It’s certainly an unusual beast – at least to my untrained eye. Can you help identify this loco for Chaz Mason?

Writer of the best local wildlife blog there is, Chaz Mason, has been in touch asking for help with a rarity he’s got a photo of in the wild. He’s not sure if it’s a migrant species or just a very unusual native, but would like help from fellow enthusiasts to help him get a definite tick in his book.

Unusually for Chaz, it’s not a bird, but a train – a very unusual steam locomotive. I know we number a fair few train enthusiasts in our midst, not least Chasewaterstuff, Ian Pell, Tony Martin and others, so any help with this would be most welcome.

My thanks to Chaz for his kind words; his HLF project is essential local history, and his chronicles of Clayhanger Marsh and Ryders Mere are always top of my list. He’s been getting over the loss of his favourite old wellies this week, so if we can solve this quandary it might cheer him up…

Chaz wrote:

Hi Bob,

Hope all is well with you. Your promotion of my HLF Project has certainly provided results, I have been out and about promoting it and no less than three different people have said ‘Oh yes, I read about this on Brownhills Bob’s blog’ so many thanks for that!

I wondered if you would mind asking your readers if they could help me with something? I have acquired an old Photo of a Steam Locomotive and I remember a few weeks ago one of your regulars had helped with the identification of a Loco at the old Brownhills Station. This job should in principle, be simple but I have been on the internet several times and have drawn a blank so far.

The loco is unusual as it appears to be one of the U.S.A. 0-6-0T locomotives brought in during the second world war for use in Europe (I think the Southern Railway had about 17 of them and classed them as S100). I had read that some went on to be used in private ownership but this one carries N.C.B. on the pannier tank and the number 36 on the cab side. I have found one photo of a similar type of loco working with the N.C.B. at a colliery in Scotland but can find nothing at all about the one in my photograph.

Thanks in advance and stay safe – Chaz

Well? What do you know? Comment here, or BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers.