By Justin Franz
Two Yugoslavian 0-6-0 tank locomotives that were brought to North America in the early 1980s and then disappeared from public view have found a new home at the Niagara Railway Museum in Fort Erie, Ontario.
Earlier this summer, the Niagara Railway Museum announced that the family of the man who brought the engines from Yugoslavia, John Holer, had donated the two steam locomotives to the museum based in a former Canadian National shop. The locomotives were moved out of storage for the first time in 42 years in early July.
The two locomotives, 62.118 and 62.129, were built by Duro Dakovic Locomotive Technica in the late 1950s for use on Yugoslavia Railways. Although built in Yugoslavia, the locomotives were based on the U.S. Army’s 0-6-0s. After decades of service, the locomotives were sold to Holer who ran Marineland, a zoo and amusement park in Niagara Falls. Holer wanted to use the locomotives at the park to haul short excursions but those plans never got off the ground and the locomotives remained stored.
After Holer passed away, his family decided to find a new home for the locomotives and went to the Niagara Railway Museum. Museum President Ken Jones said he was shocked when the family approached him about the donation but that the museum gladly accepted it. The locomotives were trucked to the museum on July 4. Jones said both locomotives are in great condition, making them good candidates for restoration, but it’s likely they will remain display pieces. The locomotives are usually stored inside but are rolled out on nice days when the museum is open.
“They are a part of our local railway history, despite never operating here,” Jones said. “They’ve been in Ontario longer than they were in Yugoslavia!”
The locomotives will be on display during the museum’s RailDays event on September 9 and 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit the Niagria Railway Museum’s website.
Both locomotives are seen upon their arrival at the Niagara Railroad Museum. Photo Courtesy of Niagara Railroad Museum.
