LSWR T3 563

Get it up to the NYMR to run with the teak train!

 

The Adams 4-4-0s were strong engines. In one of my many railway books there is an account of an X2 (similar to a T3 but with 7' 1" driving wheels) stepping in at Woking for a failed Lord Nelson which was working the Atlantic Coast Express, circa 1930. It started the train, consisting of 13 bogies, without slipping and took it all the way to Salisbury, with a maximum of 74mph at Andover. It did run hot and this may have been its last ever run before withdrawal.

Thankfully, No. 563 won't get such a thrashing in preservation unless someone takes up your suggestions!

 

Runn8ing it between Pickering and Levisham would hardly be thrashing it!

 

But going the other way from Levisham would be rather more demanding...

 

That's a pretty extraordinary achievement for a locomotive of its size. The LNER corridor coaches are not exactly lightweight vehicles. An LNER Pacific would have had that as a regular load, having a 4-4-0 on the T3 doing it probably indicates the motive power issues going on during the war (and also issues of axle loading and gauging, but that's a by the by).

 

There's a reference in Bradley to No. 571 (the other T3 that survived into the war) hauling a 70 wagon Southampton goods train in 1942 (presumably from Basingstoke), which might have been quite exciting from a braking point of view if nothing else.

According to Bradley, No. 586 of the closely-related X2 class:

"During the Dunkirk evacuation, No. 586 was loaned to Basingstoke and on 2nd June 1940 worked thirteen LNER bogies from Woking to Reading, the train being run round at Basingstoke and taken on tender first."
​

Was that a record of a different event (two days previously) or have the accounts got garbled over the intervening years?

Tom

 

I think that I would rather go down to Dorset to see it running there.

Peter

 

That assumes that they were heavy Gresley type coaches, but I suspect that the LNER could muster up a whole range of assorted lighter weight corridor stock for an emergancy such as this. Still an impressive feat though.

Peter

 

Onhce the initial flush of enthusiasm wears off the photographers will become dissatisfied and start looking for new scenes to recreate. We can't do the 13 LNER coaches quite yet on the Moors anyway, unless we include a few with "wartime bomb damage"!

 

The same article on Adams 4-4-0 has t his on 586: “1/6/40 Noted at Basingstoke on a 12 corridor Troop train heading for the Southampton line.”

Would suggest that means (at least) two different dates?


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Of course, to be correct 563 would have to be pained in unlined Maunsell Green with sunshine lettering. It’ll be a shame to paint over that Drummond livery!


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Quite likely multiple - I guess for that period of a week or so, it was pretty much every available engine pulling every available carriage. So quite possible that the locos pulled several large trains over that period.

Tom

 

I think our perceptions of normal loadings around that period are often at variance with reality. The Southern was never considered a "heavy freight" railway but the same notes that I believe Tony Sedgwick drew on, record many instances pre-war of 70 wagon trains on the LSWR main line. Usually related to traffic from Southampton docks.

And as ever there were the special occasions. Like the record of a Jubilee on 70 banana vans between the docks and Eastleigh yard. Agreed, that's not very far but still an achievement for a little 0-4-2.

Or Friday 14th May 1937 when T14 443 cleared empty boat train stock from Southampton docks and was noted passing through Eastleigh heading north. The load was 12 corridors - and 6 Pullmans.

 

Thank you for your response.
I wasn't entirely certain if I had imagined it - but glad to re-assured that some of the 'little grey cells' appear to be still working !

 

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?st...ePTLemjUHTbCVHsshzxSyViMnl&id=100064645127545

The boiler has passed its hydraulic test.

Link for donations http://563locomotivegroup.co.uk.gridhosted.co.uk/donate/

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Of all the Cinderella stories currently going on/have happened in preservation, this locomotive is proving to be one of my favourites. I'm not even LSWR but it is heart warming and wholesome, and being done with such care and attention for the locomotive's history.

 

What a nice post! A lot of time has been taken to get the detail right on this engine and it’s paying off.

 

Reported on the Group's Facebook page that 563's safety valves lifted today for the first time in 75 years; a momentous day.

 

was this the official boiler test? for the boiler examiner to sign the boiler off for stage 1 .

 

I feel like this one's being turned around really quickly, well done to the team.