The North Eastern Railway gifted us three remarkable pr-grouping classes that were to survive to the very last days of steam in the North-East of England. The Raven 'Q7' and 'Q6' 0-8-0s and the Wilson Worsdell 'J27' 0-6-0s. Thankfully, an example of each survives in preservation. Here's a lovely example of 'Q6' 63419 hard at work near Billingham, her driver glancing back to ensure all is well and a pair of shunting poles on the buffer beam. This is the scene in March 1965 but she will only last another three months.

© Steve Armitage Archive