Utilitarian, functional, unnecessarily ugly, clockwork driven even; such are the soliloquies that have been used to describe Bulleid Q1 class of freight engine.

Conceived at a time when additional freight power was a desperate need, the easiest and perhaps quickest
solution would have been to build more of an existing type – but not so for Mr Bullied on the Southern. Instead the result was a functional engine steam engine in appearance unlike anything that had gone before.

Whilst their history has been recounted previously here is a book mainly consisting images not previously seen; detailing the class at work on a variety of duties and also at rest.

Aesthetics aside, the design served the railway well for over 20 years and would probably have continued to
do so for a while longer had not the forthcoming end of steam and changing traffic patterns prevailed.