Southern Steam Locomotive Survey - The Urie Classes

Southern Steam Locomotive Survey - The Urie Classes. 1977

Extract:

The seemingly endless procession of London-bound holiday reliefs paused at Salisbury to change engines and the drivers of the inevitable Bulleid Pacifics could be seen gingerly pumping their stiff pull-out regulators as the 4-6-2s slipped and slithered up and around the sharp curves out of the station. Then, for the knot of railway watchers in the station yard came one of those treats which added spice to that Saturday afternoon in the long hot summer of 1947. For backing on to the train as it stood in No. 2 platform came a bright green 4-6-0, 'N15* No. 744 Maid of Astolat. With her safety valves humming contentedly, the engine was coupled up by the fireman, while the driver wound the reverser into full forward gear, the lowsided tender and open cab of the Urie engine allowing the watchers to observe the crew making their final preparations for the 83-mile non-stop run to Waterloo. Then, with much shrill whistling from the station inspector, came the 'right away and the fireman called across the footplate to the driver who leaned his fifteen stone against the regulator handle and pushed it hard, right across the backplate to the fully-open position. For a moment the old lady remained motionless, then with absolute certainty Maid of Astolat surged forward, with mighty explosive exhaust barks erupting from her chimney. Without the trace of a slip No. 744 rounded the curves and was away. Admittedly, once on the road, the Bulleids could find an extra 20mph of maximum speed compared with the old Urie machine of 1918 vintage, but that clean start would save valuable minutes on the tight express schedule. This little incident--which has remained indelibly imprinted on the writer's memory is but typical of the Urie engines--not brilliant performers, but sound, solid and reliable, replicas in iron and steel of the character of their creator, Robert Wallace Urie, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London & South Western Railway from 1912 to 1922. For some years Urie had worked successfully on the LS WR as subordinate to the former Chief, the Lowland Scot Dugald Drummond, which was no mean feat in itself considering the latter's fiery temperament.