Silver Sidelines

With all the rain outside putting a stop to gardening I have been grounded and have used the opportunity to tackle some longstanding issues.  Hornby first released their Q6 models in June 2016.  Having being raised in Middlesbrough I had to take delivery of two versions, an Early Emblem and one with a Late Crest.  They were tested and given a run around the layout before being stored away to make room for some BR (WR) trains. Q6 63443 Hornby R3425 February 2018 and Hornby released a further Early Emblem version.  I dug out my two original models and ran all three together.  It soon became obvious that one of the first models, number 63443, was a much slower runner.  On handling the model I was shocked to realise just how hot the bodyshell had become around the motor.  With further running I could well imagine melting the smokebox. Some research showed a problem with Hornby motors of a similar vintage.  My engine was too old to return for a ...

Not so long ago Hornby released their new Q6 models. Having been brought up in Middlesbrough there was no question about it, there would have to be a Q6 or even two on my layout. First a picture from the past, the location is just to the south of Thornaby Station which provided visibility of all the lines from Middlesbrough and Thornaby before they diverged to Stockton (for the north), Redmashall (west) and Eaglescliffe (to the south). Q6 63445 – Thornaby 1960 or 61 63443 was the first Q6 to arrive on the layout. It had an Early Emblem and shed code 51G for Haverton Hill. It is pictured below on a train of ICI tank wagons, the sort that originated from Cassell Works, ICI Billingham. Haverton Hill shed along with a number of other small Teesside sheds closed around 1960 with locomotives concentrated at the newly constructed Thornaby depot. 63443 appears not to have gone to Thornaby and instead was reallocated to West Auckland for coal and coke traffic. Hornby Q6 E...