Rapido trains UK have announced South Eastern Railway (SER) / South Eastern and Chatham Railway (SECR) O Class 0-6-0 and ‘Evolution’ Horseboxes and open carriage trucks in 00 gauge.
A total of 122 of the James Stirling designed O class were built between 1878 and 1899, with versions being produced almost every year. Sharp, Stewart and Co built a total of 65, and the rest were built at the railway’s Ashford Works. Upon the merger of the SER and LC&DR into the SECR, the final 5 examples were built under the new joint committee’s ownership. Between 1900 and 1923, 28 examples of the class were given replacement boilers.
The O Class were used for loose coupled heavy goods trains in their early years, until 1886 when some were fitted with vacuum brakes, and 2 received Westinghouse brakes.
The O Class were known for hauling both passengers and goods, but were predominantly a goods engine. They could be seen on routes across the southeast, and even travelled as far west as Reading on regular services.
In 1923 31 O class locos entered Southern Railway ownership, and a small; number were also sold on to the East Kent Railway.
In 1904, Harry Wainwright, started to rebuild members of the class with a new boiler and cab becoming the O1 class. By 1932 59 of the O Class had been rebuilt into O1s. The final O Class was withdrawn from service by the Southern Railway in 1932.
Rapido trains UK have announced nine versions and the models will feature plunger pickups fitted to the loco and wheel bearing pickups on the tender. Tooling differences throughout the range include different tender fronts, ‘garden shed’ or ‘coal board’ toolboxes, and smooth or riveted smokeboxes. Other features include a factory-installed speaker, NEM 362 coupler pockets, sprung buffers, a 21-pin DCC decoder socket, and firebox flicker with a dynamic fire draw effect on DCC-fitted models. Etched number plates will be provided for the SER and SECR versions.
- 825001: SER O Class No.315 SER Cudworth Green
- 825002:SER O Class No.378 SER Lined Black (Red Lining)
- 825003:SER O Class No.80 SER Lined Black (Red and Yellow Lining)
- 825004:SER O Class No.1 SECR Wainwright Green
- 825005:SER O Class No.381 SECR Wainwright Green
- 825006:SER O Class No.171 SECR Plain Green
- 825007:SER O Class No.142 SECR Grey
- 825008:SER O Class No.A8 SR Lined Black (Egyptian Lettering)
- 825009:SER O Class No.436 SR Plain Black (Egyptian Lettering)
‘Evolution’ Horsebox and Open Carriage Trucks
The ‘Evolution’ range of ‘generic’ rolling stock is expanded with with a range of horse boxes and Open Carriage trucks.
27 different, yes 27, versions of the ‘prototypically literate’ pre-grouping 4-Wheel horsebox design will be available with liveries to match the majority of versions included in their Evolution Carriage range. Included are numerous tooling differences of coach features, including lighting fittings and footboards and a fully detailed Groom’s compartment. Liveries include SECR, SDJR, LBSC, LBSC plains mahogany, LSWR and SR.
22 different versions of the ‘prototypically literate’ pre-grouping 4-Wheel Open Carriage Truck design also with liveries as per the horse box to match the majority of versions included in their Evolution Carriage range. Tooling differences cover three designs of the truck side panel. and a removable carriage load is available in three different styles.
As is usual for Rapido trains UK all the above O Class locos and wagons (if Generic’s floats your boat), due during 2027, are available to pre-order through retailers such as Kernow Model Rail Centre here.