S.R. U.S.A 0-6-0T Dock tanks

I have added a large collection of over 80 photos of the USA Dock tanks

The SR USA class were ex-United States Army Transportation Corps S100 Class steam locomotives purchased and adapted by the Southern Railway (SR) after the end of the Second World War to replace the LSWR B4 class then working in Southampton Docks.

The United States Army Transportation Corps built 382 S100 Class 0-6-0 tank engine for use in the Second World War. They were shipped to the British War Department in 1943, and stored awaiting the invasion of Mainland Europe. Most went overseas but some remained in store

By 1946 the SR needed either to renew or replace the ageing B4, D1 and E1 class tanks used in Southampton Docks, but Eastleigh Works was not in a position to do so in a timely manner or at an economic price. The replacement locomotives would need to have a short wheelbase to negotiate the tight curves found in the dockyard, but be able to haul heavy goods trains as well as full-length passenger trains in the harbour area. The railway’s Chief mechanical engineer, Oliver Bulleid therefore inspected the surplus War Department tank locomotives. The Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST locomotives stored at the Longmoor Military Railway proved to be unsuitable for dock work because of their 11 ft 0 in (3.35 m) wheelbase and inside cylinders, and also many of the survivors were in poor condition. However, the S100s stored at Newbury Racecourse had a 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) wheelbase, outside cylinders and had hardly been used. Those available for sale had been built by the Vulcan Iron Works of Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania and H. K. Porter, Inc, of Pittsburgh.

Bulleid therefore took Vulcan-built locomotive WD4236 on approval in May 1946 and tested it thoroughly over the next few months. When it was found to be suitable, this locomotive and a further thirteen were purchased in 1947 for £2500 each. Six of these had been built by Porter and the remainder by Vulcan. However, when it was discovered that there were differences in dimensions between the locomotives from different builders the SR exchanged its Porter built locomotives for Vulcans, but could only to do so with five examples. The railway therefore accepted one Porter locomotive at a reduced price and purchased another to provide spare parts. Thus, the thirteen further locomotives entered traffic between April and November 1947 as soon as they had been adapted.
Including this photo of
30072 + 77014 Guildford shed last day of Southern steam 9th July1967
https://tinyurl.com/y2oacoza
Southampton docks shed
https://tinyurl.com/yy8797y3
https://tinyurl.com/yyxzrrsv
Full collection starts here with S.R. era
https://tinyurl.com/yy4bo8kw
B.R. era
https://tinyurl.com/yy9ddbf6

Neil

 

I have added some new photos to the collection of USA Dock tanks
Including this photo of now preserved 30072
30072 with Q1 33020 and another Q1 in front on Guildford shed
https://tinyurl.com/2dsdrvjn
New photos start here with
S.R. era
70 Southampton Docks
https://tinyurl.com/3nrdu7ym
B.R. era
30064 & 43119 Eastleigh works and shed 6th June 1965
https://tinyurl.com/w7fv2umv

Neil

 

Hi Neil,

An amazing collection with a few things I've never seen in print before.
5/88 30061 Eastleigh Depot?
7/88 30062 Opposite the Platform Tavern at the landward end of Town Quay. It was rare for main line locos to ever use the connecting line between the Eastern and Western Docks. It happened due to bomb damage during WW2 and a couple of times for engineering works.
9/88 30062 Eastleigh Depot
14/88 30064 Eastleigh - duplicate of 18/88
16/88 30063 Southampton Western Docks. ( Solent Flour Mills in the background.)
17/88 30064 Longmoor Military Railway? judging by the decrepit rolling stock.
26/88 30064 Guildford
34/88 30065 Southampton Western Docks
45/88 30069 Eastleigh
46/88 30069 Eastleigh Depot
62/88 30072 Eastleigh Works#
64/88 30072 Guildford duplicate with 88/88
72/88 30073 Southampton Terminus see 75/88
81/88 30063 Eastleigh Depot not works
83/88 70 Southampton Western Docks ( Solent Flour Mills in the background.) Duplicate 52/88

Cheers, Neil