You may be interested in a couple of photographs which have been mentioned on the National-Preservation website, showing ex-USATC engines at work after WWII.

http://steamingback.fotopic.net/p52905054.html

http://steamingback.fotopic.net/p47963508.html

They are in the middle of an interesting collection of english industrial gothic.

Tim

Two thoughts came to mind: "Thomas the Tank Engine's American Uncle" (since all the rolling stock in "Thomas" has names, we could call this one "Uncle Sam".)
and: looks like an American locomotive "dressed up" for a movie with a story set in England (living in an area where movie and TV locations setups are part of normal life may explain this "train of thought.")

Two questions that may be obvious to older heads: 1) why in these photos is the ground always clear of any vegetation? 2) what is that guy in the first photo shoveling?

In respect to Question 1. I read somewhere that Horseshoe Curve on the PRR was devoid of vegetation in the immediate vicinity due to decades of very heavy concentrates of cinders. Perhaps this can also be said of this scene. NCB stands for National Coal Board and the English tended to run very short trains but with great frequency, hence lots of locos smoking it up.

That's my GUESS anyway.

Wes

Another thought on the photos: They give a good look at railway construction practice, i.e. "chairs and wedges" holding the rails. If one clicks on some of the other (small) images, there are photos of locomotives that leave no doubt that these are 100% English.

Most of these pictures were taken in industrial settings, and in particular colliery sites and in the north east of England. Some of these private colliery railways were older than the Stockton and Darlington, their purpose was to transport coal from the pits to the sea where it was loaded from staithes.

They were surrounded by spoil tips from many years of mining and on which nothing much would grow. The ballast was usually a mixture of ash, clinker and small bits of coal which were considered too small to sell.

"Austin" stands for the Austin Motor co of Longbridge - a much cleaner industry!

Tim

Given that both Conrail and NS have had to be pressured into brush-clearing expeditions to cut enough trees to present/preserve the classic panorama visible from the trackside park, and that a photo in the current Railpace Newsmagazine makes the case that it's time for another round of such brush-clearing..... if said theory has any credence, it's apparently a limited-time effect.......

Tim -

The photos in this serious are extremely interesting and worth looking through. I can't believe some of the stuff that was once running over there! "Locomotive" Dick, was especially interesting!!! The very last photo in the series is of the Dunrobin; the 0-4-4T that came over to Canada (British Columbia) and which is apparently being returned home, if I read the report on the internet correctly. This is the first photo I have ever seen of it in its original habitat.

The photos of the two ex-USATC 0-6-0T's are interesting. The photo of "Ada II" and the oddly curved handrail on the side of the smokebox threw me, but then I noticed the 4 steps leading from the pilot deck up to the front edge of the tank, which made me see the logic of its shape. NCB/Hartley #35 in the other photo, shows the USATC original number WD1944 but lists the locomotive as being built by Davenport in 5/47. Were these S100 types built that late? I kind of figured that the production ended pretty much at the end of the war. Vulcan, Porter and Davenport built these 400 or so units. I don't think that any of the Davenports still exist here in North America, but do any exist in England or elsewhere? Finally, is there a list of how many of these S100's were built by each of the 3 builders?

Thanks.

Les

They are not my pictures and I take no credit for them. I thought you guys might be interested!

There are four original USATC 0-6-0t preserved in England, all ex Southern Railway and built by Vulcan Ironworks. 4446 of 1943 is at the Worth Valley, 4441 and 4433 of 1943 at Tenterden and 4432 of 1943 at the Bliebell Railway. (source: Industrial Railway Society Handbook). Other various Yugoslav and Polish lookalikes in the UK are foreign built. No Davenports locos.

The last time I heard, there were still various USATC 0-6-0t dumped in Greece. I don't know what kind. I did hear of a serious attempt to get some out, but apparently the response was "What about the Elgin Marbles". My informant transferred his attentions to Turkey, and his shipment of two LMS 2-8-0 arrived in Bristol on Boxing Day.

Tim

I forgot; the 1947 date must be a misprint, these were sales from WWII surplus dumps. The National Coal Board was created on "Vesting Day", 1st January 1947, so the Hartley Main Coal Co. could not have got a 1947 build engine, it didn't exist any more!

Tim