The London and South Western Railway

November 29, 2010

In about 1895 the Scottish locomotive designer Dugald Drummond then C.M.E. for The London and South Western Railway, was required to design a fast suburban passenger locomotive with a snappy performance for stopping commuter trains into London from the south west. The result was the M7 0-4-4Tank
locomotive.

These engines lasted in service for more than sixty years. After electrification ousted them from suburban commuter trains they continued in use on branch and lesser cross country lines but most especially on empty coaching stock trains at Waterloo to and from Nine Elms Yard where coaching stock was serviced and prepared for its next journey. Just two examples of this locomotive have been restored, one at the National Railway Museum, York the other, no. 30053 privately. This was running at the Swanage branch, an impressive private restoration of a complete branch line which is now being reconnected to the main line giving full interchange facilities to and from British Rail with whom connecting services are to be run.