Southern Railway Class N15x in action [1 of 2]

The N15x class of seven engines had an interesting history. Originally built for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (two in 1914, a further five during 1921 and 1922) as the L Class 4-6-4T express passenger tank engines, they were in time displaced from their duties in the wake of the Brighton electrification. In 1934, Maunsell (no doubt still smarting from the aftermath of the Sevenoaks rail crash of 1927, the cause of which was at least partially deemed to be the behaviour at speed of his 'River' Class 2-6-4T engines: an event which had led to their rebuilding as 2-6-0 tender engines and had sworn the SR off of any further development of big passenger tank engines) rebuilt them as 4-6-0 tender locomotives. Six were named after locomotive engineers whilst the seventh retained its former title, 'Remembrance', it having been chosen by the LBSC as their memorial to employees killed in the Great War, to which end it carried a plaque inscribed "In grateful remembrance of the 532 men of the L.B.& S.C.Rly. who gave their lives for their country, 1914-1919". Transferred to former London & South Western Railway routes, they were not a big hit with drivers expecting a development of the N15 'King Arthur' class locomotives and ended up confined to lesser duties for the next 25 years. Withdrawal came in 1957.
Here is a lengthy take of No.2329 'Stephenson' departing from Waterloo in 1944, intended for the Gainsborough production 'Waterloo Road'.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• N15x
• london
• brighton
• south
• coast
• southern
• railway
• rail
• railways
• british
• billington
• maunsell
• 4-6-0
• steam

[GavinS1965]

Shame about the bridge right at the end!

[3NUNS]

nice