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Reasons for two locomotives, but with the same number
YOU posed a question in March’s RM after Mervyn Pritchard’s letter: Is there a simple explanation for there being two ‘KDL11’ locomotives with the same number (699.01)? Well, yes there is – though it’s not that helpful.
The engine now known as Sir Drefaldwyn on the Welshpool & Llanfair was allocated to the late lamented Salzkammergut Lokalbahn (SKGLB) by US Occupation forces in January 1946. The SKGLB formally bought the loco in 1950 but only kept it in service until 1952. It lay out of use until 1955, when it was sold to the Steiermärkische Landesbahnen (StLB/Styrian Local Railways).
There were already ‘KDL11’ locomotives in service with the state railways (ÖBB) on a number of its narrow gauge lines, and these were grouped into Class 699. For some unrecorded reason, the StLB decided to number their ‘KDL11’ in the same series, thus becoming their No. 699.01.