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***NEWS - KESR USA Tank 30065 back into service in June 2008 - follow this 30065 link for more information***
Project 62 represents the owners of Yugoslavian built USA type 0-6-0 tank steam locomotive 30075 (formerly Yugoslav Railways JZ 62-669, rebuilt to Southern Railways/BR USA Class Dock Tank specification at Swanage in the mid 1990's) which has been operational on the East Somerset Railway since June 2004. The group is also involved in the current project to construct 30076 from 62-521, which has been acquired from Mittal Steel Zenica in Bosnia & Herzegovina and is currently based on the "Watercress Line" in Hampshire having arrived 19th December 2006. Project 62 also has a "Friends of 62-121" arrangement with the Slovenian National Railway Museum in Ljubljana, Slovenia and works closely with the Devon based "Friends of the Slovenian National Railway Museum" group. For news and timetables for the East Somerset and Mid-Hants heritage railways, where 30075 and 30076 are based, please refer to the links towards the bottom of this home page. Our Locomotives:- 30075 - Currently operational on the East Somerset Railway "Yankee Tank" 30075 is currently based at the East Somerset Railway. At around three miles in length, the line there is ideally suited for a USA type 0-6-0T loco. Indeed 30075 proved most popular with both the public and operations at the East Somerset Railway when she visited as a guest locomotive in the mid and late 1990's and is proving so again in operation at Cranmore following re-entry into service there in 2004. For all the latest news and photos of 30075 in action since returning to service use this link to our GALLERY page.
The images above show 30075 when entering service on the East Somerset Railway on the 7th July 2004. The locomotive has been returned to service on the East Somerset Railway in unlined BR Black. 30076 - an 0-6-0AET Steam Locomotive Following arrival at the Mid-Hants Railway, 62-521 had a very promising pre-repair boiler examination. See our GALLERY page for 17th February 2007 for photos inside the cab of the locomotive and a short report of the boiler inspection. Also on the GALLERY page are photos and the poem read in Serbo-Croat by John Shirley who expedited the transport of 62-521 from Mittal Steel Zenica in Bosnia to the Mid-Hants Railway. Photos and news of "work in" sessions on 30076 can also be accessed there. Project 62's involvement in the creation of new USA Class locomotive number 30076 by rebuilding 62-521 is gaining much publicity, especially as it is hoped a measure of disability access will be incorporated into the cab design - hence 0-6-0AET or "Access Enhanced Tank" locomotive. The news behind this "World First" can be found via these links:- Background to 30076 and locating 62-521 at Mittal Steel Zenica Surveying 62-521 in June 2006 to assess for potential to rebuild to 30076 Preparing 62-521 for transport to the UK from Bosnia & Herzegovina in December 2006 The journey detail and travel log 11th to 19th December 2006 Arrival of 62-521 at Alresford on the Mid-Hants Railway 19th December 2006
30076 sits behind the locomotive shed at Ropley on Saturday 23rd June 2007 Now 62-521 has arrived in the UK, various professional examinations have occurred in order to set a plan for overhaul and cab conversion for the access initiative. 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 2009. Please join us to achieve a "World First" and be part of the making of heritage rail history. News of other USA Tank Locomotives in Europe Pascal Bourrel, a USATC S100 enthusiast based in France, has emailed us with an update on the status of two USA 0-6-0T's, one of which saw service in France with SNCF after World War II. SNCF 030-TU-13 (USATC WD6102) is no longer a plinthed exhibit on static display near Caen in Normandy. The locomotive is now housed at the museum depot of Pont-Erambault and members there are working to restore the locomotive and the original line "Caen Flers" back in service. More detail at http://membres.lycos.fr/depotvirtuel - click "Le Depot Virtuel" in the top banner to view the loco in the former station and click "Loco 030 TU" to read the history of the locomotive and Class in France. Pascal also recommends a visit to site http://tvnp.rail-france.org/locomotive_vapeur_030.html where information about locomotives 030-TU-13 and 22 can be found. The second locomotive in France of which we have news, is recent import from the Balkans - JZ Class 62 62-046. Now operational on the "Train a vapeur du Val de Provence" on the line from Chateaurenard to Noves, see link www.chateaurenard-de-provence.alpilles.fr/#train . This locomotive is running as 030-TU-46, though the original SNCF locomotive of this number (USATC 1983) no longer exists, it was once based in the depot of Miramas (information found on http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/030_TU . This page gives the full roster of SNCF’s 030-TU class). Friends of the Slovenian Railway Museum Following the news that Project 62 has come to a "Friends of 62-121" arrangement with the Slovenian Railway Museum, we have been contacted by the newly formed Friends of the Slovenian Railway Museum (see Steam Railway Magazine issue 314) to see if we can work together to further our common aims. The friends of the Museum are a small, though internationally diverse group, with members as far flung as Australia. Their group produces a quarterly magazine titled "The Cornet" named after the tall conical shaped chimneys fitted to many mid-European locomotives to house spark arrestors. Yet to set up their own web site, we will host a page for the group in due course. Meantime if you would like further details and also to join EMAIL US and we will pass on your enquiry. Ongoing help needed - £2 to £20,000 appeal A huge thanks to all who have so far joined this appeal in signing up to donate £2 per month by standing order. For a small monthly commitment from individuals, we can raise a substantial sum towards the next heavy overhaul of 30075 when it becomes due by year 2014. A long way off - however by acting now and making a small but consistant contribution a large amount can be raised, we hope then to turn the locomotive round in comparatively fast time and get her back into revenue earning service as quickly as possible. For more detail of how to help click here. Sounds of the USA Class 62's We now have a CD of Class 62's in operation. The CD contains tracks of USA Class 62 Locomotive 62-380 in steam at Zenica, 30075 being prepared to run, climbing the 1:56 incline from Mendip Vale and finally finishing duty and running to the locomotive shed. Spectacular sound from both the footplate and lineside, our friend and Curator of the Slovenian National Railway Museum, Professor Mladen Bogic, described the sounds as "a lovable blast from the past". This goes back to the time from when he remembered the locomotive running at the Store Steel Works as 62-669, before Project 62 bought her in 1990. To order your copy (available for a donation of minimum £2.00 plus £1 postage and packing) CLICK HERE to email us. ***NEW - DVD of Class 62 action in the Balkans*** As well as our CD of Class 62's in operation, we have a 40 minute DVD presentation of various steam locomotives in action in Central Europe during 1998 including a number of Class 62's in the Balkan countries. 62-367 near Tuzla, 62-677, 62-125 and 62-111 at Banovici, 62-643 at Vreoci mine plus many other locomotives play to the camera. To order your copy (available for a donation of minimum £8.00 plus £1 postage and packing) CLICK HERE to email us. Rights to Project 62 for this DVD have been kindly provided by Neil Berry. Available on DVD-R (or DVD+R if requested). Further Project 62 photos and information use these links:- Technical Information - specification detail for 30075, 62-521 and 62-121 with dimensions, tractive effort and other data Photo Gallery - photos of 30075 and East Somerset Railway Events, 62-521/30076 and 62-121 plus other USA Class and Class 62 locomotives Background to Project 62 - for more detail about the history of "Yankee Tank" Share Scheme - join us and be an owner of your VERY OWN steam locomotive! Locating 62-669 - an article with photos by Glyn Thomas, a member of the group who originally went to Slovenia to survey the steam locomotive at the Store Steelworks in 1990 Colonel Howard G Hill - the man credited with the design of the S100 USA 0-6-0T steam locomotive USATC and Class 62 - US Army Transport Corps tank locomotives and developments The GWR and Early History of USA Tanks in Britain - most USATC locomotives arrived through Newport and were then stored or used at a number of sheds on the Great Western Railway The Four Manufacturers of USA and Class 62 Locomotives - brief histories of Vulcan Iron Works, HK Porter, Davenport and the Djuro Djakovic Works 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 Contact us - for further information about 30075, 30076 and 62-121, joining Project 62 or comments about this website East Somerset Railway 2008 Timetable The East Somerset Railway is shut down from 2nd January 2008 for regular winter maintenance of infrastructure and stock. 30075 will be having reDay" Dining Service. Contact the East Somerset Railway for booking information. Regular passengergular maintenance undertaken to be ready when services recommence the first weekend in March - click 2008 East Somerset Railway Timetable for details. 2008 Mid-Hants Railway Timetable With 30076 currently based at Ropley on the Mid-Hants Railway it is appropriate that we have a link to the timetable pages of the Mid-Hants Railway site - with winter running in January and February, it's an ideal combination to have a ride on the line if visiting also to view 62-521/30076.
Clicking on the Mid-Hants Railway ("Watercress Line") Timetable cover will take you to the "Watercress Line" timetable web page where you can also book tickets online. Links to our Locomotives' Host Railways 30075 is based at the East Somerset Railway, located at Cranmore (near Shepton Mallet in Somerset) which is signposted from roads in the vicinity. For further detail about Cranmore, events there and directions, follow this link to the East Somerset Railway. 62-521 which will be rebuilt to form the next in the Southampton Dock shunter series numbered "30076" is currently based at Ropley on the Mid-Hants Railway ("Watercress Line"). Best access to the Watercress Line is at Alresford Station in Alresford, Hampshire where there is a pay and display car park. On special event days extra parking is often laid on at Ropley. Follow this link for more detail about the Mid-Hants Railway. All photos, sound and video clips are copyright of Project 62 unless otherwise credited Updated 21st June 2008 |
