Project 62 Home Page

PROJECT 62 - The home page for "Yankee Tanks" 30075 & 30076

About Project 62

Project 62 represents the owners of Yugoslavian built Class 62 USA type 0-6-0 tank steam locomotive 30075 (formerly JZ 62-669 acquired from Store Steel in Slovenia in 1990) which has been operational since June 2004 following heavy overhaul and is based on the Mid-Hants Railway "Watercress Line" from August 2009. The group is also involved in the current project to construct 30076 from 62-521, which has been acquired from ArcelorMittal Zenica in Bosnia & Herzegovina and is also based on the "Watercress Line" in Hampshire having arrived in December 2006. Project 62 also has a "Friends of 62-121" arrangement with the Slovenian National Railway Museum in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Class 62 "Yankee Tank" steam locomotives are a pattern build of the World War II USATC S100 Class 0-6-0T Switcher/Shunters designed by Colonel Howard G Hill.

***News - 30075 out of service for firebox repairs***

Unfortunately due to the failure of three old patches to the platework in the inner firebox it has been necessary to withdraw 30075 from service. The patches are located low in the inner firebox corners. These were repairs undertaken many years ago when the locomotive was in service in Slovenia and are now life expired. Project 62 is in discussion with a third party repairer and hopes that an agreement to refurbish the firebox will be in place soon. Please watch this space for further updates.

The image above shows 30075 shortly after arriving at Alresford on 18th August 2009 to commence work at her new base - the Mid Hants Railway. The locomotive is presented in unlined BR Black as a Southampton Dock Tank and carries a 71I (Southampton Docks) shed plate.

30076 - converting 62-521 to form the UK's 6th USA Class locomotive

Since 62-521 arrived at its current base at Ropley on the Mid-Hants Railway in December 2006, 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 2010. Please join us to achieve a "World First" and be part of the making of heritage rail history. For more information click 30076.

62-521 is made ready for loading to depart Zenica December 2006. The photo to the right shows the locomotive outside the loco-shed at Ropley on the Mid-Hants Railway

Further Project 62 information and photos

Technical Information - specification detail for 30075, 62-521 and 62-121 with dimensions, tractive effort and other data

Photo Gallery - photos of 30075 and Project 62 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 - buy a share to 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

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).

2011 Mid-Hants Railway (Watercress Line) Timetable

Clicking on the Mid-Hants Railway ("Watercress Line") Timetable cover above will take you to the "Watercress Line" timetable web page where you can also book tickets online.

Links to our Locomotives' Host Railway

Both 30075 and 62-521 which will be rebuilt to form the next in the Southampton Dock shunter series numbered "30076" are currently based 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 30th August 2011