Sumpter Valley Railroad in McEwen and Sumpter, Oregon

Written By Kelsey Cecil

McEwen and Sumpter, Oregon · Updated October 19, 2026 · 13 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesTrains run weekends and holidays, Memorial Day weekend to October

The Sumpter Valley Railroad is Oregon's only narrow-gauge, steam-powered railroad, a line that volunteers rebuilt themselves over the old Stump Dodger route through the Blue Mountain gold country west of Baker City.

  • Oregon's only narrow-gauge steam line
  • Volunteers rebuilt over 7 miles
  • First passengers July 4, 1976
  • 1915 Heisler No. 3
  • Train robbery weekends
  • 50th anniversary season in 2026

Sumpter Valley Railroad at a glance

Hours
Select weekends and holidays, late May to mid October; 2 to 4 trains a day
Admission
Fares are not posted in the source text; book online or call (541) 894-2268
Train rides
Narrow-gauge steam or diesel trains between McEwen and Sumpter; McEwen trains are round trips
Seasonal events
Train Robberies, Memorial Day Weekend trains, Fourth of July trains, Miners Jubilee weekend, Labor Day Weekend trains, Fall Foliage trains
Plan for
Half a day with the ride and a stop at the dredge
Best for
Steam fans and families on an Eastern Oregon road trip
Best ages
Ages 3 and up

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Sumpter Valley Railroad? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to McEwen and Sumpter.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

The railroad volunteers built twice

The original Sumpter Valley Railway, nicknamed the Stump Dodger, carried logs and people through the valleys of Baker County until its track was scrapped in 1947. Most heritage railroads run on abandoned rails or right-of-way that still exists. Here, almost nothing was left: the rails were gone and most of the old roadbed had washed away.

On January 4, 1971, just 24 years after the last trains ran, a small group of volunteers incorporated the Sumpter Valley Railroad Restoration as an Oregon nonprofit tourist railroad. They leased the old right-of-way from the Edward Hines Lumber Company, from the county road near McEwen west toward Sumpter, and went hunting for anything left of the old railroad. Locomotive boilers were hauled in from industrial jobs, and cattle cars were pulled out of pastures where they had been rotting.

They also needed a locomotive. Boise Cascade had an old W.H. Eccles Lumber Company Heisler, No. 3, at its sawmill in Cascade, Idaho, where it had served as a standby boiler. Eccles bought it new in 1915 and ran it as a logging engine on the Sumpter Valley line. Boise Cascade sold it to the group, and in the fall of 1971 Union Pacific moved the 40-ton engine to Baker.

On July 4, 1976, the restored railroad carried its first passengers. The Sumpter Valley Railway district was later placed on the National Register of Historic Places. With an almost entirely volunteer workforce, the railroad has rebuilt more than 7 miles of track and keeps going, and 2026 marked its 50th anniversary of passenger service.

Two stations, a shop yard and a dredge at the end of the line

Trains leave from either end of the line. The McEwen depot, yards and Baker County Day Park are 23 miles southwest of Baker City on Highway 7, and the back shops and equipment storage are here too. Sumpter Station sits at the entrance to the Sumpter Valley Dredge State Heritage Area, 5.5 miles west, in the old mining town of Sumpter. Trains out of McEwen are round trips unless noted otherwise.

The roster is a narrow-gauge museum on rails. Heisler No. 3 and ALCO Mikado No. 19, which also served the White Pass and Yukon, are the operating steam engines, with sister Mikado No. 20 in reserve and a General Electric diesel, No. 720, once owned by the Chiquita banana company. Passengers ride in cars such as Utah and Northern coach No. 20 and a Denver and Rio Grande railway post office car, and the yard holds boxcars, stock cars, tank cars, cabooses and flatcars, including Southern Pacific Nos. 250 and 251.

Don’t miss

  1. Heisler No. 3Bought new by the W.H. Eccles Lumber Company in 1915, this geared logging engine worked the original Sumpter Valley line and became the restoration's first locomotive in 1971.
  2. ALCO Mikado No. 19A Sumpter Valley Railway engine that later served on the White Pass and Yukon before coming home; it now runs as SVRR No. 19.
  3. Utah and Northern coach No. 20One of the railroad's passenger cars, part of a roster that also includes a Rio Grande railway post office car and a business car.
  4. Sumpter Station and the dredgeThe station sits at the entrance to the Sumpter Valley Dredge State Heritage Area, so a ride can end with a look at the gold dredge.
  5. The McEwen yard and shopsWhere the railroad's volunteers maintain its equipment, next to the Baker County Day Park.

