#2237

SR U class

🇬🇧 United Kingdom ·built by Ashford Works· from 1928· class of 50 two-cylinder 2-6-0 locomotives

10 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. 1618smallRSBR: Bluebellnutter ( talk ).· CC BY-SA 3.0
2. 21C123 Blackmore Vale & No 1618 at Sheffield Park: Barry Lewis· CC BY 2.0
3. Maunsell class U 2-6-0 No 1618 at Sheffield Park: Barry Lewis· CC BY 2.0
4. Sheffield Park locomotive shed (2357): Nilfanion· CC BY-SA 4.0
5. SR Maunsell Class U 31618 (8426229735): Hugh Llewelyn· CC BY-SA 2.0
6. SR U class 1618 at Horsted Keynes station, 6 May 1992 (2): Barry Lewis· CC BY 2.0
7. Mid Hants Railway 31625 - 9353888510: hugh llewelyn· CC BY-SA 2.0
8. Mid Hants Railway 31625: hugh llewelyn· CC BY-SA 2.0
9. Southern Railway ‘U’ Class 2-6-0 ‘31625’ (28735604071): Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK· CC BY-SA 2.0
10. U Class 31625: Laser47· CC BY-SA 4.0

what is it?

The SR U class are 2-6-0 steam locomotives designed by Richard Maunsell for passenger duties on the Southern Railway (SR). The class represented the penultimate stage in the development of the Southern Railway's 2-6-0 "family", which improved upon the basic principles established by GWR Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) George Jackson Churchward for Great Western Railway (GWR) locomotives. The U class design drew from experience with the GWR 4300s and N classes, improved by applying Midland Railway ideas to the design, enabling the SECR to influence development of the 2-6-0 in Britain.

who runs it

Southern Railway British Rail Southern Region of British Railways

base stats

weight 112 tin working order
built 50made in total

Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.

fun facts

First built 98 years ago, in 1928.
Weighs about as much as 19 African elephants (~6 t each).
17.4 m long: about 4 cars parked nose to tail.
Served for 38 years (1928–1966).

steam locomotive: Burns coal, wood or oil to boil water; the steam drives pistons that turn the wheels.

spec sheet

built: 1928–1931
in service from: 1928
retired: 1966
status: preserved
number built: 50
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
builders: Ashford Works, Brighton Works, Eastleigh Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Works
designer: Richard Maunsell
operators: Southern Railway, British Rail, Southern Region of British Railways
top speed: —
power: —
gauge: 1,435 mm standard gauge
wheel arrangement: 2-6-0
length: 17.4 m
weight: 112 t
nicknames: U Boats

From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.

Sources: Wikidata Q7392907, Wikipedia: SR U class (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.