Pictured by a skilled but unknown photographer, a 'T9' 4-4-0 rests serenely under azure skies and in beautiful condition. The classic British 4-4-0 is epitomised by these highly successful locomotives of the former London & South Western Railway. 66 were built by both the LSWR (at Nine Elms) and by contractor Dubs (in Glasgow) between 1899 and 1901 and their deserved reputation for speed earned them the nickname 'greyhounds'. Their designer was Dugald Drummond, a Scot who had joined the LSWR in 1895 and had previously been Chief Mechanical Engineer with the North British and Caledonian Railways in Scotland. The T9s ran with both 6 and 8-wheel tender types, 30715 was built by Dubs in June 1899 and served for an amazing 62 years for the LSWR, Southern Railway (from 1923) and British Railways (from 1948). She was finally withdrawn in July 1961. One T9 survived and is preserved in running order. On a personal note, I am not usually enamoured of the spartan stovepipe chimney but it suits the T9s well.
