LSWR T3 563

I was airing the future possibility of an LSWR celebration, but as has been pointed out there are major difficulties, and costs involved,
it would need an sponsor for sure, Why MHR, ? because it was an LSWR line and 499 is due to be shopped in LSWR livery so has as much history as the Swanage branch,
Ideally somewhere like Eastleigh, would be the place to hold such an celebration, but that's not very likily,
I also wish to apologise for my rash words,
moving several locos by rail in a convoy, in light steam, between 2 ,or three rail connected sites, i would have thought made more sence,
563 visiting the IOWSR, does not make much sence, it could only work as pilot engine, and the run round at Wotton isnt long enough for a tender engine, but one has already visited,

 

So how many steam locos (that do not already have a mainline certificate) have been made acceptable for a mainline convoy?
I can think of only Camelot and 76017 but not too many others. So some cash strapped railway is going to have to pay to have all those locos go through the checks that are needed to be moved in a convoy. Even 76084 was not towed from the NNR to Swanage for the gala and I believe that is mainline approved.
Then you have what 4 convoy moves with all the associated crew and diesel costs. Even if these run subsequent weekends (which could damage all three of them due to visitor finance issues) could your 33 (I assume you mean D6515 or 33012 depending on your persuasion) be away all that time or are there LE Diesel moves as well?
Then I see there is a movement by low loader from the Isle of Wight and the NRM to and from the Bluebell.
Like @61624 I would see little point in going to the MHR as 499 and 506 are the same era as 31806, or whatever may be in use at Swanage by then. Plus the two lines are only 70 mile apart so why replicate something on two weekends.
You would need a fair few photo charters to cover all those costs.
But maybe I am just a miserable old git.

 

Wherever the loco goes it’s a triumph of what can be done in a short space of time, just be thankful it’s now ‘alive’. I notice that all those critics who were whinging and stamping their feet when the NRM parted with it have gone very quiet.

 

I believed that it was the wrong decision at the time, and still wonder why deaccession was necessary. I also rejoice in what's been achieved, and am delighted that things are working out so well.

 

Bringing 499 to Swanage would not break the bank when its finished as most galas bring in one or two visiting engines 3 LSWR engines in one place would be rather nice and the M7 in LSWR green would look great after all it has been black for all of its preservation career especially passing the T3 at Corfe Castle i for one hope this happens something different from all the BR Liveries go on Swanage and the Drummond locomotive society take the plunge and paint the M7 Green

 

Oh dear, sense of humour failure! Calm down and take some medication! I know the IoW doesn't operate vacuum brakes, so how come their locos can visit lines on the mainland that don't use air brakes? The solution can't be impossible.

 

Or indeed vac-only locos have visited the IoW …

When “Calbourne” came to the Bluebell (in an event featuring a line up of four LSWR locos ), she ran double headed, always as the lead engine, with a vac-fitted loco coupled inside and a vacuum dummy carried on the lamp iron of Calbourne. The inside engine was responsible for braking the train; had the coupling parted between “Calbourne” and the rest of the train, the vacuum would have been destroyed causing the train to come to a halt.

Tom

 

Two other contenders
0415 class 4-4-2T

0298 2-4-0T

 

Rightly or wrongly it happened. I see no point in endlessly repeating what ifs and should haves, we can save those for the GWS bashing threads. What would making a noise achieve other than irritating those who are delighted about the result?

 

As much as everyone is talking about seeing it at the Bluebell, Mid hants etc, it won't be leaving Swanage for a good couple of years.
The railway can always be bashed about its lack of undercover facilities and its a terribly difficult thing to overcome. However, 563 does fit in the shed and should be able to turn on the table complete too.
That said, it won't be sat in the shed every time it rains. It is now a working locomotive with an additional cosmetic maintenance plan in place. So although people are worried about under cover storage, please don't fret too much.

 

The Swanage Railway had also set themselves in a later era, until 563 came long and changed things.

499 at the Mid Hants is being restored to LSWR livery. Also the ‘Titanic’ LSWR coaches are planned to be restored for use at the MHR. So it’s not inconceivable they might want to borrow 563 at some point.

 

Maybe, but we're not talking any time soon for the Titanic coaches imho - and, as a coach restorer myself, I do know a little about that topic!

And, controversial (and irrelevant now, I admit) I actually think 563 would have been better donated to the Bluebell, where it would fit in with their collection far better!

 

When would it have been restored though?!
The Dukedog would be a great piece of kit at the SVR… 43106 looks rather at home at Sheringham…
We really can’t be picky about what works and at what location it works at.
There’s a genuine good news thing going on with 563 at the moment, let’s just bloody enjoy it!

 

Maybe, but would the Bluebell actually have wanted it? Given the recent sale of the USA tank, I suspect the Bluebell have more engines than they really want or need at the moment!

 

It was given to a railway, that has successfully raised enough funds and restored it to steam within 6 years. It has an assured future at Swanage, plans are in place for its ongoing operation and maintenance. With the restoration costs already covered, it doesn’t owe anyone anything, and will immediately start earning steaming fees to pay for its next overhaul. It is a LSWR loco on a LSWR line, with aspirations to restore some LSWR coaches to accompany it in future. In the mean time there are still a couple of Maunsell coaches in service that it could potentially have worked with in later life.

It’s hard to see how it can be argued that giving it to Swanage was the wrong choice.

 

No offence to any railway but it has become the centrepiece of the Swanage Railway collection. I doubt it would have had that impact anywhere else.

LSWR engine on an LSWR branch line. There is no where better for it.

 

will be great to see in revenue earning service a lswr engine on lswr line whats not to like it is the perfect engine for Swanage

 

But the Bluebell will soon be steaming another equally exciting pre-grouping designed four-coupled express loco, even if it is about 97% new build (don't quote me on that figure - just my guess!) and as an ex-LB&SCR line, definitely the best home for it. I agree with the majority who say that 563 is better suited to an L&SWR line.

 

Unlike the H2, the T3 is not a replica but has undergone a heavy boiler repair. It is roughly comparable in size to an M7 thus, dare it be said, is sensibly sized for its likely use.

 

For the Eastleigh 100 event , 34028, 34070 and 30053 all travelled by rail from Swanage. 35005 and 41312 travelled by rail from the Mid Hants for the same event.