Project 62 Home Page

PROJECT 62 - The home page for "Yankee Tanks" 30075 & 30076

***Member Notice - AGM 19th May 2012 at Corfe Castle***

Notice is hereby given that the AGM of Project 62 members will be held at Corfe Castle Station Classroom at 11.30am on Saturday 19th May 2012. If you have not received your AGM paperwork by email or post, or need to send apologies for non-attendence then please email project62@supanet.com.

About Project 62

Project 62 represents the owners of Yugoslavian built Class 62 USA type 0-6-0 tank steam locomotive 30075 (formerly JZ 62-669 acquired from Store Steel in Slovenia in 1990) which, having been most recently operational since June 2004, has now been moved to the Barrow Hill Roundhouse for firebox repairs. The group is also involved in the current project to construct 30076 from 62-521, which has been acquired from ArcelorMittal Zenica in Bosnia & Herzegovina in December 2006. Class 62 "Yankee Tank" steam locomotives are a pattern build of the World War II USATC S100 Class 0-6-0T Switcher/Shunters designed by Colonel Howard G Hill.

Model Rail magazine to launch 'OO' gauge model of the S100 - USA Class

Model Rail, in association with Dapol, is launching a set of OO gauge USA Class locomotive models available from September 2013. They will be based on the series as it appeared historically in the UK. There are four models initially proposed - S100 USATC grey, Southern Black with "Sunshine" lettering, BR Black with the "Cycling Lion" emblem (as 30075 is currently) and lastly BR "Lined Green" with the "totem" style BR logo. Restricted to an initial run of just 500 units of each style, RRP will be £104.95 each, however a Model Rail reader offer is available at £94.45. If interested, call 01209 613984 or visit the Model Rail Reader Offer website at www.modelrailoffers.co.uk, further information is also available here.

30075 moved to Barrow Hill Roundhouse for firebox repairs

Unfortunately due to the failure of three old patches to the platework in the inner firebox, it has been necessary to withdraw 30075 from service. The patches are located low in the inner firebox corners. These were repairs undertaken many years ago when the locomotive was in service in Slovenia and are now life expired. Project 62 is in discussion with a third party repairer at Barrow Hill Roundhouse and hopes that an agreement to refurbish the firebox will be in place soon. Please watch this space for further updates.

30075 in action on the Churnet Valley Railway - February 2010

30076 - converting 62-521 to form the UK's 6th USA Class locomotive

Since 62-521 arrival in the UK in December 2006, various professional examinations have occurred in order to set a plan for overhaul and loading gauge conversion to create 30076. Initial estimates are that we now need to raise a further sum of around £50,000 to enable 30076 to become operational. The members of Project 62 have raised the amount required to buy and transport 62-521, but we need your help to complete the project please! Contact us by emailing project62@supanet.com to purchase shares from just £50 each or to make a donation. Having paid for 62-521, the modest cost of the total project to create a new locomotive of UK Heritage style in USA Tank 30076, now means means that just one thousand people buying just one share each, or donating an average of £50 each, could see 30076 in service by the end of 2014.

62-521 is made ready for loading to depart Zenica December 2006. The photo to the right shows the locomotive outside the loco-shed at Ropley on the Mid-Hants Railway shortly after arrival

Further Project 62 information and photos

Technical Information - specification detail for 30075 (62-669) and 30076 (62-521) with dimensions, tractive effort and other data

Background to Project 62 - for more detail about the history of "Yankee Tank"

Share Scheme - buy a share to join us and be an owner of your VERY OWN steam locomotive!

Register of USA Class 62 locomotives - a collation of Internet sourced data with the latest known locations of around 100 existing USATC and USA type Class 62 locomotives around the world

Useful links - for links to associated and supporting web sites

All photos, sound and video clips are copyright of Project 62 unless otherwise credited

Updated 21st April 2012