One of the biggest stars of the Watercress Line’s Great Spring Steam Gala line-up (click here for more); was without doubt the elegant Ex-LSWR T9 class 30120.

This locomotive is a member of the National Collection and is usually based on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway.  However, it is no stranger to the Watercress Line as it spent some time being based there in the 1980’s.

Simon of Brookes Castle (who can be spotted in the above picture!) and I both agreed that the locomotive is simply stunning.

Nicknamed “greyhounds”, the T9 class were a very successful design of Dugald Drummond.  Built in 1899, the locomotive has worn many liveries including Southern Olive and LSWR Pea Green.  Although it looks great in BR Black, you can’t help but think it would look even better in some of it’s earlier liveries.

More blog posts will be published from the gala in due course, so as ever, watch this space!