Bandits, steam and a gold dredge

Train robbery weekends are the big draw for kids, scattered from June to September with two trains a day from McEwen. A small, open-country narrow-gauge train pulled by a logging steam engine is easy for young children to take in, and pairing the ride with the gold dredge at Sumpter turns it into a full Eastern Oregon outing.

This is a mountain route in fire country, so in moderate to high fire danger the railroad may run a diesel instead of steam; families set on seeing a steam engine should call ahead. The McEwen depot is beside a day park, which helps with picnics and wiggles before or after the ride.

Plan your visit: tips for Sumpter Valley Railroad

  • Check which station your train leaves from: holiday weekends often depart Sumpter, most other days McEwen.
  • During moderate to high fire danger, a diesel may replace the steam engine.
  • On 2026 anniversary days a day pass was required and ride tickets were bought on site.
  • All dates are subject to change; confirm by email or phone before driving out.
  • McEwen is 23 miles southwest of Baker City on Highway 7.

The railroad's calendar is built around themed weekends: Train Robberies with costumed bandits, holiday trains over Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day, a Miners Jubilee weekend in July, and Fall Foliage trains in mid October. A Christmas train is not listed in the posted 2026 timetable, so check the railroad's special events page, and see our roundup of Christmas train rides in Oregon for other holiday options.

Fifty-plus years of volunteer track gangs

Sumpter Valley Railroad Restoration, Inc. is a nonprofit run by an almost entirely volunteer workforce, the same kind of crew that rebuilt the line by hand starting in 1971. Riding the trains, booking a photo charter, and following the railroad's Facebook page are all ways to support the work; email info@sumptervalleyrailroad.org to ask about volunteering or donating.

Other rail trips within a day's drive

The closest ride on this site is the Eagle Cap Excursion Train in Elgin, about 59 miles away. Across the Idaho line, the Thunder Mountain Line is about 119 miles off and the Boise Depot about 126. Browse all Oregon train museums and rides to plan more stops.

Every train museum in Oregon

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a dad lifting Rally the corgi up the big stairs of a red train car
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Narrow-gauge cars sit lower than the big trains, but I'd bet the steps still look tall to a short-legged corgi. In our book Rally can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. I think about the volunteers here who rebuilt the whole railroad, one rail at a time, and it feels like the same idea: somebody lends a hand so everyone gets aboard. My mom would have loved that. Our coloring pages have Rally ready to climb.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Sumpter Valley Railroad?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Sumpter Valley Railroad: 20 questions riders ask

Where is the Sumpter Valley Railroad?

The Sumpter Valley Railroad runs between McEwen and Sumpter in Baker County, Eastern Oregon. The McEwen Depot is at 12259 Huckleberry Loop, Baker City, OR 97814, 23 miles southwest of Baker City on Highway 7. Sumpter Station is at 211 Austin Street, Sumpter, OR 97877, at the entrance to the Sumpter Valley Dredge State Heritage Area.

What is the Sumpter Valley Railroad schedule?

As of October 2026, the posted timetable runs from Memorial Day weekend to mid October, mostly on selected weekends. Typical days have two trains from McEwen at 10 am and 1 pm, while holiday weekends often have four trains from Sumpter starting at 11 am. Fall Foliage trains ran October 16 to 18. All dates can change, so check the website.

How do I buy Sumpter Valley Railroad tickets?

Book through the railroad's website at sumptervalleyrailroad.org. For help, call (541) 894-2268 or email info@sumptervalleyrailroad.org. On some special event days in 2026, such as the anniversary celebration, a day pass was required and train ride tickets were bought on site at an extra cost, so read each event's details before you go.

How much does the Sumpter Valley Railroad cost?

The railroad does not list fares on its website, and prices can differ for special events such as train robberies or the anniversary celebration. Check the booking page at sumptervalleyrailroad.org for current prices, or call (541) 894-2268. That is also the place to ask whether any discounts are offered for children, seniors or groups.

Are there Sumpter Valley Railroad discounts?

The railroad does not post a discount program online. Ask when you book by calling (541) 894-2268 or emailing info@sumptervalleyrailroad.org, and check event listings, since some special days are priced differently. Following the railroad's Facebook page is a good way to hear about special offers or added trains.

What is the Sumpter Valley Railroad route?

Trains run on narrow-gauge track between the McEwen depot and Sumpter Station, which are about 5.5 miles apart by road. Volunteers have rebuilt more than 7 miles of track, mostly on the original Sumpter Valley Railway right-of-way. The railroad's website has a How to Get Here section with directions to both stations.

What is the Sumpter Valley Railroad train robbery?

