Rapido 992507

SR U Class No.31631 – BR Lined Black Early Crest (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 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 announced a new OO gauge model of the Southern Railway U Class 2-6-0 locomotive, No. 31631 in British Railways lined black early crest livery. This model represents the locomotive in its BR livery during the early years of nationalisation. The U Class was a result of the rebuild of SE&CR K Class 'River' 2-6-4 tank engines following the Sevenoaks Railway accident in 1923.

The U Class was designed by Richard Maunsell, who continued as Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Southern Railway after the grouping of the railways in 1923. The class was built to provide a semi-fast and cross-country capable locomotive, and the initial batch of 20 locos was rebuilt from the K Class 'Rivers'. A further 10 new locos were built in 1931, bringing the total number of U Class locos to 50.

The new model features a highly detailed representation of the locomotive, including a 4,000-gallon tender, U1 type chimney, flat-fronted cylinders, and round dome. Details such as snifting valves, plated over, and variant parts are also accurately represented. The model is suitable for operation on 2nd radius curves of 438mm or greater.

The locomotive was a reliable mixed-traffic engine, working across most of the South and being reallocated to various sheds throughout its life. The U Class continued in service with British Railways until 1966, when the last of the class was withdrawn. Four examples have since been preserved, including a mix of rebuilt and newly built locos.

The Rapido Trains UK model will be available in a variety of guises, including Southern Railway and British Railways liveries, with a selection of detailing variants to choose from. Each model features a smooth-running mechanism, factory-installed speakers, NEM coupler pockets, an ESU 21-pin decoder socket, and tender pickups, as well as a dynamic firebox flicker effect.