In 1990, a group of enthusiasts had the opportunity to acquire a USA S100 tank locomotive, a type famously used by the Southern Railway, primarily for shunting in Southampton Docks in the postwar period. Fourteen locomotives, plus one for spares, had been purchased from the US Army Transportation Corps in 1946. The class proved powerful, economical to operate, and relatively easy to maintain. During and immediately after World War Two, up to 400 of these engines were deployed across Europe, joining the fleets of France, Greece, Hungary, Turkey, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. The Yugoslavian rail authorities were so impressed that they produced their own nearly identical versions in local workshops, incorporating operational improvements. Both the original USA-built engines and the Yugoslav reproductions were classified as Class 62, giving Project 62 its name.

A suitable locomotive, No. 62-669 (later renumbered 30075), was found at the Store Steelworks near Ljubljana, Slovenia. Built in 1960 by Djuro Djakovic in Slavonski Brod, Croatia, it had only covered 25,000 miles before becoming redundant. In a sorry state, it was dismantled on site and transported to the Swanage Railway in Dorset. There, it was modified to fit the British loading gauge, reassembled, and prepared for service.

Slovenia - 1990. First from right - George Shields (Swanrail driver), Second from right - Glyn Thomas (Swanrail guard) , Third from right - Bill Trite. Others pictured; Steelworks employees.

One of the only pictures taken of 62-669 in Store Steelworks

Between 1994 and 1996, a major overhaul was led by Ron Pocklington, former Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Southern Railway. To strengthen the link with the Southern Railway, 62-669 adopted the malachite green livery and was assigned the next vacant ‘USA’ class number, 30075. After a steam pipe failure in 1998, the locomotive was withdrawn and moved to the East Somerset Railway in 2002, returning to service in 2004. It subsequently visited the Mid-Hants Railway in 2009 and appeared at numerous heritage railways, including Bodmin & Wenford, Bristol Docks Railway, Churnet Valley, Dartmoor Railway, and Yeovil Junction Steam Gala.

Arrival at Shillingstone Station - 2016

Withdrawn again in 2010 due to inner firebox leaks, 30075 was relocated to Shillingstone Station in Dorset, the base of Project 62 and the North Dorset Railway Trust, in January 2016. A complete overhaul followed, including a boiler reconditioning at Vincent Engineering, delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, with the locomotive returning to Shillingstone in September 2022. Steam was first raised in May 2023, with final repairs to the left injector completed in January 2025. Following inspection, boiler certification was issued, marking its full return to steam.

30075 on tour destinations

East Somerset Railway 8/7/97 to 21/9/97
Bristol Docks 24/9/97-28/9/97. https://youtu.be/2jrvUmnlpGk
Yeovil on 5 & 6/10/1997
Back to Swanage for the Santa Specials
Unfortunately, the locomotive suffered a major steam pipe failure in 1998 and was withdrawn from traffic.
Dismantled at Swanage and moved by road to the East Somerset Railway in July 2002 and was returned to traffic at a Press Launch on the 7th of July 2004.
From Jul 04 - Jan 05 it was in steam for 59 days.
East Somerset Railway Jul 07 to Jul 09
Relocated to the Mid-Hants Railway in August 2009, and also visited Bodmin & Wenford Railway.
Churnet Valley Jan-Feb 2010 (Used 5 days). https://youtu.be/WmoYM8ohUA0
https://youtu.be/tArSSHU7Uh8
Dartmoor Railway Aug-Sep 2010 (used 13 days)
Last operation on the railway on Mid Hants Railway 13th September 2010
30075 went from Mid Hants to Barrow Hill Roundhouse Railway Centre, Chesterfield on 9/2/12 and was at Barrow Hill until 2/12/2013.
30075 went from Barrow Hill to Ruddington (Formerly known as Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre, The Great Central Railway - Nottingham)
30075 went from Ruddington to Shillingstone on 20/1/16