USA Tank Locomotives and the GWR

USA Tank Locomotives and the GWR

USA 0-6-0T or "Yankee Tank" steam locomotives are usually thought of in the UK as “Southern” engines due to the 14 “Dock” tanks which firstly operated from 1946 to 1963 in Southampton Docks. Nine of these engines survived in Departmental Stock from 1963 with five continuing right to the end of steam on 9th July 1967. In fact DS237 (30065) and DS 238 (30070) were still in service at Ashford until September 1967, thus becoming the final steam engines in service on the Southern Region of British Rail.

The GWR however, had a much earlier role than the Southern concerning the fate of the USA Tank Locomotives.

Three American engineering concerns (Vulcan Ironworks, Davenport and HK Porter) built about 450 in total, to a design by Colonel Howard G Hill. Of these, 382 were ordered by the US Army Transportation Corps (USATC), for use in Europe after the D-Day landings in 1944. The majority were shipped into Britain through Newport in South Wales between 1942 and 1944. After 1945 a number went direct from the USA to North Africa and Italy.

Immediately upon arrival at Newport, the locomotives were dispersed to a number of GWR sheds in the area where they were prepared for service after testing. Prior to D-Day, the USA Tanks were either then placed in storage at the unused exchange sidings at Llanbradech Viaduct (between the Barry and Brecon and Merthyr Railways) or used for general shunting at the sheds around Newport.

Following D-Day on 6^th June 1944, the stored engines were transported to mainland Europe either from Newport, or were hauled to Southampton and shipped from there. A number of USA Tank Locomotives saw temporary service at the Port of Bristol and in several Welsh collieries. As often happens with temporary arrangements, some of these colliery engines ended up in NCB stock after the war.

By the end of 1945, 42 remaining locomotives were stored at Newbury on sidings laid at the racecourse. It is from this stock that the Southern Railway chose 13 Vulcan and 2 Porter built engines (one Porter engine was always destined for spares) and eventually modified all 14 that went into service to form the “USA Class” of the Southern Railway. The remaining engines stored at Newbury (plus others already in use in Europe) were later shipped to Yugoslavia to form JZ Class 62. The Yugoslavs, from 1952 to 1961 at the Djuro Djakovic Factory at Slavonski Brod in Croatia, produced a further 90 licensed/pattern types to add to Class 62, of which 30075 (built in 1960 as 62-669) is a member.

Although rebuilt at Swanage in 1992 to Southern “Dock Tank” specification and given the next BR running number 30075, it is most appropriate that 62-669 now runs on former GWR metals at the East Somerset Railway. In this way, the contribution of the GWR to the history of the 400 or so USA tank locos that passed over its system continues to live today.

Also of note is the design of Hawksworth’s Western Region 15xx series Pannier tanks – these are said to incorporate a number of design features from the USA 0-6-0T’s based on operational experience of the locomotives which worked around the GWR.

To join Project 62 and help us to continue running the locomotive in the fine condition she is in today on the ESR, please use this link to contact us - also for further information about 30075, or comments about this website.