Ex-Southern Railway Maunsell 'U' class 2-6-0 No. 31625. Built at Ashford in March 1929 as SR No. 1725, withdrawn in January 1964 and preserved.
Fifty of Richard Maunsell's 'U' class were built between 1928 and 1931. They are regarded as an excellent and capable design but because there was little geographical overlap, it is difficult to have a comparison of performance between them and GWR, LMS and LNER 'Moguls'. Here is 31625 in October 1956 at Bricklayers Arms MPD, perhaps 'Corrugated Iron Arms' would have been more accurate!

© Ken Widd-SA Collection