Railway Models UK

Rapido Trains UK has announced a new OO gauge model of the South Eastern Railway O Class 0‑6‑0. The line offers nine liveries that cover the SER, SECR and Southern Railway periods.

The launch is part of Rapido’s latest Southern steam locomotive range, and the tooling stage has been completed. Pre‑orders are now open via the company’s website and its official retail partners.

Livery information

825001 – No.315 – SER Cudworth Green
825002 – No.378 – SER lined black with red lining
825003 – No.80 – SER lined black with red and yellow lining
825004 – No.1 – SECR Wainwright Green
825005 – No.381 – SECR Wainwright Green
825006 – No.171 – SECR plain green
825007 – No.142 – SECR grey
825008 – No.A8 – SR lined black with Egyptian lettering
825009 – No.436 – SR plain black with Egyptian lettering

Features and specification

The model incorporates die‑cast metal and injection‑moulded construction, together with separately fitted era‑specific details.

Key features include:

Smooth running mechanism
MoPower stay‑alive capacitor
Plunger pickups on the locomotive
Wheel‑bearing pickups on the tender
Factory‑fitted speaker
21‑pin DCC decoder socket
NEM 362 coupler pockets
Sprung buffers
Firebox flicker with dynamic fire draw effect on DCC‑fitted models

Prototype information

The O Class was introduced after James Stirling became Chief Locomotive Superintendent of the South Eastern Railway in 1878. Designed as a versatile 0‑6‑0 tender locomotive for goods and passenger service, the class became well known across the south‑east of England.

A total of 122 locomotives were built between 1878 and 1899, 65 by Sharp, Stewart and Co and the remainder at Ashford Works. The class featured domeless boilers, Ramsbottom safety valves, Stirling steam reversers and round‑topped cab profiles. Later iterations saw replacement boilers with deeper fireboxes, and 59 locomotives were rebuilt as SECR O1s between 1904 and 1932.

Initially used on heavy goods traffic, the O Class later handled lighter freight, branch‑line and shunting duties as newer classes entered service. The last members of the line were withdrawn by the Southern Railway in 1932.

Price and availability

Rapido Trains UK lists retail prices of £209.95 for DCC‑ready models and £319.95 for DCC sound‑fitted versions.

Rapido announces O class 0‑6‑0 in OO gauge

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