Little Savage by Engine97 on DeviantArt (original) (raw)

The Smallest engine on the SP&S, "Little Savage", puffs over a creek of mine water.

This engine was purchased in 1865, a little while before "Keystone". This little engine cost $1001. While building Sandpatch tunnel, "Little Savage" was damaged in a cave in. The contractors planned to dispose of the engine, but the head of the Motive Power Department (also the owner) of the SP&S intervened and offered a dollar more than the scrap man offered. "Sandpatch" towed "Little Savage" to the engine barn, and the chief mechanical engineer (also the owner) worked tirelessly for a week. "Little Savage" emerged from the shops better than she had been before.

How did Little Savage get it's name, you may ask. Well, the owner was undecided on a name. "Little Sandpatch", "Ridgeley" and "Cave-In" were thoguht up. When the owner neglected to tie the brake down, and stepped on the siderod, the engine crept forward enough to catch his foot between the side rods. The engine was not heavy enough to continue forward and cut off his foot. His foot stopped the engine's mechanism, but not enough to keep him from screaming, In pain,"You Little Savage!" and the name stuck.