on display at Cottage Grove.

No, it's one of the hulks stored at Merrill, OR:

http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=981

Click on "ownership" to see where all it's been over the years.

See also:

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,1475163
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,1235669
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,1132989

Here is a current view of the #105 tender in Merril, OR.

Martin

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Another interesting item. My parents now live in Portland, OR. I was out there for the holidays about 2 years ago and "stumbled" across the V SP&S railroad. I was at a Dollar store near where they live and found a jigsaw puzzle with a picture of a train on it. Since I love trains and railroading, I picked it up since it was only a dollar. The puzzle is mislabeled as "Verona, OR" I asked my dad where Verona is and he said "I don't know of a Verona but there is a neat little town called Vernonia about 45 minutes from here" So as soon as we got back from the store, I googled it and was introduced to the V SP&S railroad. Sure enough the picture is on either the Buxton trestle or one nearby. I was so excited that I wanted to go down on Christmas eve day to check out the remains of the railroad. After getting permission from mom, Dad and my brother and I headed down on a nice dreary Oregon day and took some pictures of the remains of the trestles and the locomotive sitting in downtown Vernonia. Last summer I took a trip down for half a day with the parents and my dad and I rented mountain bikes in town and road a part of the trail that is now "converted from rails to trails" Looks like I did it just in time as the town was flooded later that summer. I hope to go back this next summer and hopefully the trail will be restored and I can ride the trail in its entirety and get some more pictures.

I believe the locomotive in the puzzle picture is the 105 but I don't recall for sure and the picture I found on ebay is not very high res.

If anyone else has pictures of this line or more thoughts or information, please post it as I am interested in this line. I would love to get my hands on some video footage of it in operation but realize this is probably unlikely as it only ran for a short time in the 60s, at least as a tourist line.

Here is a link to an ebay listing for the puzzle:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-FACTORY-SEALED-VERONA-OR-500-PIECE-JIGSAW-PUZZLE_W0QQitemZ190247961956QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116#ebayphotohosting

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Nothing like letting stuff sit around and rot rather than do something constructive with it. What's the deal on this stuff? Or will that question start WWIII?

busygeek Wrote:
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> Last summer I took
> a trip down for half a day with the parents and my
> dad and I rented mountain bikes in town and road a
> part of the trail that is now "converted from
> rails to trails" Looks like I did it just in time
> as the town was flooded later that summer.

http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_145.php

The trail is now open for almost its entire length, save for about 1/2 mile north of Banks.

I think I rode this train around 1968 or so. I have some slides that I bought while we were there.

Hi All

I appreciate your follow-up on my question. It amazes me that a photo taken as an afterthought some 28 years ago should elicit such lengthy discussions. I've forwarded this post to Joe Strapac who is a walking, talking locomotive encyclopedia!

-- Ken

I drove a '55 Chevy across that trestle once, truly a NEVER to be repeated feat. ('55 Chevy track = 4ft 8 1/2").

Name withheld by request