Profile of U Class No.1618

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Technical Specification or 1618 in service with the Southern Railway and British Railways

1618 in preservation

1618 was only the second engine to leave Barry scrapyard. That was back in January 1969. At first she was taken to a siding in Kent. Two and a half years were spent there trying to restore the engine in spartan conditions. The chance came to move to the Kent and East Sussex Railway at Tenterden, which had just received its light railway order. From this base the Southern Mogul Preservation Society as it was then known, were able to complete the job. The only snag was that the track at the Kent and East Sussex was not built to take the weight of such a locomotive; it always had been a light railway in the truest sense of the word. When 1618 was steamed, all that could be done was demonstration shunting in Tenterden station. This frustrating situation was resolved in May 1977, 3 years after the first steaming, when the society decided to move to the Bluebell Railway, also in Sussex, but with much more substantial track, sufficient in fact to cater for full running of 1618 without any problems.

The move to the Bluebell was a huge success. The engine is just the right size for the needs of the Bluebell, in terms of power and economy, in use, and historical appropriateness. The attractive engine is a favourite with enthusiast and regular visitor alike. The engine saw out its 10 year boiler certificate and was given a quick turn around general overhaul almost immediately. With such a rich reserve of engines awaiting overhaul at the Bluebell, this is indeed a rare occurrence. This 10 year certificate has itself now run out. Although a return to steam would be most welcome, the plan is to let others have their turn first, especially as restoration of fellow U class No.1638 is well underway.

Technical Specification

A useful and interesting side profile of 1618 by Nicky Raithby can be found by clicking here

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1618 in Southern Railway and British Railway service

1618 was to be built as a K class tank engine, but the 1927 Sevenoaks crash disaster involving a previously built example of the class meant that production was shifted to tender engine examples at the last minute. So it was that 1618 was a tender engine rather than "River Hamble", a tank engine. When outshopped from the then extensive Southern Railway works in Brighton in October 1928, she was allocated to Guildford shed.

For the next 17 years she worked on the North Downs line (Reading to Redhill) and between Eastleigh (near Southampton) and Woking. A few alterations were made such as smoke deflectors fitted in 1935, and for 5 years she had a larger tender allocated. From Dec 1945 she was moved to a Salisbury sub-shed at Andover to work the Southerns line to Swindon. At nationalisation in 1948 she became 31618 and in 1951 was moved again to Nine Elms (now the site of New Covent Garden fruit and veg wholesale market). There then followed a succession of changes until settling a while at Eastleigh (1954) to work the Hampshire routes.

In 1961 she was given a repaint, overhaul and a BR standard pattern chimney, and 2 years later stayed in Hampshire, but down the line at Basingstoke. At this time electrification was spreading and steam was being phased out on the the Southern Region. Her final move came later in 1963, back to her original shed at Guildford. In Jan 1964 she steamed for the last time. 35 years had taken her 1,143,942 miles. She was sold for scrap to Woodham Brothers of Barry, South Wales. The Barry story is preservation legend. 1618, along with 200 other engines survived to have a future in preservation.

Further information can be gained from info@maunsell.net

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