Rapido Trains UK have announced full details for their newly tooled range of Manning Wardle L Class 0-6-0ST steam locomotives in OO Gauge! Eight variations are now available to pre-order for release in 2025.
This highly anticipated new range represents this diminutive locomotive with either closed or open cab variations and replicates numerous other detail differences.
The Rapido L Class model will feature a smooth-running mechanism, a factory-installed speaker, NEM coupler pockets, and an ESU Next18 decoder socket.
Individual models will include variations of the cab, cab steps, frames, wheels,buffers and buffer beams, smokebox and smokebox doors, valves, tanks andbackhead.The models can be personalised with a selection of interesting extra parts inthe accessory bag such as vacuum pipes, coupling chains and dumb buffers.
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Product Features
Highly detailed model with separately fitted parts including handrails, pipework, couplings, whistle and much more
Many accurate tooling variations, including:
- Open & Closed Cabs
- Cab steps
- Frames
- Wheels
- Buffers & Bufferbeams
- Smokebox & Smokebox doors
- Valves
- Tanks
- Backhead
ESU NEXT-18 decoder socket with a pre-installed sound speaker. Factory fitted sound models also available
Smooth-running mechanism
Accessory pack with vacuum pipes, coupling chains, dumb buffers and more
NEM tension lock couplings
Prototype Information
Manning Wardle is a manufacturer held dear by many industrial railwayenthusiasts. With a long tenure building some of the world's most eye-catchingand often somewhat quaint-looking engines, Manning Wardle's origins go backto the earliest days of railway history.
With Manning Wardle sending locos around the globe, an element of standardisation within their design and manufacturing process was deemed a sensible step forward. So, the Manning Wardle designers conceived thesestandard classes, a selection of locomotives of varying sizes and power. Thisallowed contractors and private owners to choose suitable locos for theirneeds. Each class was simply given a different letter to denote its type.The L Class was a loco that was favoured by civil engineering contractors andalso worked on several light railways, with two versions surviving intopreservation.
Originally intended to be a smaller version of the larger M Class, the L Class design was changed so it became a souped-up version of the K Class and inherited the K’s wheelbase, barrel length and cylinder diameter. However, itreceived a larger boiler diameter and cylinder stroke. This gave the Ls a greater tractive effort while still retaining an unmistakably Manning Wardle aesthetic.
Although standard locomotives had a similar frame, boiler and overall size and power to their classmates, there were a multitude of detail and cosmetic differences that could be chosen by the new owner. These included alternate wheels, buffers, steps, smoke boxes, lubricators and options with or without a covered cab. The L Class is no different.
Around 100 L Class Manning Wardles were built, with examples being shipped to places such as Sweden, Mexico, Hong Kong and China. Of course, we can't forget the eclectic mix of British contractors that also had L classes on their books, completing a multitude of work the length and breadth of the nation.
Despite their modest size and range, the Manning Wardle’s distinctive look hasalways been popular with industrial railway enthusiasts. This popularity favoured them in the preservation era and a healthy number of standard and narrow-gauge locos survived across the world, with 2 Class Ls amongst them. Both of these engines can now be found at the Middleton Railway in Leeds.