This comprehensive new project, by Sonic Models available exclusively via Rails of Sheffield, will cover the full lifespan of the mighty K Class ‘Mogul’, with 10 different guises available for pre-order including usage with the LBSCR, Southern Railway and British Railways. See my Talking Stock Post#22 post about the missing class here. The tooling will cater for various prototypical detail differences.
The LBSCR Engineer, Lawson B Billinton [Edit: corrected from quickly cut and pasted Sonic Models/RoS information] 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. 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.
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 including removal of the LHS Weir Water Heaters in the early 1950’s and later modifications to the tender to include water treatment.
The models feature: many separate parts including handrails, lamp irons, pipework, whistle, dome, coal load, pumps and much more, accurate tooling variations including different body and tender styles, chimneys, domes, cabs, safety valves, Westinghouse pumps, water heaters, AWS equipment and lamp/disc detail bracket variations.
Heavy diecast firebox, boiler and smokebox to aid traction – overall assembled weight 330g, Smooth 12V powerful motor with flywheel, Digital & Sound capability – 21-pin decoder socket with factory fitted sugarcube speaker – both located via easy access space in tender. Electrical pickup via all six driving wheels and the tender wheels, illuminated firebox glow effect and optional detailing parts including 3-link couplings, fireman’s shovel and firebox tools.
- K Class 2-6-0 LBSC unlined [sic] Black No.346 [Should be lined]
- K Class 2-6-0 LBSC Umber No.342 – as carried (along with 337 & 344) only between 1923 and 1924
- K Class 2-6-0 Southern Maunsell Dark Olive Green No.343 – as carried between c1924 and April 1930 when converted to composite loading gauge.
- K Class 2-6-0 Southern Maunsell Dark Olive Green No.2346 – as carried between mid 1930s when converted to composite loading gauge and December 1939
- K Class 2-6-0 Southern Bulleid Malachite Green No.2353 [Should be unlined and possibly Dark Olive] as carried from March 1941 and no later than Jan 1950, but could have been painted SR Black prior to then [see note (2) below]
- K Class 2-6-0 Southern Bulleid Light Olive Green No.2337 – [or possibly should be light malachite green] as carried between November 1940 and possibly as late as September 1948 [see note (2) below]
- K Class 2-6-0 Southern Bulleid War Time Black No.2352 – as carried post 1942
- K Class 2-6-0 British Railways Plain Black No.32348 – as carried between April 1948 and May 1953
- K Class 2-6-0 BR Lined Black Early Emblem No.32342 – as carried from post 1950
- K Class 2-6-0 BR Lined Black Late Crest No.32353 – as carried from August 1961
Note: (1) Until the actual tooling variations are detailed or shown for each version, the dates I have include above above are only approximations.
(2) It should also be noted the the liveries for 2353 and 2337 are contradicted depending on the Source (Locomotives of the LBSC Part 3 – DL Bradley or Southern Style – J Harvey)
It should be noted that these can only be obtained via Rails of Sheffield and they request a £30 deposit that they state as being “non refundable” assuming you have ordered online then The Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 apply and you are entitled to cancel, up to 14 days from the day you receive your goods, for a FULL refund (including any deposit or whatever a retailer might call it). The retailer terms can not override the The Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000!
An often requested prototype, that I am sure will be popular.
Curiously, the Rails web site says £189.95 for the Southern green models…
I’ve just realised the Umber one , where it’s listed on the web site as “Umber Black” actually means ‘Umber, with black and chrome yellow lining’. I saw you say elsewhere they only carried that livery briefly in 1923, which I presume is why it’s described as Era 3.
It would helped if there was a link to a picture of a real one for those of us without a large knowledge of everything Southern, such as https://davidheyscollection-static.myshopblocks.com/images/cm/a5bda4b50f091e645af2fe6fa350e51b.jpg
Dear Graham
Looks very good! Could you please explain the periods for each livery? I model 1938 – 1968, and I think I would prefer to order a SR rather than BR livery, so it would be helpful to know which might have been the longest-lasting livery (to make things more flexible for me!)
Thanks
As Sonic Models / Rails of Sheffield had not detailed or shown the actual tooling variations being applied to each versions I can not give an accurate date range.
Thanks for adding the provisional date details in the main post!
A welcome announcement, although a couple of friends have shared consternation that it’ll only be available via Rails of Sheffield.
What’s wrong with Rails of Sheffield?
If I may offer this?
Those of us with long memories, don’t like them for their various practices. Not least their secondhand prices.
I cannot say any more as I may draw attention from their lawyers. And that is another thing – they don’t like freedom of speech!
Yes! I have emailed Sonic to see if there are any other retailers I can purchase from.
I will not buy from Rails.
Sonic Models (Sam) replied to my query to state that Rails have an exclusive deal (as mentioned by Graham at the head of this article!) and there is no other way of purchasing new without going through Rails.
Therefore, I suggest that we who don’t like that particular retailer, will have to wait until we can obtain secondhand.
Unfortunate but good on Sam for replying to me.