Rapido Trains UK announce SER/SECR/SR O Class 0-6-0 and ‘Evolution’ Horseboxes and open carriage trucks in 00 gauge

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…