The P class

A series of 26* 4-6-2 locomotives built in several batches by Kitson and North British. They had 8-wheel bogie tenders.

*20 ordered before WWI. Kitson built and delivered 4 in 1917. 6 more were built in 1918 but were diverted en route, going to India instead. 16 replacements were built after WWI.

These were basically a superheated H class but delivery was delayed due to WWI and the second batch of 6 from Kitson were diverted to India. This batch may not have been numbered as locomotives were normally delivered in kit form and assembled in Malaya. North British then completed the order with 16 in 1919 and 1920. In 1942 the whole class were taken by the Japanese to the Siam-Burma line where two were destroyed. After WWII the 18 survivors were loaned to the RSR and purchased outright in October 1946. Two or three later returned to Malaya during the 1950s, there being some confusion regarding dates and numbers, see note below for explanation. 521.02 and 521.08 were both photographed at Seremban in 1954.

One of two possible survivors of the FMSR P class, RFT 804 (previously RSR 810, ex-FMSR 190) is preserved by the station at the eastern end of the River Kwae bridge at Kanchanaburi in Thailand. The other was last reported outside a restaurant in the northern suburbs of Bangkok carrying ex-FMSR 187, but is probably RSR 804, ex FMSR 185. This is now (April 2018) at Aura Farm, Khon Kaen, Thailand, Picture below credit Mike Pass was taken in April 2018.

Above: 521.02 in Seremban shed, 25th September 1954. Bernard Loughlin collection.

Maker	Number	Date	Original Railway / No		MR No. allocated	Notes
Kitson	5159		F.M.S.R.	182	521.01	RSR 802
Kitson	5160		F.M.S.R.	183	521.02	RSR 801, sold to MR 521.04 (3/1953-1958)
Kitson	5161		F.M.S.R.	184	521.03	RSR 803, withdrawn 1949
Kitson	5162		F.M.S.R.	185	521.04	RSR 804, preserved 7/1966 as FMSR 187
Kitson	5163		F.M.S.R.	186		Bombay, Baroda & Central Indian Railway 856
Kitson	5164		F.M.S.R.	187		Bombay, Baroda & Central Indian Railway 857
Kitson	5165		F.M.S.R.	188		Bombay, Baroda & Central Indian Railway 858
Kitson	5166		F.M.S.R.	189		Bombay, Baroda & Central Indian Railway 859
Kitson	5167		F.M.S.R.	190		Bombay, Baroda & Central Indian Railway 860
Kitson	5168		F.M.S.R.	191		Bombay, Baroda & Central Indian Railway 861
North British	22505		F.M.S.R.	186	521.05	RSR 805
North British	22506		F.M.S.R.	187	521.06	RSR 807
North British	22507		F.M.S.R.	188	521.07	RSR 809
North British	22508		F.M.S.R.	189	521.08	RSR 816, sold to MR 521.08 (3/1953-1958)
North British	22509		F.M.S.R.	190	521.09	RSR 810, preserved 7/1966 as RFT 804
North British	22510		F.M.S.R.	191	521.10	RSR 817, withdrawn 1951
North British	22511		F.M.S.R.	192	521.11	RSR 811
North British	22512		F.M.S.R.	193	521.12	RSR 812
North British	22513		F.M.S.R.	194	521.13	RSR 806
North British	22514		F.M.S.R.	195	521.14	RSR 813, withdrawn 1949
North British	22515		F.M.S.R.	196	521.15	RSR 808
North British	22516		F.M.S.R.	197	521.16	destroyed in Burma during WWII
North British	22517		F.M.S.R.	198	521.17	destroyed in Burma during WWII
North British	22518		F.M.S.R.	199	521.18	RSR 814
North British	22519		F.M.S.R.	200	521.19	RSR 815
North British	22520		F.M.S.R.	201	521.20	RSR 818

The above data is taken from Ramaer. Len Stanway has sent me some data on renumbering which is slightly different. An RSR 801 was returned to Malaya in 1951 and FMSR numbered it 521.04. It worked as pilot locomotive on the Port Dickson branch until 1958 when it returned to Thailand, becoming RSR 804 until withdrawal for preservation in 1966. Another RSR 801 (may have previously been RSR 804) was purchased by FMSR in 1953 and numbered 521.02, surviving until 1958.

The discrepancies could be caused by exchange of parts between locomotives or inaccurate records.

Variable particulars:
Introduced	Class	Numbers	Cylinders (2)	Tractive effort	Loco weight	Tender weight	Overall length
1917	P (521)	182 - 185 521.01 - 521.04	17" x 24"	19,645	49 tons	29t 11c	55 ft.
1919	P (521)	186 - 201 521.05 - 521.20	17" x 24"	19,645	49 tons	29t 11c	55 ft.

Leading particulars:
Wheel arrangement:	4-6-2 with 8-wheel bogie tender.	Boiler pressure:	160/180 lbs, superheated.
Fire grate:	18.5 sq. feet.	Heating surface:	1,000 sq. feet.
Fuel capacity:	315 cu ft.	Water capacity:	2,000 gallons.
Max. axle load:	10.5 tons.	Fixed wheel-base:	9 ft. 5 in.

Unclassified	A & B classes	A² class	C¹ class
Burma E and O	C² class	D class	E class
F class	G class	H class	I class
J class	K¹ class	K² class	L class
M class	O class	P class	Mallet
Q class	R class	S class	T class
	Sentinel	WD class