5305 Locomotive Trust

5305 Locomotive Trust

The King Arthurs

The N15 Class were originally built by the London and South Western Railway (LSWR) as a 2 cylinder 4-6-0 express passenger locomotive. They were designed by Robert W Urie and represented a refinement of the H15 class. There were 3 different sub classes and were constructed from 1918 to 1927. The first batch were built for the LSWR to haul express trains to the south coastal ports and further afield to Exeter. After the Lord Nelson class they were the biggest 4-6-0 passenger locomotives on the Southern Railway.

The construction of the first Batch would later become known as the Urie Arthurs. The construction was delayed until mid-1918 due to wartime control of war materials. They were built in two engine batches at Eastleigh Works between 1918-1919 and 1922-1923. This marked a milestone in being the LSWR’s first knew class of locomotive since 1914. The prototype, No 736, entered service in 1918 on 31st August.

In 1923 the “Grouping Act” came into effect which would see many of the 120 different railway companies merged in to what became known as the “Big 4”. This saw the LSWR become part of the Southern Railway.

The publicity department of the Southern Railway gave the N15s names associated with the Arthurian Legend, this saw the class becoming known as King Arthurs. Richard Maunsell, the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Southern Railway, modified the Urie design and increased the number of locomotives to 74.

Maunsell’s modifications were proved through trials with No. 442 in 1924 and showed that by altering the steam circuit, drafting arrangements and valve travel, better performance could be achieved. The new locomotives were built between Eastleigh and Glasgow. This lead to each batch being known as “Eastleigh Arthurs” and “Scotch Arthurs”.

In 1926 the “King Arthurs” became the first batch of steam locomotives to be fitted with smoke deflectors following a number of experiments. The class continued to operate under British Railways before being retired at the end of 1962.

The tables below shows the entire list of King Arthur’s to be built. At the bottom of the page is a condensed table showing the withdrawals of the class.

Urie Arthurs

BR No. SR No. Name Builder Built Withdrawn Notes
30736 736 Excalibur LSWR, Eastleigh Aug-18 Nov-56 Lemaître exhaust
30737 737 King Uther LSWR, Eastleigh Oct-18 Jun-56 Lemaître exhaust
30738 738 King Pellinore LSWR, Eastleigh Dec-18 Mar-58  
30739 739 King Leodegrance LSWR, Eastleigh Feb-19 May-57  
30740 740 Merlin LSWR, Eastleigh Apr-19 Dec-55 Deliberately involved in crash staged for film at Longmoor Military Railway
30741 741 Joyous Gard LSWR, Eastleigh Apr-19 Feb-56 Lemaître exhaust
30742 742 Camelot LSWR, Eastleigh Jun-19 Feb-57  
30743 743 Lyonnesse LSWR, Eastleigh Aug-19 Oct-55  
30744 744 Maid of Astolat LSWR, Eastleigh Sep-19 Jan-56  
30745 745 Tintagel LSWR, Eastleigh Nov-19 Feb-56  
30746 746 Pendragon LSWR, Eastleigh Jun-22 Oct-55  
30747 747 Elaine LSWR, Eastleigh Jul-22 Oct-56  
30748 748 Vivien LSWR, Eastleigh Aug-22 Sep-57  
30749 749 Iseult LSWR, Eastleigh Sep-22 Jun-57  
30750 750 Morgan le Fay LSWR, Eastleigh Oct-22 Jul-57  
30751 751 Etarre LSWR, Eastleigh Nov-22 Jun-57  
30752 752 Linette LSWR, Eastleigh Dec-22 Dec-55 Lemaître exhaust
30753 753 Melisande LSWR, Eastleigh Jan-23 Mar-57  
30754 754 The Green Knight LSWR, Eastleigh Feb-23 Feb-53  
30755 755 The Red Knight LSWR, Eastleigh Mar-23 May-57 Lemaître exhaust

