Two Yugoslav 0-6-0T's Surfaced and Saved in Canada!

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Wed Jul 05, 2023 3:15 pm

https://www.facebook.com/niagararailway ... JbmCwbCcZl

Quote:

It is with great pleasure that the Niagara Railway Museum Inc. can finally announce our newest acquisitions. It was through the generosity of the Holer Falinly and MarineLand Canada that we welcome what are quite possibly the 2 most elusive steam locomotives in Canada. Built by Duro Dakovic Locomotive Technica in 1955 & 1958, 62.118 & 62.129 were moved out of their home, for the first time in 42yrs on Monday evening. On Tuesday, after a very long, hot, tiring day, the locomotives safely arrived at the shop in Fort Erie. More photos and information about the move will be posted in the coming days.
The backstory. John Holer, creator/owner of Marineland purchased these 2 locomotives from thw Jugoslavia Railway and moved them in 1981. They were placed into one of the warehouses and unfortunately, never used. His original plans for the park was to include a lengthy boat ride, monorail system, and the train. That sadly never materialized. Less than 2 months ago we were asked if we would be interested in these engines, as there was a possibility they may end up meeting the torch. Despite never operating here, they now have more history to Niagara, than they did overseas as they've now been here longer than there.
This coming weekend, July 8 & 9 is our Open Weekend, 10am-4pm both days. It will also feature the official welcome at 11am for our new locomotives with some words from our President along with cake for our visitors. We hope you'll come out to visit our sisters.
This was definitely [n]ot a move/acquisition that was planned. We welcome any donations to this project at https://www.canadahelps.org/.../niagara ... useum-inc/

The Jugoslovenske Železnice Class 62 was a class formed of 106 ex-United States Army Transportation Corps S100 Class 0-6-0T steam locomotives, surplus after the Second World War, plus about 90 similar examples built by Đuro Đaković of Slavonski Brod, Croatia between 1952 and 1961. So, yes, they look familiar to us. At least two are in Britain passing as SR postwar "USA" class examples, and there are a couple other of these tankers in North America as well.

softwerkslex · **Posted:** Wed Jul 05, 2023 3:46 pm

Pretty crazy, huh? They look like you could fire them up today. Similar to the Swedish cold war reserve.

Ken Jones · **Posted:** Wed Jul 05, 2023 7:27 pm

I wouldn't so much say they surfaced and were saved. They were always there and looked after, just no one, you know, really ever saw them, or thought about them very much. We just sort of brought them out for the world to see. The owner passed away a few yrs back. The property they were on wasn't used, so was sold off. These engines needed to go, so the family contacted me to see if we would be interested in them. The alternative was the torch. So, that was kind of a no brainer. It happened VERY fast, less than 2 months to line everything up and get them out. However, we were not able to discuss the move or the acquisition with anyone, makes it hard for fundraising. They weren't allowed to be discussed until they were on our rails at the shop. And by the time I got home last night, well, I was just too damn tired to post anything. It was a very long, hot day, but in the end, everything was moved safely and they have a new home. We do have some work to do on the. They really need a cleaning, and some window repairs, but otherwise they are in excellent condition. One cab (for now)will be open for visitors. both cabs are pretty much the same, soooo, kind of seen one, you've seen them both. There are quite a few differences between the 2 locomotives as well, and we've been finding that out as we go over them. They also came with a crate of spare parts each, and the original maintenance manuals/notes, but we can't read them.

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Wed Jul 05, 2023 7:52 pm

Great acquisitions for a fine little museum. May they prove useful and draw in a crowd of paying visitors!

NS 3322 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 05, 2023 8:33 pm

A shame these were never used at Marineland, which is certainly an unusual amusement park. But they are now at a great new home!
Here are two photos of when they were delivered to Canada with John Holer himself:

Ken Jones · **Posted:** Wed Jul 05, 2023 8:42 pm

Yup, and those are about the only pics you'll find of them online. I have one that came in a collection from a local railfan, and I saw them when they were delivered. I have a marine magazine that shows an extra picture, but I can't seem to locate it at the moment. we didn't lift them nearly as high as they were in those pics.

joe6167 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 05, 2023 11:35 pm

For the manuals, you can scan the pages and have Google Translate translate the scan, straight from a JPG etc.

Another site is DeepL.com, which I hear may offer more accurate translations.

NJDixon · **Joined:** Mon Dec 06, 2021 4:36 pm **Posts:** 363

From what someone on Facebook was saying, these locomotives were supposedly fully restored to operational condition by the Yugoslav State Railways as part of the sale, and Holer even went over there to see them operate, before being shipped over to Canada.

Ken Jones · **Posted:** Thu Jul 06, 2023 5:56 pm

NJDixon wrote:

From what someone on Facebook was saying, these locomotives were supposedly fully restored to operational condition by the Yugoslav State Railways as part of the sale, and Holer even went over there to see them operate, before being shipped over to Canada.

yes, that was likely me. One of the park maintenance workers was there when he brought them in and told me quite a bit about the purchase, including john going over and seeing them run. It's no surprise. I kind of figured they were worked on because of the condition.

PaulWWoodring · **Posted:** Thu Jul 06, 2023 8:03 pm

My China tour group came across a probably U. S.-built one of these at Anshan Steel works in July of 1987. I'm not sure who built it (possibly Vulcan?). Maybe someone who has been there since has more knowledge of it than I remember. It was operable at that time. I'm sure it's probably long-gone.

daylight4449 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2023 12:11 pm

Ken Jones wrote:

NJDixon wrote:

From what someone on Facebook was saying, these locomotives were supposedly fully restored to operational condition by the Yugoslav State Railways as part of the sale, and Holer even went over there to see them operate, before being shipped over to Canada.

yes, that was likely me. One of the park maintenance workers was there when he brought them in and told me quite a bit about the purchase, including john going over and seeing them run. It's no surprise. I kind of figured they were worked on because of the condition.

So even with the work that would have to be done to run these two engines at this point? These two logically are probably as close to turn-key as one could find right now.

Great Western · **Posted:** Fri Jul 07, 2023 1:23 pm

Mr. Jones and the Niagara Railway Museum,
Congratulations on getting the two locomotives. It looks like they will provide a lot of good fun and many wide grins for many years to come.

o anderson · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2023 8:45 am

The two Davenport copies are now at home at Fort Erie. The final parts of the move are chronicled in the Niagara Railway Museum blog.
This acquisition triples their steam locomotive collection, and all will be on display for an open house event September 9-10.
http://nfrm.ca/blog/?p=3529

joe6167 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 31, 2023 11:58 am

ah, now I get it... "62.118"... very clever!

Will she ever meet 6218 down the street?

Chris Dewitt · **Joined:** Thu Jul 28, 2022 11:48 pm **Posts:** 10

What is the story with the reciprocating pump looking thing on the front left corner?