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Sonic Models S4102-09

LB&SCR K Class 2-6-0 BR Black Early Emblem No.32343 Steam Locomotive

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

Available Exclusively from Rails of Sheffield

Please Note: LB&SCR K Class will now be numbered 32343 rather than 32342

History

The LBSCR Engineer Lawson Billinton in 1912 designed a new powerful goods locomotive that coped with heavy loads at speed. No 337 appeared the following year (1913) and by 1921 a total of 17 had been constructed at Brighton works. They proved to be very successful providing invaluable support during WW1 when very large freight movements were required.

The locomotives also coped well with passenger services providing a good all-round service to the railway. Billinton was not afraid to improve the steaming characteristics to help reduce coal running costs and the design innovations included an additional dome and top feed. This feature was improved and the last seven locomotives left Brighton works including this feature which lasted through to the end of the 1920’s before all were modified back to one dome.

More would have been built but for the fact that the LBSCR was merged into the larger SR in 1923 and the new company appointed a new Engineer Richard. E. L. Maunsell. He favoured his own N and U class designs so no more K Class locomotives were built.

In the 1930’s Maunsell improved the cab design and lowered the height as well as the dome and chimney to operate to the composite loading gauge.

Under BR ownership only minor changes were made. Removal of the LHS Weir Water Heaters in the early 1950’s and later modifications to the tender to include water treatment. Interestingly at the end of all their working lives the N and U designs cost far more to maintain with serious design faults in the frames and cylinders.

The K Class design proved reliable right to the end. One locomotive No 32353 was offered to the Bluebell Railway for preservation but unfortunately the society was struggling in 1962/3 to raise money to buy the track and infrastructure and could not afford the extra expense. (It is surprising the locomotive was not offered to the National Collection)

Specification

• The tooling covers detail prototypical original and later body and tender details: Chimneys, domes, cabs, safety valves, Westinghouse pump, Water heater,
  
• AWS equipment and lamp/disc detail bracket variations. 
  
• Heavy Die cast firebox, boiler and smokebox to aid traction.
  
• Models overall assembled weight, 330 grammes.
  
• Smooth 12V powerful motor with flywheel
  
• Easy access to 21 pin DCC decoder socket mounted in the tender.
  
• Factory fitted DCC sound sugar cube speaker inside the tender.
  
• Loco/tender linkage fully adjustable to suit users track radii.
  
• Electrical pick-up via all six driving and tender wheels.
  
• Full cab detail.
  
• Illuminated firebox.
  
• Detailed inner linkage under boiler and frames.
  
• NEM couplings and hand assembled detailing parts three link couplings.
  
• Fireman shovel and firebox tools.
  
• Packed in a strong outer box and mounted on a secure moulded transit plate to minimise damage in transit.

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

^* Class names often change over the lifespan of a locomotive, so this is not necessarily the class name used by the operator in the period modelled.

The Sonic Models LB&SCR K Class 2-6-0 locomotive in British Railways Early Crest livery, numbered 32343, is a limited edition model available exclusively from Rails of Sheffield. This model represents the Class K locomotive, designed by Robert Billinton in 1912 for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway.

The real-life locomotives of this class were built at Brighton works between 1913 and 1921, with a total of 17 units constructed. They performed well during World War I, handling heavy freight movements, and also provided a reliable service for passenger services. The design of the locomotive was improved over time, with features such as an additional dome and top feed being introduced.

However, the construction of further K Class locomotives was halted when the LBSCR was merged into the Southern Railway in 1923, and the new company's Engineer, Richard E. L. Maunsell, favoured his own designs. The K Class locomotives continued in service under the Southern Railway and later British Railways, with some modifications made during this period. The locomotives were eventually retired, with one example, No 32353, nearly being preserved by the Bluebell Railway in the early 1960s, but ultimately it was not acquired.

The model locomotive is a detailed representation of the real-life K Class, with features such as chimney, domes, cabs, safety valves, and water heater, among others. It is powered by a smooth 12V motor with a flywheel and has a heavy die-cast firebox, boiler, and smokebox to improve traction. The model also features a factory-fitted DCC sound system, illuminated firebox, and detailed inner linkage under the boiler and frames. It is packaged in a strong outer box with a moulded transit plate to protect it during transportation.