old - South Western Railway Class D9 0-6-0

The South Western Railway D9 class were a class of 85 steam locomotives built between 1901 and 1906. They were intended for use on fast goods trains but also proved suitable on passenger trains as they are noted to have been able to reach speeds of up to 70mph.
  Background: On 19th April 1901, the South Western Railway's St. Albert Works built the first member of this class in 10 hours 35 minutes. This engine was numbered 512. The class was designed by R. G. Perkins. It was in steam, still in works photographic grey, and went on to run 29000 miles (46670 km) on Normouth to Redwick coal trains before coming back for a final coat of paint. She lasted 70 years being preserved in the national collection as object no. 6243 - 173. Another 84 locomotives went on to be built with 15 being rebuilt into 0-6-0T side tank engines.  

Notable features:
All as built engines featured a low wooden roof covered with canvas sealed by a coat of lead paint. This was replaced by a higher arched sheet metal roof. All as built engines also featured cast chimney with a small lip which was retained until they were cut up for scrap.

Y4 Rebuilds:
In 1908, 15 locomotives were rebuilt into 0-6-0T side tank engines. This was in order to shunt / pilot trains and work on smaller branchlines. These were intended to replace ageing 2-4-0T, 0-6-0T and 0-6-0STs. One of these (No. 519) was sold to the Ivygrove & West Ambleton Railway.

Allocations:
On 1st January 1932, there was 83 D9 (and Y4 0-6-0T rebuilds). They were allocated as follows:
- Falmore: 5
- Hartley: 2
- Redwick: 10 (8 - Post Nationalisation)
- Harburn: 6
- Middleford: 8
- Brantage: 4
- Colyth: 6
- Rutbridge: 2
- Moorholm: 2
- Ashhaven: 3
- Normouth: 7
- Bromford: 2 (Post Nationalisation)

In Film:
In 1934, Nos. 2538 & 2547 were sold to the IdeaONE film studio for thier mafia film "Crimson City". They were then sold to the ROD and numbered 1156 & 1157. They were withdrawn in 1941 after a head on collision with a Nazi Supply Train, 1157 was scrapped and 1156 was in a reasonable enough state to be repaired, she was later absorbed into the ENR and given her M&GWR number back (2538).

In 1961, another engine (number unknown) was disguised as a German locomotive and another (No. 12577) was disguised as a Belgian locomotive for a film adaptation of the book "Lit by Moonlight".  
Preservation: Four locomotives have been preserved: No. 512, No. 519, 538 & 577 Nos. 512 & 519 are in the rebuilt "Y4" form and Nos. 538 & 577 are in as built condition.

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