Some stills of 63395

The Q6s were an unqualified success. By combining Worsdell's motion with the B15 boiler and the Schmidt superheater, Raven managed to create a strong and reliable locomotive which gave good strong service right up to the end of BR steam.

Due to their success, the Q6s experienced very modifications during their lives. From 1930, the Schmidt superheaters were replaced with Robinson superheaters to bring them in line with LNER practice. From 1938, the boiler design was updated from Diagram 50 to Diagram 50A. The 50A boilers had their domes 1ft 3in further back, and a sloping firebox throatplate was fitted. The boiler tubes were also increased from 144 to 156.
The Q6s had no train-braking ability, but they did have a single brake cylinder which operated the brakes on the tender and locomotive. On one occasion in 1942, the operating link failed causing a run-away from Morrison's Colliery into South Pelaw Junction. This only happened once and the Board of Trade's inspector was satisfied with the testing arrangements for the links. The lack of train-braking ability meant that the Q6s could not pull passenger trains except under unusual circumstances. One of these was in 1936 when a Q6 from Selby hauled a failed D20 into Leeds. The D20 braked the train and provided carriage heating whilst the Q6 provided the hauling power.

The Q6s were initially allocated to sheds in the North East area to haul coal from the colliery pits. By 1920 they were displaced from the Shildon-Newport line by electric traction. At Grouping in 1923, they were allocated to Tyne Dock, Borough Gardens, Blaydon, Carlisle, Stockton, Newport, Darlington, Neville Hill (Leeds), Selby, Dairycoates, and Springhead (Hull & Barnsley). They would occasionally be used for medium and long distance freight, as well as the heavy mineral traffic for which they were designed. During LNER ownership, the Q6s tended to venture further afield including trips to Manchester via the Woodhead Tunnel, Doncaster, and after 1930 they ventured north of the Tyne. In the 1940s, they also ventured south to Peterborough and March.
General withdrawals started in 1963, and the last Q6 was withdrawn in 1967.

Technical Details

Cylinders (x2):		20x26in.
Motion:	Stephenson	8.75in piston valves
Boiler:	Max. Diameter:	5ft 6in
	Pressure:	180psi
	Diagram No.:	50
Heating Surface:	Total:	1730 sq.ft.
	Firebox:	140 sq.ft.
	Tubes:	723 sq.ft. (90x 2in)
	Flues:	506 sq.ft. (24x 5.25in)
	Superheater:	361 sq.ft. (24x 1.1in)
Grate Area:		23 sq.ft.
Wheels:	Coupled:	4ft 7.25in
Tractive Effort:	28,800lb	(@ 85% boiler pressure)
Wheelbase:	Total:	42ft 7.75in
	Engine:	17ft 2in
	Tender:	12ft 8in
Weight (full):	Total:	110 tons 0cwt
	Engine:	65 tons 18cwt
	Tender:	44 tons 2cwt
Max. Axle Load:		17 tons 12cwt