Rapido 992009

SR U Class No.31627 – BR Lined Black Late Crest

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

Prototype Era
Era 5 (1956 to 1966) British Railways Late Crest

Manufacturer description

Southern Railway ‘U’ Class 2-6-0
BR Lined Black (Late Emblem) No. 31627
4,000gal tender
U1 type chimney
Flat fronted cylinders
Flat 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 announced a new OO gauge model of the Southern Railway's U Class 2-6-0 steam locomotive. The model represents the locomotives built in the late 1920s and early 1930s, designed by Richard Maunsell, who continued as Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Southern Railway after the grouping of the railways in 1923.

The U Class was a response to the need for a semi-fast and cross-country capable locomotive, as well as a reaction to the Sevenoaks Railway accident in 1923, which involved a Southeastern and Chatham Railway K Class 'River' tank engine. Maunsell and his team rebuilt 20 of these engines as 2-6-0 tender locos, incorporating new ideas from other railways, such as the Great Western Railway's 43xx Moguls.

The rebuilds and new builds of the U Class were distinct, with the new builds featuring a higher running board, smaller wheel splasher, and larger 4,000 gallon tender. The locomotives were used for mixed traffic duties, and despite being generally associated with freight work, the U-Boats proved to be reliable all-round performers.

The model will be available in various liveries, including Southern Railway and British Railways, and will feature a range of detailing variants, including flush and riveted buffer beams, different domes, and Snifting valves on some models. The locomotive will have a smooth-running mechanism, factory-fitted speakers, and a range of other features, including an ESU 21-pin decoder socket and dynamic firebox flicker.

The model is suitable for operation on 2nd radius curves of 438mm or greater, making it a versatile addition to any OO gauge layout. Four examples of the U Class have been preserved, consisting of a mix of rebuilt and new-built locomotives.