Back to product list

Rapido 992506

SR U Class No.31632 – BR Black with Sunshine Lettering (DCC Sound Fitted)

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 Plain Black (Sunshine/Gill Sans Lettering) No. 31632
4,000gal tender
U1 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 Trains UK SR U Class 2-6-0 locomotive model is a highly detailed representation of the Southern Railway's U Class, a mixed-traffic locomotive that was built between 1928 and 1931. The model is available in British Railways Early Crest livery, with a 4,000-gallon tender and various detailing variants.

The U Class was designed by Richard Maunsell, the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Southern Railway, who continued with the design principles of his predecessor. The class was built to replace older 4-4-0 locomotives and to provide a semi-fast and cross-country capable locomotive. Twenty locos were converted from SE&CR K Class 'River' 2-6-4 tank engines in 1928, and a further 30 were built from scratch.

The U Class was known as the 'U-Boat' due to its association with the English Channel and the threat of German submarines during the First World War. The locomotives were used for mixed traffic duties and were known for their reliability. A total of 50 locos were built, with the later examples featuring a higher running board, smaller wheel splasher, and a larger 4,000-gallon tender.

The Rapido Trains UK model features a range of detailing variants, including different buffer beams, domes, cylinder styles, and snifting valves. The model also includes a 21-pin DCC decoder socket, factory-installed speakers, and a smooth-running mechanism. The model is suitable for operation on 2nd radius curves (438mm or greater) and is available in 1:76 scale, suitable for OO gauge layouts.