63343 Q6
This is an interesting picture of LNER Q6 63343 at Darlington. The number is quite difficult to make out exactly, as this old workhorse is faded and careworn. It's one of 120 heavy freight locos built between 1913 and 1921 for the NER, and she was 52 years old when withdrawn in 1965. The driver has caught sight of John and is looking him straight in the eye.
It was interesting to try and discover where the picture was taken. In the background is a factory with an unusual ventilator or chimney at the back. On the gable end is a sign identifying it as SIMPSON'S MALT - Finest Flavour, and with the help of Google you can work out that this company was located at Berwick on Tweed. And yet... you can see exactly the same ventilator on an old drawing, but the rail layout seems different. Then you read that the building burned down in 1930, so how can that be, when the picture was taken in the 1960s?
The Friends of Berwick Museum were very helpful, and explained that Simpsons had a second Maltings located in Darlington. Ah! That makes sense - No. 63343 was based at Darlington from 1962 to 1964, just the period when John might have been there.
63343 Q6
This is an interesting picture of LNER Q6 63343 at Darlington. The number is quite difficult to make out exactly, as this old workhorse is faded and careworn. It's one of 120 heavy freight locos built between 1913 and 1921 for the NER, and she was 52 years old when withdrawn in 1965. The driver has caught sight of John and is looking him straight in the eye.
It was interesting to try and discover where the picture was taken. In the background is a factory with an unusual ventilator or chimney at the back. On the gable end is a sign identifying it as SIMPSON'S MALT - Finest Flavour, and with the help of Google you can work out that this company was located at Berwick on Tweed. And yet... you can see exactly the same ventilator on an old drawing, but the rail layout seems different. Then you read that the building burned down in 1930, so how can that be, when the picture was taken in the 1960s?
The Friends of Berwick Museum were very helpful, and explained that Simpsons had a second Maltings located in Darlington. Ah! That makes sense - No. 63343 was based at Darlington from 1962 to 1964, just the period when John might have been there.