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Rapido 992510

SR U Class No.31639 – BR Lined Black Late 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 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 Trains UK SR U Class 2-6-0 steam locomotive is a highly detailed OO gauge model, available in various liveries representing the Southern Railway and British Railways. The model is based on the newly built batches of U Class locos, which were designed by Richard Maunsell and his team.

The U Class 2-6-0 locomotives were introduced in the 1920s as a replacement for the older 4-4-0s, which were deemed too old-fashioned. The design was influenced by Maunsell's previous experiences as Chief Mechanical Engineer of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway, and he incorporated new ideas and features from other railways, such as the GWR 43xx Mogul locos.

The original order for 20 K Class locos was cancelled and replaced with an order for 20 new U Class locos, which were built at Brighton and Ashford works. A further 10 locos were added to the order in 1931, bringing the total number of U Class locos to 50. The rebuilds and new builds had distinct differences, with the new builds featuring a higher running board, smaller wheel splasher, and different cab design.

The U Class locos were known for their reliability and versatility, and were used for a variety of duties, including freight and mixed traffic. They were also used by British Railways after nationalisation, and were withdrawn in 1966. Four examples have been preserved, and the Rapido model will be available in various liveries to represent the different periods and locations of the locomotives.

The model features a range of detailing variants, including flush and riveted buffer beams, different dome styles, and various other features to replicate the distinct differences between the rebuilds and new builds. The model also includes a 4,000-gallon tender, smooth-running mechanism, factory-installed speakers, and other features such as NEM coupler pockets, ESU 21-pin decoder socket, and MoPower stay-alive capacitor.