In 1909 when the WPR was still in its infancy, an inside cylinder 0-6-0 side tank locomotive was purchased from Hudswell Clarke for service over the main line between East Wemyss and Methil. This became Wemyss Coal Co No.9 and after nationalisation of the coal industry in 1947, it retained its number with its new owners. Transfer to the NCB had occurred because this engine had ceased to be a WPR ‘main line’ performer, when it was supplanted by the new Barclay side tank 0-6-0 No. 18 in 1938. Thus relegated, the locomotive spent almost thirty further years confined to the steeply graded branch line between the Michael Colliery and Scotts Road. Here we see NCB No.9 carrying out shunting work on this branch in April 1967. At the time the pit was both open and highly productive with an output of around 20,000 tons per week but five months later the disastrous fire caused immediate closure. No. 9, surviving this event, was refurbished and relocated to Bedlay colliery near Glasgow. It exists to this day in preservation as a static exhibit at the Summerlee Heritage Museum, Coatbridge.

Photo by and copyright of D P Williams