| Weight | 107t 15cwt |
| Driving Wheels | 4ft 6in |
| Boiler Pressure | 180psi |
| Cylinders | Outside – 18in x 24in |
| Tractive Effort | 22,032lbf |
In 1942 the North British Locomotive Company built 55 locomotives for the British War Department.They were intended to be available for various 3ft 6in gauge railways in North Africa depending on the course of the Second World War. They were very similar to the 220 class supplied to the Sudan Railways but were equipped to operate as oil burners but with an ability to be quickly converted to coal fired.
35 of the locomotives were sent overseas from Britain in 1942 and 1943. The remaining 20 were stored in an unassembled state at the Melbourne Military Railway near Derby. In 1946 6 of the stored engines were shipped to the Nyasaland Railways for use on the Trans-Zambesi Railway.
When the WAGR found itself short of motive power after the Second World War the other 14 were sent to Western Australia as they were available immediately to work on the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR). They became the U class and entered service between November 1946 and April 1947.
The oil burning WAGR locomotives operated passenger and freight services between Perth, Albany and Bunbury. The 11½ ton axle load meant they were unable to run on many of the branch lines.
Following the delivery of the X class diesel locomotives in 1954 they were relegated to lesser freight services. By 1957, with their running costs being three times greater than that of coal powered locomotives, they were stored. Five were returned to service in 1961 during a coal shortage before being withdrawn again shortly after. Further brief comebacks were made in 1966 and 1967.
In 1957 this locomotive (U 664) was converted to a 4-6-4 tank locomotive at the Midland Railway Workshops to allow it to maintain the faster schedules on Perth suburban services at that time following the introduction of diesel powered units. Although deemed a success, no more followed due to its high operating costs. After being stored, it returned in 1966 to haul ballast trains on the Midland and South Western lines.
It was withdrawn from service in 1970 and subsequently placed on display at the Rail Transport Museum at Bassendean, Perth.
One other locomotive built by the North British Locomotive Company has been preserved.
- Ut 655 – Works number 24863
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