David J Hayes says "It's a shame we can't see all of the train, but it looks very much as though this picture shows the 9F after emerging from Hill Top Tunnel on the former GWR alignment from Birmingham Snow Hill.

The loco is possibly in charge of an ironstone (iron-ore) train that has originated from the Oxfordshire Ironstone Company workings near Banbury. If so, it would most likely be destined for Bilston's Spring Vale Steelworks. Access to the steelworks was from the former Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton Railway, so a run-round would be required at Stow Heath Sidings (between Priestfield and Wolverhampton).

Interestingly, the empties from the steelworks, back to Banbury, usually travelled by way of Dudley, Darby End (on the "Bumble Hole" line), Old Hill, Langley Green and re-joined the former GWR main line axis at Handsworth Junction, from where they continued as per the inward loaded run via Birmingham Snow Hill".