85% available…

Despite their poor reputation there does seem to have been a period from the mid 1960s for a few years when the North British 1100hp diesel hydraulic Type 2s achieved some sort of reliability…

Displaced from mainline service they settled down to the branch passenger and pick up goods across the South West. All gone by 1972 with some of the class barely lasting a decade due to their ‘non standard’ transmission our intrepid photographer ventured to the north west coast of Devon to capture D6318 at Paxton Road.

All change at Paxton Road after the Speedlink stock has been carefully put away and the early 70s reigns again on this 500mm slice of everywhere, today with shades of Barnstaple.

Whilst the Dapol model isn’t quite as good as a Farish 31 (or even a Dapol 26) it still captures the character of these dinky locomotives. It is a little coggy at shunting speeds but it’s great once moving. What’s more, switching periods on the layout has given things a new lease of life and it will be good fun shunting with these shorter wagons for a week or so… I’ve a rake of 4 clay hoods that need finishing off, perhaps this will be the nudge to do that? For now though the sun shines, the snow melts, the dog snores and I’m twisting wire making trees once more. Until next time more soon…