London & South Western Railway
"T9" class No.120
120 with 'Stowe' for a night shoot at Sheffield Park, 12 January 2008 (Paul Pettitt)
Paul's other photos taken that evening
120 with 'Stowe' for a night shoot at Sheffield Park, 12 January 2008 (Paul Pettitt)
Paul's other photos taken that evening
Left: 120 at Swanage (Photo: the late Tony Dunkley.)
The T9s were nicknamed Greyhounds on account of the turn of speed they could achieve. When first introduced they were used for the lightly loaded expresses from Plymouth to Waterloo at a time when there was fierce competition between the LSWR and the GWR for passengers arriving on the transatlantic liners. In later years No.119 was reserved exclusively for use on the Royal train, but it was No.120 which later achieved celebrity status when restored by British Railways to its LSWR livery it was used on enthusiasts trains in the early 1960s.
On withdrawal from BR service, No.120 was reserved for the National Collection, and was placed on display at York for a time. It was subsequently returned to working order, and has run on the Mid Hants and Swanage Railways. Following the expiry of its boiler
certificate it was placed in the care of the Bluebell Railway, who could provide undercover accommodation, and access for the public, initially
for a two year period, due to shortage of space at York. The loan period
was extended for over a decade. A proposal to restore the locomotive to operation was discussed, but it was concluded that the Bluebell had too many urgent priorities of its own to be able to undertake what was likely to be a very major mechanical and boiler overhaul.
120 at Sheffield Park, 12 January 2008 (Derek Hayward)
It departed for the Bodmin & Wenford Railway, with the possibility of a restoration to working order, on 1st February 2008. The Bluebell's decision to release the locomotive was based on the shortage of siding space which would be available for the period of the construction of the new storage shed and museum at Sheffield Park.
Mike Esau
Last update 6 February 2008 by Richard Salmon.