Eastleigh Arthurs

BR No. SR No. Name Builder Built Withdrawn Notes
30448 448 Sir Tristram SR, Eastleigh May-25 Aug-60  
30449 449 Sir Torre SR, Eastleigh Jun-25 Dec-59  
30450 450 Sir Kay SR, Eastleigh Jun-25 Sep-60  
30451 451 Sir Lamorak SR, Eastleigh Jun-25 Jun-62 Boiler preserved on the Mid-Hants Railway,
30452 452 Sir Meliagrance SR, Eastleigh Jul-25 Aug-59  
30453 453 King Arthur SR, Eastleigh Feb-25 Jul-61  
30454 454 Queen Guinevere SR, Eastleigh Mar-25 Oct-58  
30455 455 Sir Lancelot SR, Eastleigh Mar-25 Apr-59  
30456 456 Sir Galahad SR, Eastleigh Apr-25 May-60  
30457 457 Sir Bedivere SR, Eastleigh Apr-25 May-61  
30793 793 Sir Ontzlake SR, Eastleigh Mar-26 Sep-62  
30794 794 Sir Ector de Maris SR, Eastleigh Mar-26 Aug-60  
30795 795 Sir Dinadan SR, Eastleigh Apr-26 Aug-62  
30796 796 Sir Dodinas le Savage SR, Eastleigh Apr-26 Mar-62  
30797 797 Sir Blamor de Ganis SR, Eastleigh Jun-26 May-59  
30798 798 Sir Hectimere SR, Eastleigh Jun-26 Jun-62  
30799 799 Sir Ironside SR, Eastleigh Jul-26 Feb-61 Boiler preserved at the Mid-Hants Railway, fitted on S15 506 and steamed.
30800 800 Sir Meleaus de Lile SR, Eastleigh Sep-26 Sep-61  
30801 801 Sir Meliot de Logres SR, Eastleigh Oct-26 Apr-59  
30802 802 Sir Durnore SR, Eastleigh Oct-26 Jul-61  
30803 803 Sir Harry le Fise Lake SR, Eastleigh Nov-26 Sep-61  
30804 804 Sir Cador of Cornwall SR, Eastleigh Dec-26 Feb-62  
30805 805 Sir Constantine SR, Eastleigh Jan-27 Jun-59  
30806 806 Sir Galleron SR, Eastleigh Jan-27 Apr-61 Suffered bomb damage from a V-1 flying bomb on August 16, 1944, but was later repaired.

Scotch Arthurs

BR No. SR No. Name Builder Built Withdrawn Notes
30763 763 Sir Bors de Ganis North British Loco 23209 May-25 Oct-60  
30764 764 Sir Gawain North British Loco 23210 May-25 Jul-61  
30765 765 Sir Gareth North British Loco 23211 May-25 Sep-62  
30766 766 Sir Geraint North British Loco 23212 May-25 Dec-58  
30767 767 Sir Valence North British Loco 23213 May-25 Jun-59  
30768 768 Sir Balin North British Loco 23214 May-25 Nov-61  
30769 769 Sir Balan North British Loco 23215 Jun-25 Mar-60  
30770 770 Sir Prianius North British Loco 23216 Jun-25 Nov-62 This locomotive was the subject of a spelling mistake, as the Knight of the same name in the book Le Morte d’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory was Sir Priamus.
30771 771 Sir Sagramore North British Loco 23217 Jun-25 Feb-61  
30772 772 Sir Percivale North British Loco 23218 Jun-25 Sep-61  
30773 773 Sir Lavaine North British Loco 23219 Jun-25 Feb-62  
30774 774 Sir Gaheris North British Loco 23220 Jun-25 Jan-60  
30775 775 Sir Agravaine North British Loco 23221 Jun-25 Feb-60  
30776 776 Sir Galagars North British Loco 23222 Jun-25 Jan-59  
30777 777 Sir Lamiel North British Loco 23223 Jun-25 Oct-61 Preserved as part of the National Collection.
Operational base is the Great Central Railway (preserved).
Currently being overhauled for new boiler ticket at the GCR.
30778 778 Sir Pelleas North British Loco 23224 Jul-25 May-59  
30779 779 Sir Colgrevance North British Loco 23225 Jul-25 Jul-59  
30780 780 Sir Persant North British Loco 23226 Jul-25 Jul-59  
30781 781 Sir Aglovale North British Loco 23227 Aug-25 May-62  
30782 782 Sir Brian North British Loco 23228 Jul-25 Sep-62  
30783 783 Sir Gillemere North British Loco 23279 Aug-25 Mar-61  
30784 784 Sir Nerovens North British Loco 23280 Sep-25 Oct-59  
30785 785 Sir Mador de la Porte North British Loco 23281 Sep-25 Oct-59  
30786 786 Sir Lionel North British Loco 23282 Sep-25 Aug-59  
30787 787 Sir Menadeuke North British Loco 23283 Sep-25 Feb-59  
30788 788 Sir Urre of the Mount North British Loco 23284 Sep-25 Feb-62  
30789 789 Sir Guy North British Loco 23285 Sep-25 Dec-59  
30790 790 Sir Villiars North British Loco 23286 Sep-25 Nov-61  
30791 791 Sir Uwaine North British Loco 23287 Sep-25 May-60  
30792 792 Sir Hervis de Revel North British Loco 23288 Sep-25 Feb-59  

Withdrawals

Year Quantity in Service
at year start		 No. Withdrawn in Year Total No. Withdrawn Locomotive Numbers
1953 74 1 1 30754
1954 73 0 1 –
1955 73 4 5 30740/43/46/52
1956 69 6 11 30736/36/41/44/45/47
1957 63 8 19 30739/42/48-51/53/55
1958 55 3 22 30454, 30738/66
1959 52 17 39 30449/52/55, 30767/76/78-80/84-87/89/92/97, 30801/05
1960 35 9 48 30448/50/56, 30763/69/74/75/91/94
1961 26 14 62 30453/57, 30764/68/71/72/77/83/90/99, 30800/02/03/06
1962 12 12 74 30451, 30765/40/43/81/82/88/93/95/96/98, 30804