LSWR T3 563

Other than ironclads all of which are fairly well gone I don’t think there are a lot of SW vehicles left. 494 on the Bluebell which is a basket case and 320 which is a Southern rebuild of two six wheelers onto a bogie underframe. This also requires a total rebuild. Volunteers to complete any of these vehicles at say 10 years per coach? Not realistically going to happen

 

The point I was making is that it would be nice if possible to have got together some LSWR coaches as part of some launch into traffic celebration, ok in the case of the NRM coach , its most likily not an option, even as an static attraction, which would be an shame as that was also restored for the waterloo centenary, but even then, 1520 and the royal saloon would still be an attractive backdrop as it would be the only chance to get an genuine loco and coach combination .

 

I would also be quite happy to see the T3 pull whatever coaches are available if it is restored to steam.

What is surprising is the lack of any proper public detailed assessment of the loco's condition so far.

Surely someone somewhere (presumably those at the Flour Mill) has now made a detailed report and assessment, and with some costings?

All I can gather so far is that the 'chassis' of the loco appears to be OK, and the inner firebox will need replacing because it's patching will not comply with modern insurance requirements, and the tender may not be too good. All rather inadequate information if the Flour Mill are carrying out an assessment of the loco and tender, and having dismantled the loco into a pile of bits.

Is there some kind of embargo on proper informative press releases etc due to conditions imposed by the donor of the money for the Flour Mill assessment?

Cheers,

Julian

 

Agreed, it does all seem a bit secretive. Very little in the way of public announcements, and you have to sign up to a mailing list to get any info.

 

I don't recall seeing any announcement to the effect that the assessment is complete? In Fact I think the position is that the boiler stripdown is still ongoing and there are other activities on the chassis like NDT testing of frames axles, wheels etc yet to be completed.

Is it an unfinished report that you think needs to be released to alay rumors of some sort of secret cover up? Or could you be happy, like the rest of us, with the interim information that has been released to wet our appetite so to speak?

If you like I could put you in contact as an interested party with the project manager so that you could assist in the preparation of the report. Perhaps you might even want to become a significant donor with preferential access to the works and 'on the ground', 'as it happens' information?

I for one think that jobs like this are better not rushed and am happy to wait for the full report. Then if I think it insufficient I will approach the Project Manager for more information. Coming on here starting rumors and accusations will be some way down my list of actions. This idea that the flower mill are performing inadequately, that there is something underhand going on and that all information must immediately be put in the public domain is a little fantastical and utterly ungrounded.

 

Let me make one thing crystal clear.

This assessment is the most in depth mechanical and historical exam that the Swanage Railway has yet under taken on any item of its rolling stock.
The Flour Mill were instructed to leave no stone unreasonably unturned and they are doing exactly that.

We are in weekly communication with them, have visited and know exactly what is going on. There is no cover up, nor is the SRT obliged to publish the report in full.
The SRT will of course make sure that everyone is told the outcome as soon as it is aware of it. However to suggest that there is a cover up or that the Flour Mill are hiding something is simply false.

Quite honestly the T3 is currently a victim of the Summer Holidays, staff are taking their leave and so work has slowed. Updates will be coming.

Why not sign up to the mailing list? Its free!

 

Sorry Hermod only just noticed your request for a shot of a 4 and 5 coach train.

 

Surely swap the Mk 1 RMB up for disposal with the IOW for the Ironclad.

 

Plus undercover accommodation for them when restored

 

Let’s just paint a few Mk1s in LSWR livery - bet they’d look great
Anyone like to share a can of worms?

 

I think that's a good idea personally, I'm sick of Maroon.

 

Nice picture of modern 5 coach trains on Swanage Railway .
The M7 four coach train picture shows how a T3/modern car combination will appeal.
To some for sure,but not me.
This one would:

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/uploads/monthly_09_2016/post-4032-0-48664900-1474149451.jpg

I will forget my steam battery in each end coach idea.

 

Be easier to just paint 30563 in BR black

 

I've no problem with the amount of information on 563. The mailing list provides a comprehensive update, every time they have something to pass on. And lets face it, they have no obligation to pass any information on, should they choose not to. But the updates keep coming, each one well written, comprehensive - and, dare I say it - promising.

As for the suggestion (Hopefully meant in jest) of seeing 563 painted in BR Black...please no. Anything and everything gets tarnished with that drab, uninspiring livery. Lets have something different. Heck, why not paint 53 and 120 into it as well? 120 would, after all, then be MORE authentic for the Swanage Railways' stated 'Late 1950s, early 1960s' image!

 

Reading this thread and several others has reminded me of Harry Enfield's 'Mr You don't want to do it like that'. Some people seem very quick to offer unsolicited advice about how railways should be doing things.

You don't want to restore a load of LSWR carriages, you want to run it on a nice set of Mk1s

It is rare a thread passes without 'Only me, you don't want to be running more than 5 miles' or some other iteration of advice about how people should be doing things.

 

With a TOC having almost brought back the name, why not the livery too?

 

It surprises me that the marketing people at GWR, LNER, SWR, Southern, LNWR etc (notice a pattern here) haven't tried to re-appropriate the old liveries.

Depending on your point of view you could of course argue that this would be dancing on the graves of the old companies

 

I have thought what an missed opportunity , unless of course the old liveries have some kind of copyright issue that means that any TOC has to pay to use them.

 

so, how long before someone photoshops an 444, or 442 into the old classic LSWR livery