kingdom

I remember the Tony East MSWJR 0-4-4T now.  Can you recall which issue of RM, I'd love to read it again!

 I think you'll find it was the January 1978 issue, page 14 -

John

Whereas 'Independent' politicians were Conservatives. In the early 1980s a councillor from Griffithstown, having insisted he was truly independent, managed to get himself photographed at the Conservative Party conference to great amusement.

In the early 60's, the Conservative Club in Cwmbran had more members than there were Conservative voters, including the one Communist Councillor. It wa said that the attraction was that the building, which was I believe converted from a bakehouse, had no toilets for ladies, so could not have lady members

John

[snip]

The unknown one in this lot is the rumoured WD 2-8-0 that went to the US after the war... it’s identity seems unknown as is it’s destination. Given the German “selected” exported locos became well documented in the US, it’s seems odd it’s fate is both unknown and unmatched to those exports... I think it’s a myth that never happened myself.

 

[snip]

Anyone can fill in any gaps ?

There are some maddening references to the 2-80 and 0-6-0ST 'exchanges' in the War Diary of the War Office Director of Transportation in the national Archives (WO165/106)

Dec 1945

Financial authority given to the exchange of 1 x Austerity 2-8-0 and 1 x Austerity 0-6-0ST with USA. Instructions sent to BAOR and British Army Staff Washington to proceed with exchange. [ Austerity 0-6-0ST believed to be 75002 (HE 2851/43) which was last identified as returned from loan to NSM 10/45 . The 2-8-0 may be 79189, of which no trace has been found after it left Holland for Antwerp on 25/1/46 (info from the Late Tony Lambert)]

Feb 1946

US agrees to exchange one each of 2-8-0 and 0-6-0T for British version

Aug 1946

1 x US 2-8-0 No 3257 & 1 x US 0-6-0T No 4382 to Longmoor ex Continent for instructional purposes

So financial permission was given, and the US Army kept their side of the agreement, but there are no other details in the War Diary.  Tony's suggestions for the identities of the two WD locos came from exhaustive elimination of all the locos which had no firm information on their disposal

John