The 563 Locomotive Group has announced that the next stage in overhauling Adams T3 Class 4-4-0 No. 563 has been reached. The boiler is being refurbished at the Flour Mill workshop in the Forest of Dean, where the Group’s Locomotive Superintendent, Graham Froud, and the boiler inspector witnessed 563’s boiler being filled with water and pressurised to check its integrity.

The tests were successfully completed, and an out-of-frames steam test will follow. That will bring the project closer to returning 563 to steam and is a huge credit to the team at the Flour Mill for all the work they’ve undertaken to get the boiler this far.

William Adams designed the T3 Class as an express passenger locomotive for the London and South Western Railway, and 20 were constructed between 1892 and 1893, including No. 563.

By the end of 1933, only three T3s remained in service, with 563 being the last operational T3 lasting until it was withdrawn in August 1945 and set aside for preservation.

In more recent times, 563 was used in a production of The Railway Children in Toronto, Canada, from May until October 2011, and at King’s Cross in London from December 2014 to January 2017.

On 30 March 2017, the locomotive was transferred to the Swanage Railway Trust, under whose guidance it has since been undergoing a full restoration programme.

In order to finish the restoration, the Group still needs more funds, but now there is less than £50,000 left to raise to get the project over the line.

The Group is extremely grateful to everyone who has contributed so far, but anyone who can help contribute to finishing the overhaul can do so in a number of ways.

Payments can be made online via the Swanage Railway Trust’s website at www.swanagerailwaytrust.org/t3-appeal or the 563 Locomotive Group website www.563locomotivegroup.co.uk.

Alternatively, donations can be made by cheque made payable to the Swanage Railway Trust, endorsed ‘563 Locomotive Group’ on the back, and sent to 563 Locomotive Group, Swanage Railway Trust, Station House, Swanage, DORSET, BH19 1HB.