This locomotive was built by Beyer Peacock & Co, Manchester (builder's number 1597 of 1877) ^a  for the South Australian Railways, being the first of four V-class locomotives imported in 1877 to operate the Kingston-Naracoorte line.  These locomotives proved unsuited for line work but were successful as shunters and a further four were built locally by James Martin & Co, Gawler in 1893.

V 9 finished its service career as the shunter at Peterborough roundhouse, where it was known as the Rat.  It was the last of the V-class in SAR service when retired in 1955 and was plinthed in a Naracoorte park in that year.  (Wx 18 was also plinthed alongside V 9 at that stage.)  Today V 9 remains plinthed at Naracoorte and is now displayed under a shelter that provides good protection against the elements, but makes photography rather hard!   V 9 is also the oldest preserved South Australian steam locomotive. ^c

The V-class are quite similar to the Forney 0-4-4T locomotives which were once common on the elevated city railways of the USA, and may be an English version of this general design. ^c