Welcome to Locoyard’s Model of the Week Blog Post!  As with last week’s N15 King Arthur class; today’s model is another another Southern prototype.  The N class was a successful and useful mixed-traffic type and an important member of the Locoyard fleet, if not the most glamorous.

Built to a 1914 design by Richard Maunsell, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway (SECR); the first N class was completed in 1917.  Production of the class continued when the SECR was absorbed into the Southern Railway in 1923 – the year 1824 was completed in Ashford works.  1824 holds the accolade of being the last N class completed by the SECR (as number 824).

The design was heavily influenced by the GWR 43xx class; due to the SECR employing Harold Holcroft (who previously was a GWR engineer).  This influence was mixed with elements of Midland Railway practice (this coming from Draughtsman James Clayton).

At first; 1824 would have ran in without smoke deflectors – these were added by the Southern Railway from 1933; which dates this model around 1933 to 1945; when (by that time) the whole class had been painted wartime black.  1824 has a flat-sided tender; one of many detail differences within the class.

In 1948, 1824 became British Railways number 31824 and was based at the Bricklayers Arms (shed code 73B).

In September 1963; 31824 was withdrawn and unfortunately was scrapped.  One member of the class was preserved – 31874, which is based on the Watercress Line and is currently awaiting overhaul.  31874 is also in the Locoyard model collection and is featured here.

This Bachmann model has been reviewed (click here to read it) and had cab details picked out (click here to read more).  I hope you enjoyed reading about this locomotive!