Baby W

This is the most recent locomotive to join our fleet in the fairly diminutive shape of Dapol's new Class 22 diesel hydraulic.

We chose D6319 because this was the one that was selected for preservation. However, despite a purchase price being agreed with BR, it was, for some unknown reason, cut up by staff at Swindon Works.

We purchased our model through Rails of Sheffield but, when it first came, one of the side windows had fallen out and, even worse, the cab windows at one end had been pushed in.

Naturally I sent it straight back to Rails and, within a week or so, we had received a replacement - well done Rails! However, this replacement also had a side window that had fallen out - so is this an inherent fault with this model or are all Dapol locos poorly built? Anyway, rather than send it back again I managed to restick the window and, so far, no more have come out!

As for the prototypes, there were 58 of these Type 2's built by the North British Locomotive Company who also built 58 Class 21, as well as 20 re-engined versions of the Class 21, designated Class 29. These two classes were very similar to the Class 22, albeit slightly longer, and they were fitted with diesel electric engines rather than diesel hydraulic.

None of the locos produced by NBL proved to be very reliable and they were not in revenue-earning service for very long. Sadly all of these distinctive looking locos succumbed to the cutters torch meaning that none survived into preservation.

Our model is fitted with Howes sound which, of course, has had to be recreated from the sound files available to them and, to be honest, I think they have done a very good job.

We have also had the loco weathered at Mikron Models and the results are truly amazing.

She really is a lovely model and has proved va ery popular little work-horse on the layout, even helping to remove dismantled rails from the northern section of the layou, prior to its remodelling.