USA & UK together USTAC 2-8-0 5820

The UK's contribution to getting Europe moving

as the invasion of Europe and its subsequent freeing

from NAZI tyranny as the forces of the US, UK

and of course Canada fought and died to return

the continent to democracy. Of course many of

the nations which had been overrun contributed

through their free forces and of course their

many underground fighters. However the

Mainstay of the liberation was by the

US, UK and Canadian forces 

 

 

The US examples now at Howarth

 

USTAC 2-8-0 5820

 

In May this year there was a remembrance of the

D Day invasion and this year as you will now know

Both engines are being run on the KWVR Line.

 

A service of dedication was the start point and I

am grateful to KWVR News for the pictures below

 

 

Left to right: David Pearson (Vice President, KWVR), Terry Grayshon (Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Air-force Benevolent Fund), Major S. M. Hardy (West Yorkshire Deputy Lord Lieutenant), Rev. Peter Mayo-Smith (Rector of Haworth), Captain David A. Stracener (United States Naval Attaché to the U.K.), Major Stephen Boardman (Regimental Administrative Officer of 4 Para), Dr. Matthew Stroh (Chairman, KWVR)

 

Captain David A Stracener places the wreath on

USTAC 2-8-0 5820

 

Remembering the US Fallen

 

Major Stephen Boardman places the wreath on

UK WD standard 2-8-0

 

And salutes the fallen

 

As part of the planning for the invasion of Europe, the UK and US governments considered the likely motive power position. Both countries built locomotives for main line and shunting operations and the Railway is unique in having examples of all these designs. It is the only place in the world to have this distinction.

At a cost approaching £1M, which has included assistance from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the railway has, using its own staff and qualified volunteers , rebuilt its UK and US main line locomotives and they have both recently re-entered daily service. This is the first occasion since the end of World War 2 that it has been possible to see an example of each type together, let alone actually in use; although many of the US design remain in many places all over the world, there is only one survivor of the UK design, which is at Haworth.

 

In terms of their historical contribution and importance, the two locomotives are comparable with the Spitfire and Mustang fighters. It is correct to say that without these two designs of locomotive, now uniquely presented in use at the KWVR, the advances into Europe after D-Day would simply not have been possible.

 

See more at http://www.kwvr.co.uk/