Harry Wainwright designed 22 of these 'L' class 4-4-0s for the SE&CR in 1914. A dozen were built by Beyer Peacock and the remainder (after Richard Maunsell took office in January 1914), from Borsig of Berlin. These were delivered in kit form and assembled at Ashford Works by Borsig employees just before the declaration of war! Payment (as might be imagined) was withheld but in typically 'honourable' British fashion, was completed after hostilities ceased! This photograph of 31780 was taken at Ashford MPD in August 1954.

© Ken Widd. Steve Armitage Collection