Rapido 992007

SR U Class No.31631 – BR Lined Black Early Crest

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI images rather than photographs

Prototype Era
Era 4 (1948 to 1956) British Railways Early Crest

Manufacturer description

Southern Railway ‘U’ Class 2-6-0
BR Lined Black (Early Emblem) No. 31631
4,000gal tender
U1 type chimney
Flat fronted cylinders
Round dome
Snifting valves plated over
And many more variant parts
Suitable for operation on 2nd Radius curves (438mm or greater)
Dynamic firebox flicker
21-pin DCC decoder socket
MoPower stay-alive capacitors
Factory-fitted speakers in all models
Sprung buffers
Museum quality paint finish
Smooth & powerful mechanism
Highly detailed
NEM coupler pockets
1:76 scale, (OO gauge)

Catalogue listing

Model details

Rapido Trains UK has released a new OO gauge model of the SR U Class 2-6-0 locomotive in British Railways Early Crest livery, representing the period from 1948.

The model is based on the Southern Railway 'U' Class 2-6-0 locomotive, which was rebuilt from the SE&CR K Class 'River' 2-6-4 tank engines following the Sevenoaks Railway accident in 1928. The 'U' Class was designed by Richard Maunsell, who continued as Chief Mechanical Engineer for the Southern Railway after the grouping of the railways in 1923.

A total of 50 U Class locomotives were built, consisting of 20 rebuilt 'Rivers' and 30 new builds. The rebuilt locomotives retained the 4-look out windows of the K Class, while the new builds had 2 large windows. The later built locomotives featured a larger 4,000 gallon tender with inward-sloping raves to prevent coal spillage.

The model features a range of detailing variants, including flush and riveted buffer beams, flat or rounded domes, and different cylinder styles. All models are fitted with a 4,000 gallon tender and feature a dynamic firebox flicker and fire draw effect. The locomotive is also equipped with a smooth-running mechanism, factory-fitted speakers, NEM coupler pockets, and a 21-pin DCC decoder socket.

The model is suitable for operation on 2nd radius curves (438mm or greater) and is highly detailed, with museum-quality paint finish and sprung buffers. Four examples of the U Class have been preserved, and the Rapido Trains UK model will represent the newly built batches of locomotives.