The 563 Locomotive Group has announced that the Swanage Railway Trust has authorised the return to steam of its T3 No.563.

The locomotive was transferred to the Flour Mill workshop in the Forest of Dean in November 2017. There, it was subjected to the most extensive strip down undertaken on behalf of the Swanage Railway.

It was discovered that the locomotive was in good mechanical condition, with new wheelsets, fresh from overhaul axle boxes, and motion in overhauled condition.

The firebox is life expired, the boiler barrel is in extremely good condition, with little sign of corrosion.

The Swanage Railway Trust believes that the best way for No.563 to tell its story is to return it to steam.

Swanage already has LSWR T9 No.30120 and LSWR M7 No.30053 based on the railway, however, they have been unable to tell the story of the branch line in the early days, in which, the T3 allows them to go all the way back to the start of the railway.

The SRT will use the locomotive to demonstrate that it is committed to creating a living link to the very start of the railway that we have preserved to this day.

The cost of returning No.563 to steam will be around £350,000. An appeal has been set up to raise this money over the next 2 years.

To donate to the appeal please click here to find out details of how to donate.

This promises to be one of the most exciting locomotive restorations of the last 25 years.

As a sign of the commitment to this project, the Swanage Railway Trust has ordered £30,000 worth of copper that is required to construct a new inner firebox.

This locomotive will return to service, but how quickly depends on funding. 563 could return as quickly as 2021 if fundraising hits its targets.

At this stage the 563 group have recommended that the locomotive returns to steam in its later LSWR Holly lively as introduced by Drummond from 1903.

As the locomotive hasn’t worked in over 70 years, the group is not sure of its capabilities. However, it was known that the T3s were strong and free steaming locomotives.

It is intended that 563 will visit other railways for gala events.

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