3 1/2 inch gauge steam outline LNER Z4 0-4-2T

Although Aberdeen Docks were established by King David I in 1196, it wasn't until 1915 that the Harbour Authorities granted the Great North of Scotland Railway permission to work steam locomotives there - until that time, only horse-drawn traffic had been permitted.

Having got the required permission, the railway lost no time in ordering a pair of locomotives from Manning Wardle - each of which turned out, on arrival, to be two tons overweight... A further pair of engines were ordered and a new class - Z4 - was created especially for the pair of them, initially numbered 116 and 117, then re-numbered 43 and 44 in 1916.

At grouping, the engines were absorbed into the LNER's stock - first as 6843 and 6844, then 8190 and 8191 at the railway's renumbering in 1943. Finally, at nationalisation, the engines became 68190 and 68191 before being withdrawn in 1960 and 1959 respectively.

Other than occasional private hire work and local goods trains, the two locomotives spent their working lives in Aberdeen docks.

The quirky design and small class size meant that few standard spares were available for the engines - thus they were overhauled and repaired, retaining their original boilers to the end.

This is a 3 1/2 inch gauge battery electric model of 8190, as it ran in all black livery in the war years.

The locomotive is driven by a pair of motors via worm gears to the rear driving wheels. We've fitted a new battery - it ran in both directions on our test battery but, using the remote controller, we can only make it go forwards.