LSWR T3 563

That first movement is a moment to gladden everyone's and also a moment of trepidation for those involved. Will it go or won't it? Will anything go bang? A few jobs to do around the cylinders (and it's a good job it has slide valves) but nothing serious by the looks of it. Well done Bill and the Flour Mill team; not forgetting those at the Swanage whose determination has made it possible.

 

Some of us have had that list for years. 1008, 1247, 42500, 42700, 63460 and 92220 will do for starters.

 

Probably not. Hasn’t got a BR crest on the tender and isn’t painted black or BR green.


More seriously- it looks absolutely stunning and it’s an absolutely amazing thing to have achieved.

I hope Swanage can capitalise on how popular I suspect she will likely be, and down the piece she is able to do a few visits round the country (not before Swanage have had the opportunity to enjoy her for a good while first……..)

I’m due to be working in the south later in the year so will endeavour to visit if I can.

chris

 

What a superb loco. Well done to all involved

 

Looks fantastic. Well done to all concerned in the fundraising and restoration.

Bob.

 

The Cinderella loco is almost ready to attend the ball. Utterly spectacular. Well done to all concerned. What a wonderful success story the T3 has been, and will continue to be.

 

One for all those who edit certain magazines in Peterborough…

 

Who gives an expletive deleted.

 

A message from the Swanage Railway Trust 563 Locomotive Group.

Steam Test success!

''This week, 11th July, South Western Railway and Network Rail celebrate the 175th Birthday of Waterloo station, featuring an exhibition put together by 563LG supporter Mike Lamport. It feels rather poignant that nearly exactly 75 years after the Waterloo centenary celebrations*, when 563 was last steamed, our T3 has now successfully completed her steam test! The test was undertaken on the 12th July, at the Flour Mill, with Nathan Au, Matt McManus and Nick Lloyd from the 563 Locomotive Group, Graham Froud, the Swanage Railway’s Locomotive Superintendent and Gavin Johns Swanage Railway Trust Chairman in attendance, alongside Flour Mill staff. Following the test, the boiler is now signed off for 175 psi, bringing 563’s return ever closer. After the test was completed, 563 was also able to make her first tentative moves under her own steam, what an achievement!
Credit must go the the Flour Mill staff and you, our supporters, for making this possible''.

<BJ>

 

Fantastic achievement, can't wait to see this run in person.

 

What a gorgeous piece of machinery and what a fantastic achievement for all involved. Here's hoping it spurs on interest in a few more pieces of pre-grouping stock (or at least the liveries!)

 

Hold my coat!

 

You forgot to add 4771 to your list!

 

hold my paint brush, you mean, as regards rescuing other NRM go for 737 and go for the full southern 4-4-0 collection

 

I did indeed.

 

What about Gladstone? Like to see that run.

 

The NER 2-4-0 number 910 is at Stainmore. Is that on the radar for an overhaul?

 

What I think needs to be acknowledged here is that this is one of those occurrences where de-accessioning the locomotive has probably ended up with the best result for the locomotive, and has added to the fortunes of a railway, and to the NRM's benefit, because it absolutely will draw crowds in for the railway and it has allowed the NRM to find a bit more space in their already sizable collection, something that is only going to be more of a problem in future (though the additional building at Shildon may help somewhat with this).

Please note I am not arguing for de-accessioning the collection, just observing this is one time it seems to have worked perfectly for all concerned and the locomotive in question.

The T3 has to be one of the most elegant passenger locomotives ever built, and we're going to see it running for the first time in around 75 years. This is an exciting time.

 

I rather fancy that this particular loco, lovely as it is, is probably regarded the same way as the gorgeous Kirtley 2-4-0 158A at the Midland Railway Centre, which as I understand it is too fragile now to be considered for overhaul - would require so much material replacing that it would actually be better to build a complete new locomotive.

 

How many pre WW1 loco's are there that might be a realistic restoration prospect? Hardwicke, Thundersley, the GNR Atlantics & the Compound have all steamed in preservation