Train Robberies are themed weekends when costumed bandits hold up the train, a favorite with kids. In 2026 they ran June 6 and 7, July 18 and 19 during Miners Jubilee, August 29 and 30, and September 19 and 20, with trains from McEwen at 10 am and 1 pm. Check the website for next year's dates.

Does the Sumpter Valley Railroad run a Christmas train?

A Christmas train does not appear in the posted 2026 timetable, which ends with Fall Foliage trains in October. The railroad keeps a special events page on its website, so check there or the Facebook page for any holiday runs, and call (541) 894-2268 to ask about winter plans.

Is the Sumpter Valley Railroad pulled by a steam engine?

Usually yes. It is Oregon's only narrow-gauge, steam-powered railroad, with Heisler No. 3 and ALCO Mikado No. 19 in service. During moderate to high fire danger, the railroad may pull excursions with a diesel instead for safety. If steam matters to you, call (541) 894-2268 before your trip to ask about the fire danger level.

What is Sumpter Valley Railroad No. 19?

No. 19 is an ALCO Mikado steam locomotive built for the original Sumpter Valley Railway. It later worked on the White Pass and Yukon as No. 102 before returning, and now runs as SVRR No. 19. Its sister, ALCO Mikado No. 20, is listed on the roster as in reserve.

What is Sumpter Valley Railroad No. 3?

No. 3 is a two-truck Heisler geared steam locomotive bought new in 1915 by the W.H. Eccles Lumber Company and used as a logging engine on the Sumpter Valley line. Boise Cascade later kept it as a standby boiler in Cascade, Idaho, then sold it to the restoration group. Union Pacific moved the 40-ton engine to Baker in 1971.

What is Sumpter Valley Railroad No. 20?

The number 20 appears twice on the roster. ALCO Mikado No. 20, a former Sumpter Valley Railway and White Pass and Yukon engine, is held in reserve. The railroad also has passenger coach No. 20, which came from the Utah and Northern Railway. Ask the crew which is on display when you visit.

What is Sumpter Valley Railroad No. 250?

No. 250 is a flatcar on the railroad's equipment roster, listed as coming from the Southern Pacific, alongside a matching flatcar, No. 251. The roster also lists boxcars, stock cars, refrigerator cars, tank cars and gondolas. The full equipment list is on the Roster page of sumptervalleyrailroad.org.

What is on the Sumpter Valley Railroad roster?

The roster includes Heisler No. 3 and ALCO Mikado No. 19 in service, Mikado No. 20 in reserve, a General Electric diesel (No. 720, formerly Chiquita banana company), and three gas mechanical engines. Rolling stock covers a coach, a railway post office car, a business car, two cabooses and many freight cars from narrow-gauge lines across the West.

What is the history of the Sumpter Valley Railroad?

The original Sumpter Valley Railway, called the Stump Dodger, quit and had its track scrapped in 1947. On January 4, 1971, volunteers incorporated Sumpter Valley Railroad Restoration to rebuild it, leasing the right-of-way from the Edward Hines Lumber Company. Passenger service began on July 4, 1976, and the district is on the National Register of Historic Places.

How long is a Sumpter Valley Railroad ride?

The railroad does not post a ride length online. Trains from McEwen run about two and a half hours apart on regular days, which hints at a round trip with a layover inside that window. Ask when you book at (541) 894-2268, and allow extra time to see the dredge in Sumpter.

Is the Sumpter Valley Railroad good for kids?

Yes. A small narrow-gauge steam train, a mountain valley route and a gold dredge at the end make for a strong family day, and train robbery weekends add bandits that kids love. The McEwen depot sits beside the Baker County Day Park, handy for a picnic. Plan for outdoor weather at elevation.

Can you book a photo charter on the Sumpter Valley Railroad?

Yes, the railroad has offered photo charters, including a 50th Anniversary Photo Charter on June 16 and 17, 2026. Details were posted on its ticketing page. For future charters or private group trips, email info@sumptervalleyrailroad.org or call (541) 894-2268.

How can I volunteer with the Sumpter Valley Railroad?

The railroad has run on an almost entirely volunteer workforce since 1971, laying track, restoring cars and running trains. Email info@sumptervalleyrailroad.org or call (541) 894-2268 to ask how to join the crew or donate. Following the Facebook page is a good way to see work sessions and needs.

What train rides are near the Sumpter Valley Railroad?

The Eagle Cap Excursion Train in Elgin, Oregon is the closest on this site at about 59 miles. In Idaho, the Thunder Mountain Line at Horseshoe Bend is about 119 miles away, and the Boise Depot about 126 miles. The Sumpter Valley Dredge State Heritage Area is right at Sumpter Station.

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