The small and robust locomotives built by the Manning, Wardle company of Leeds were popular with construction contractors through the late Victorian and into the Edwardian era. The L class 0-6-0ST saddle tank engines were built between 1881 and 1926, early locomotives normally having open footplates while full cabs were normal for later built engines. While contractors moved engines from job to job major civil engineering projects such as large industrial complexes, docks and railways often required shunting engines after construction was completed and some of the contractors engines were often purchased. A number of small Manning Wardle engines also served on light railways, being ideal for the often lightly constructed bridges.
This model replicates a cabless locomotive, as seen on the preserved 'Matthew Murray' (1601/1903) and 'Winston Churchill' (2025/1923), and will be one option in a range of variations produced, further details to be advised.
Fifteen years ago Rapido Trains UK General Manager Andy passed his steam loco driving test on 'Matthew Murray' an 'L' Class saddle tank built by Manning, Wardle in 1903 and residing on the Middleton Railway - a stone’s throw from its birthplace. The railway is also home to a sister L class 'Sir Berkeley'. This type has never been produced in OO gauge in any form so it’s no surprise that we opted to produce this model.
The L class were dainty and attractive little locomotives with double-bossed wheels and a variety of bolt-on options the purchaser could add. The resulting engines were unmistakably Manning, Wardles.
As at August 2023 the model is in the final design stages and will feature a number of tooling variants to allow for open and closed cabs, different pipework layouts, different frame styles and different wheels among others.
The full specification and planned list of liveries will be released once the design work has been finalised however we expect MW1601 Matthew Murray at least will be featured among the 'cabbed' versions.
Manning Wardle ‘L’ Class – ‘Matthew Murray’
Works No. 1601 of 1903
Preserved at the Middleton Railway (2010s condition)
Full cab
Curve-ended Frames
Single boss wheels
Parallel buffer stocks
Next-18 DCC socket
Factory-fitted speaker in all models
NEM coupler pockets
High quality motor and mechanism
High level of detail with plenty of separately fitted parts