List of SECR K and SR K1 class locomotives

A list of the names and numbers of the SECR K and SR K1 classes of 2-6-4 tank engines that formed the River class: locomotives initially running on the South Eastern and Chatham Railway (SECR), and subsequently operated by its successor, the Southern Railway (SR) from 1923. The majority of the class consisted of 2-cylinder locomotives built to an SECR design by Richard Maunsell, but one 3-cylinder version, the K1 class, was constructed by the Southern Railway in 1925. They were given the names of various rivers by the Southern Railway in a publicity measure to advertise the area that the railway served.[1]

In 1928 the class was converted to the 2-cylinder U class and 3-cylinder U1 class 2-6-0 specifications after crews reported instability when running fast over the lightly laid rails of the former SECR network. The poor running culminated in the 1927 Sevenoaks railway accident, following which the locomotives were withdrawn. Once rebuilt, the former members of the K and K1 classes subsequently lost their names due to the bad publicity attached to them after this accident.[1] All the rebuilt locomotives saw service with British Railways (BR), and all were withdrawn from service by 1966.

Tables of locomotive details

SECR and Southern Railway-built K class 2-cylinder locomotives
SECR
No.		SR No
(before/after
rebuilding)		BR No.
(as U class)		Name[2]
BuilderDate builtDate Rebuilt
as U class		Rebuilt atWithdrawnNotes
790A790/179031790River AvonAshfordJune 1917June 1928EastleighMay 1965
—A791/179131791River AdurArmstrong WhitworthMay 1925July 1928EastleighJune 1966
—A792/179231792River ArunArmstrong WhitworthMay 1925July 1928EastleighSeptember 1964
—A793/179331793River OuseArmstrong WhitworthMay 1925June 1928EastleighMay 1964
—A794/179431794River RotherArmstrong WhitworthMay 1925June 1928EastleighJune 1963
—A795/179531795River MedwayArmstrong WhitworthJune 1925June 1928EastleighJune 1963
—A796/179631796River StourArmstrong WhitworthJune 1925July 1928EastleighJanuary 1964
—A797/179731797River MoleArmstrong WhitworthJune 1925June 1928AshfordJanuary 1964
—A798/179831798River WeyArmstrong WhitworthJune 1925August 1928AshfordSeptember 1964
—A799/179931799River TestArmstrong WhitworthJune 1925July 1928AshfordFebruary 1965
—A800/180031800River CrayBrightonJuly 1926December 1928AshfordOctober 1965Involved in the 1927 Sevenoaks railway accident
—A801/180131801River DarenthBrightonJuly 1926July 1928AshfordJune 1964
—A802/180231802River CuckmereBrightonAugust 1926July 1928AshfordSeptember 1964
—A803/180331803River ItchenBrightonAugust 1926June 1928BrightonMarch 1966
—A804/180431804River TamarBrightonSeptember 1926June 1928BrightonJune 1964
—A805/180531805River CamelBrightonOctober 1926March 1928AshfordJuly 1963
—A806/180631806River TorridgeBrightonOctober 1926June 1928BrightonJanuary 1964Converted to a U class locomotive, preserved on the Swanage Railway; Under overhaul
—A807/180731807River AxeBrightonNovember 1926September 1928BrightonJanuary 1964
—A808/180831808River CharBrightonNovember 1926July 1928BrightonJanuary 1964
—A809/180931809River DartBrightonDecember 1926July 1928BrightonJanuary 1966

Southern Railway-built K1 class 3-cylinder locomotive
SR No.
(before/after
rebuilding)		BR No.
(as U1 class)		Name[2]BuilderDate builtDate Rebuilt
as U1 class		Rebuilt atWithdrawnNotes
A890/189031890River FromeAshfordDecember 1925June 1928AshfordJune 1963U1 class prototype

Unbuilt locomotives

A further 20 K class locomotives were projected, but the order was cancelled after the derailment of No. A800 River Cray at Sevenoaks, Kent in August 1927 and subsequent withdrawal of the class for rebuilding.[3] The projected names were selected as thus:

A610 River Beaulieu, A611 River Blackwater, A612 River Bourne, A613 River Bray, A614 River Creedy A615 River Ebble, A616 River Eden, A617 River Anton, A618 River Hamble, A619 River Taw, A620 River Lymington, A621 River Parret, A622 River Medina, A623 River Exe, A624 River Allen, A625 River Seaton, A626 River Tiddy, A627 River Tavy, A628 River Lynher, A629 River Titchfield.

These unused K class numbers, but not the names, were later allocated to the first production batch of the U class 2-6-0 from 1928. Although a batch of ten K1 class locomotives was also ordered during 1927, no names had been allocated before cancellation.[3]

References

Notes
  1. Burridge, p. 48
  2. Burridge, p. 49
  3. Rowledge (1976), p. 22

Bibliography
  • Burridge, Frank (1975). Nameplates of the Big Four. Oxford: Oxford Publishing Company. ISBN 0-902888-43-9.
  • Rowledge, Peter (1976). Maunsell Moguls. Blandford Forum: The Oakwood Press.
  • – Table showing key dates, mileage, running numbers, etc for the K and K1 locomotives
  • – Table showing key dates, mileage, running numbers, etc for the U class locomotives
  • – Table showing key dates, mileage, running numbers, etc for the U1 class locomotives
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