Diesel Shunters

Following on from last week's posting: Coaching Stock - Part 1, I thought I would continue, this week, by describing the shunters that we currently have working on the layout then follow this with future postings showing all of the other locos from Type 1 to Type 5. 

Currently we have just three true shunters working on the layout and these are as follows:

CLASS 4wDM 0-4-0 SENTINAL SHUNTER

This little loco was acquired, primarily, to work the Ballast Yard, shunting and marshalling the various hopper wagons, as they arrive. The loco is by Hornby, Catalogue Nº R3180, and is in Tarmac Green livery and was factory weathered. This loco is fitted with a DCC decoder although, as yet, is one of the very few locos that does not currently have sound.

Class 03 0-6-0 DIESEL MECHANICAL SHUNTER - 03162

I love the Class 03 shunters and this particular model is a cracker and is full of detail so we just had to have it working on the layout. However, like other Class 03's that I have heard about, it is a poor runner and hates traversing points! It could be that some, or all, of the wipers need cleaning but it certainly is a very contrary beast. 

The loco is by Bachmannan, Catalogue Nº is 31-363, and it was factory weathered although we have had extra weathering applied since purchase. It is fitted with Howes sound files and it does sound very good although, strangely, it does seem to run better with the sound off! It is also quite weighty for a little loco and can easily handle whatever duties we give her.

Happily the prototype of this particular loco survives and is currently awaiting repairs at the Llangollen Railway. It was built in 1960 and was originally numbered D2170.

Class 08 0-6-0 DIESEL ELECTRIC SHUNTER - D3105

Finally we have the Class 08 and, for the moment, there is just one of this archetypal diesel shunter working on the layout although we do plan to add a second one in the fullness of time. 

This model is by Hornby, Catalogue Nº R2903XS and, as the number suggests, this model came with factory-fitted sound, however, we have since had it reblown with the Howes sound files. 

This is a much better runner than the Class 03 although it is, occasionally, a bit stuttery over some of the points. 

The prototype of this model was renumbered 08080 in June 1974 and, although I cannot find out what happened to her, I do not think she is amongst those that survived into preservation.