LET’S MAKE 120 FOR 120

I read with interest the plans to repaint ‘Schools’ Cheltenham from Malachite green to BR green. It’s prompted me to think about the prospects for repainting another NRM locomotive, the ‘T9’.

The sole surviving LSWR ‘T9’, No. 30120, currently based at the Swanage Railway, celebrates its 120th birthday this August. However, there appears to be little discussion about how to commemorate this milestone.

With just over a year left on the boiler ticket, the Swanage Railway and the NRM could repaint the ‘T9’ into the ‘post preservation’ livery of LSWR Urie green worn after it had been preserved, but was still in use on BR metals from 19621963, and not worn on the ‘T9’ for well over 40 years.

It would only take a hundred or so people donating £120 each to bring back an often forgotten period in railway history.

So, who’s in for the ‘120 for 120 for £120’?

Will Armston-Sheret, by email