SR U1 class

what is it?

The SR U1 class were three-cylinder 2-6-0 ('mogul') steam locomotives designed by Richard Maunsell for passenger duties on the Southern Railway. The fifth member of the Maunsell "family" of standardised moguls and 2-6-4 locomotives, the U1 was the final development of the Maunsell mogul, and marked a continuation of the basic principles established by CME George Jackson Churchward for the GWR. Developed from Maunsell's previous SR U class design, the U1 class shared characteristics with Churchward's GWR 4300 Class. The U1 prototype was a rebuild of the unique 3-cylinder SR K1 ("River") class 2-6-4 tank locomotive, becoming operational in June 1928.

who runs it

Southern RailwayBritish RailSRSouthern Region of British Railways

base stats

• weight 109 tin working order
• built 21made 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 18 African elephants (~6 t each).
• 📏17.4 m long: about 4 cars parked nose to tail.
• ⌛Served for 35 years (1928–1963).

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

1963

status

retired

number built

21

kind

Steam

traction

steam

origin

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

builders

Ashford 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

109 t

nicknames

"Montys"

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