Locomotive Steams into Town

By Miles Davis

A famous piece of Victorian railway history will soon be arriving in the Westcountry.

A train, which earned the nickname of the Greyhound, will be pulling into the Bodmin and Wenford Railway to delight railway enthusiasts.

The Drummond T9 had a reputation as a fast, powerful and popular locomotive and was in service until the 1960s.

Fifty trains of its type were built before 1900 but the engine coming to the Bodmin and Wenford is the sole survivor.

Roger Webster, general manager of the Bodmin and Wenford railway, said: “It is particularly fitting that this historic loco should be returning to Bodmin, as it spent many years of its working life on the North Cornwall route from Exeter Central to Padstow.

“On many occasions, it was shedded overnight at Wadebridge, before hauling the return service the following day.”

The train is being lent to Cornish admirers by the National Railway Museum in York.

“We are delighted that York has approached us in this way, and the T9 will be stable-mate to our other Victorian engine, the Beattie well-tank, which was built in 1874,” said Mr Webster.

Tony Hallworth, of St Mabyn, near Wadebridge, started his railway career as a young fireman on board T9s and other local engines back in the 1960s, shovelling about two tons of coal on each journey.

Mr Hallworth said: “The T9s were wonderful engines, they were free-steaming, and would run like the wind – beautiful.”

Now a volunteer driver with the Bodmin and Wenford, he said: “I’m really looking forward to driving this particular Greyhound once more – especially if we are able to take her back along the valley to Wadebridge again.”

The exact arrival date of the T9 has not yet been confirmed. For more information go online to www.bodminandwenford railway.co.uk

(c) 2008 Western Morning News, The Plymouth (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.