Hornby – London Transport Sentinel DL81

Sentinel Waggon Works Ltd, originally founded in 1875 as Ally & MacLellan in Glasgow, underwent several changes in location and name. In 1957, Rolls-Royce acquired the company, which was known as Sentinel (Shrewsbury) Ltd at the time. They were known for producing steam locomotives and lorries, but production of these vehicles ceased in 1958. In 1959, Sentinel introduced a prototype diesel shunter that operated successfully on the Shropshire & Montgomeryshire Railway. A total of 17 were produced that year.

The 0–6–0 Sentinel locomotive was an enlarged version of their initial 0–4–0 model. Production began in 1961, with over 100 units built by the end of 1971, featuring 8-cylinder 325 horsepower engines. London Transport acquired three used examples in 1971 to replace older pannier tank engines, painting them in a similar color to the original GWR green. Each Sentinel locomotive was permanently coupled to a tender made from a bogie removed from an old district line stock unit. DL81 and its two sisters were withdrawn in 1993, with DL81 later being preserved at Rocks by Rail in Cottesmore.

The Hornby 0–6–0 Sentinel model is a recent addition with 6-pin DCC readiness, suitable for digital operation. The London Transport model includes enhanced detailing such as dumb buffers, NEM pocket covering plates, and a prototypical trip cock by the wheelset, making it a valuable addition to small or industrial layouts.

Tech Specs:

• Item Scale: 1:76 Scale 00 Gauge
• Finish: Painted
• Gauge: OO
• Designer: Sentinel Wagoon Works
• Wheel Configuration: 0–6–0
• Minimum Curve (mm): Radius 2
• Motor: 3 Pole Skew Wound
• Number of Parts: 1