​The 'Dinky,' a narrow-gauge locomotive, was discovered in May 1996 after decades at the bottom of Butt Lake.  An H. K. Porter engine, it is thought to be the 'Eureka' originally built for the Nevada Mill Company in 1887.  It was freighted to Big Meadows to haul gravel for the construction of the dams at Canyon Dam and Butt Valley.  Work on the Butt Valley Dam was halted 1915, and when it resumed following WW I, the construction company brought in a pair of Vulcan built 0-4-0T locomotives. The smaller Porter was of no use to the new railroad and left unused during the course of construction. Ultimately when the dam was completed in 1924, the locomotive was left in place as the reservoir filled and forgotten through most of the 20th century. When Butt Lake was partially drained in 1996 for repairs to the dam, the Dinky was found and restored. It now sits in its covered enclosure in front of The Collins Pine Company property in Chester. Of interesting note, there seems to be a 10-year discrepancy on the historical marker claim of 82 years.

Butt Lake Dinky present day.

Butt Lake Dinky historical marker.

​In the 1920s, Red Riverbed began extensive logging in the Lake Almanor basin. It would be just a matter time that logging activities might spark a fire. On July 27, 1926, a fire started at Butt Valley west of Lake Almanor,.
The fire started from sparks of a steam donkey engine which spread rapidly over the recently logged over lands toward the west shore of Lake Almanor. For a time the fire threatened the Lake Almanor Inn at Prattville and the various cottages adjacent to it, requiring the evacuation of seventy-five campers. The fire burned over 16,000 acres, and destroyed three abandoned logging camps and several miles of railroad ties. Red River estimated its loss at $23,000. Tim Purdy