Railway Tank engine - Ref: WC1032
This photograph comes from the Alexander Wilson Collection in Dundee's Central Library. Its provenance is something of a mystery, since it appears to portray a small, narrow gauge steam locomotive as might have been used in India.
The clothing of the man on the right would appear to correspond with this notion, but the driver appears more Chinese. There is, of course, no reason why a Chinaman might not have been part of the workforce in India at that time.
One possible connection with Dundee is the jute industry. Although other photographs show the use of boats and carts to transport the bundles of raw jute, there is no reason to doubt that locomotive power might have been used in the later period.
Alexander Wilson who took this photograph, was a supervisor in a Dundee jute mill for over 20 years. He bequeathed much of his collection and £50, to cover the costs involved, to the Free Library Committee of Dundee in 1923.