Rapido 992010

SR U Class No.31639 – 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. 31639
4,000gal tender
4MT type chimney
Blanking plate fitted to 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

The Rapido SR U Class 2-6-0 model is a highly detailed and accurate representation of the Southern Railway's U Class locomotive. The model is available in British Railways Late Crest livery and features a range of variant parts, including a 4,000-gallon tender, 4MT type chimney, and blanking plate fitted to cylinders.

The U Class locomotive has a long history, dating back to the 1920s when it was introduced by the Southern Railway as a replacement for the 4-4-0 locomotives. The class was designed by Richard Maunsell, who drew inspiration from his previous 2-6-0 design, the N Class, and incorporated new developments from other railways, including the GWR 43xx Mogul.

The Southern Railway inherited a number of locomotives from the Southeastern and Chatham Railway, but many of these were old and needed replacing. Maunsell's U Class was designed to be a semi-fast and cross-country capable locomotive, and it was also rebuilt from the SE&CR K Class 'River' locomotives, which were known to rock. The first 20 locos were converted in 1928, and they were redesignated as the U Class.

A further 20 locos were built, and these were completed in 1931. The rebuilt and new-built locos had some differences, including the number of windows in the cab and the size of the wheel splasher. The U Class was a reliable locomotive and was used for mixed traffic duties, including freight and passenger work. It continued in service with British Railways until 1966, when the last loco was withdrawn.

The Rapido model is available in OO gauge and features a range of detailing options, including flush and riveted buffer beams, flat or rounded domes, and different cylinder arrangements. All models feature a 4,000-gallon tender and are equipped with a smooth-running mechanism, factory-installed speakers, and other features.