The N15 Class, introduced in 1918 from a design by Robert Urie, was also known as the King Arthur Class, being named after persons and places associated with the legend of King Arthur and the Round Table. This class of two cylinder 4-6-0 passenger steam locomotives proved to be one of the most successful during the post-grouping era of 1928-1948, with 74 locomotives being built during this time.
The whole class was built in a total of six batches, with the first two batches being built at the London & South Western Railway’s Eastleigh Works between 1918-19 and 1922-23. Carrying the characteristics of Urie’s stove pipe chimney, Drummond style of cab and inspired by the shape of the H15, the first batches of locomotives became known as ‘Urie Arthurs’.Upon assuming the position of CME of the Southern Railway, Richard Maunsell built a third batch of ten locomotives at the Eastleigh Works and these became known as the ‘Eastleigh Arthurs’. Maunsell’s batch incorporated a small number of significant modifications including changes in the draft, valve gear, chimney, blastpipe and an overall increase in boiler pressure that significantly improved the performance.
Having proved to be one of the greatest designs of its day, the King Arthur Class combined reliability with impressive performance. However, the introduction of electrification, plus the Lord Nelson Class and ultimately, the Bulleid Pacific locomotives, all hastened the N15’s departure, with the entire class being withdrawn by 1962. Only one, 30777, ‘Sir Lamiel’, is preserved and is part of the National Collection, under the care of the 5305 Locomotive Association, being based at the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire.
30792, Sir Hervis de Revel, was one of the ‘Scotch Arthurs’, being built at North British Locomotive Company’s works in Glasgow with the Works No.23288 and entered traffic in September 1925 at Bournemouth Shed. Spells at Exmouth Junction followed before the locomotive moved to London post-WWII, spending time at Nine Elms (9E) and Stewarts Lane (73A) before moving to Eastleigh (71A) on June 12, 1957. The smoke deflectors were fitted to Sir Hervis early on, in April 1928 and was the only Maunsell King Arthur to receive a Lemaitre exhaust, being fitted between September 1940 and March 1952. Sir Hervis was finally withdrawn from service in February 1959, having a service life of 33 years, 4 months and 1 day.