LSWR T3 563

Just announced:

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/new...-ownership-of-rare-victorian-steam-locomotive

 

Wow!

 

Is this a loan from the NRM or a change of ownership?

 

Any chance of it ever steaming?

 

stunned! Lack of covered accommodation to exhibit it concerns me though.

( a bit early for 1st April.......)

 

No doubt the Swanage Railway will let us know more in due course (assuming this isn't a slightly early April Fool) but it would be good if it could be steamed. Given the popularity of fellow-LSWR 4-4-0 No. 30120, the T3 would be a huge attraction. Furthermore, would it not be the first steam loco actually owned by the Swanage Railway? The M7, moguls, standard tank and Bulleids are all owned by various groups or individuals.

At least as it was withdrawn in 1945, this limits the scope for a livery debate - there shouldn't be any clamour to paint it in lined BR black!

I have always regarded No. 563 as the third most elegant engine in preservation after the MR Johnson "Spinner" and Wainwright's D Class No. 737. Amazing that the NRM is considering letting such a handsome machine go, especially after so many years in its custody.

 

However, I do wonder how it would look in BR Black livery.............

Cheers,

Alan

 

Its a beautiful loco, either LSWR or Southern green would look great!

 

"Amazing" is one word for it. All due respect to the Swanage, and I wish them well with their ownership of the engine, but I can't help thinking that irreplaceable public heritage assets such as 563 should not be disposed of under any circumstances. I'm happy for the Swanage Railway, but I'm not happy.

 

I should imaging the first thing Swanage will do after giving it a good clean will be to assess the condition of the engine, after all it was laid aside in 1948, after a period when it most likely very run down, but saying that there isnt much that can't be rebuilt now, so where is it planned to display it? can the goods shed be turned into a museum?

 

Agree totally......

 

Although I'm quoting from memory, I think that someone on this forum stated that the two NRM locos with the worst boilers were Furness No. 3 Coppernob and Crab 2700, although I presume this statement excludes 35029 Ellerman Lines! No doubt it will be given a thorough inspection once it arrives at Swanage.

 

According to John Bellwood, the two most knackered engines in the Collection in his day were 'Agenoria' and the Crab. That was before the NRM got hold of 'Bradyll' though.

 

42700 did steam briefly after preservation, at the Worth Valley I believe

 

If it hasn't had one already. This is one gift horse that ought to be looked in the mouth - if it can't run it should have stayed at the Museum! Swanage don't have any provision for non-operable assets.

Now, can the NYMR or NELPG please have the Q7 back!

 

Perhaps I'm confusing Agenoria with Coppernob. Mind you, the likelihood of anything from that vintage ever being steamed now is very, very, very remote indeed. I'm very pleased that I Was able to see Lion in steam at Southport and Rainhill in 1980. Quite a sight...

...and I'm sure the Bluebell would love to be gifted Gladstone!

 

<<Deleted by author in the hope that this is an April Fool after all.>>

 

I imagine that this loco is considered to be a duplicate of other locos in the collection. After all the purpose of the NRM is to tell the whole story, not just to preserve a loco for it's own sake. Thus if another loco tells this part of the story, then it's sensible for the Museum to downsize.

If the loco isn't important enough for the NRM to keep, I can't think of a reason why it should not be returned to steam , other than it's condition.

There will undoubtedly be other locos gifted and the Preservation movement can only benefit enormously from this.

 

Duplicate of what in the collection? And if so, what are the criteria for defining which are "core" and which "duplicate" parts of the collection?