Re: Newfoundland NG - STEAM - Alco & Montreal Mikados

Newfoundland had great strategic importance to both the British and Americans in WWII. Under a Bases for Destroyers deal, the USA established naval bases in Argentia & St. John's, as well as airforce bases in Stephenville (Harmon Field), Argentia and Gander. The latter were especially important because the early bombers made in the USA couldn't cross the Atlantic in one go. Newfoundland was the closest point in North America to England, so the bases allowed for final airplane inspection and refueling on the ferrying moves. They also provided air and naval protection for merchant navy convoys.

Except for Gander, most of these bases were on the coast, but U-Boat attacks were a constant threat to coastal travel. So the railway was a huge strategic asset in connecting the bases by land - arguably a much more key and direct military role than that served by the White Pass. The railway was in a sad state after the Depression however, and a major USA/British study was undertaken to see what needed upgrading. The weary old power had to go and Alco and Montreal teamed up to provide engines 1007-1019 between 1941 and 1944 (with the exception of 1008 by North British - which again seemed to have no smokebox number plate).

After the war, Montreal supplied the last Mikes 1020-1029 in two batches - 1947 and 1949. All engines were renumbered into the 300 series in 1949, and all lasted until the end of steam in 1957 - with numbers 308 and 327 being sold to the private Botwood Rly and lasting a while longer. Unfortunately none were preserved.

So.... Hope all this hasn't bored you, as this is just a wee selection of hundreds and hundreds of photos. I will do smaller postings of the interesting equipment, facilities etc in a while.













Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/27/2020 04:36PM by tgbcvr.