Southern Railway Maunsell S15 class 4-6-0 No.828

Loco Information

The LSWR S15 class was a British 2-cylinder 4-6-0 freight steam locomotive designed by Robert.W.Urie, based on his H15 Class and N15 class locomotives. The class had a complex build history, spanning several years of construction from 1920 to 1936. The first examples were constructed for the London and South Western Railway (LSWR), where they hauled freight trains to the south coast ports and further west to Exeter, as well as occasional passenger work in conjunction with their larger-wheeled N15 class counterparts.

Following the Grouping of railway companies in 1923, the LSWR became part of the Southern Railway, and the Chief Mechinical Engineer (CME) of the newly-formed company, Richard Maunsell, increased the S15 class strength to 45 locomotives. Maunsell incorporated several improvements, notably to the steam circuit and the locomotive's loading gauge, allowing it to operate on routes with height and width restrictions.

The new locomotives were built in three batches at Eastleigh, and were in service with the Southern Railway for 14 years. The locomotives continued in operation with the Southern Region of British Railways until 1966. Seven examples have been preserved for use on heritage railways, and are currently in varying states of repair.

828 is currently under overhaul at ropley.