The N15 Class, introduced in 1918 from a design by Robert Urie, was also known as the King Arthur Class, being named after people 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 seventy four 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 1918-1919 and 1922-1923. 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’.