The 563 Locomotive Group has given an end-of-year update on how London & South Western Railway T3 Class No. 563 has performed since returning to operational service.

Now fitted with a Dreadnought brake ejector, 563 has become a really useful member of the Swanage Railway‘s fleet.

In the last year, it has been steamed 38 times, which is more than originally planned, and was the star of a Victorian weekend last March.

Understandably, given its age, 563 is not as powerful as other locomotives in the fleet, but is more than a capable performer and is always a popular sight when rostered on the railway’s trains.

After the end of the year’s regular services, 563 was used on a photo charter, which resulted in some atmospheric photographs; then, during routine maintenance, a set of replacement firebars was fitted.

Visitors to the Swanage Railway over Christmas and New Year and the ‘Winter Warmup’ event in early January should see 563 in action.

Before the 2025 season starts, a spring will be removed to enable a pattern to be made so that spares can be ordered.

Although 563 is now performing well, there will always be financial demands to help keep the ‘old lady’ looking her best.

While the Swanage Railway Company is now contractually responsible for maintaining 563, where possible, the 563 Locomotive Group feels that it is right to help fund things that could not have been foreseen at the time 563 returned service.

Later next year, the model railway manufacturer Bachmann plans to release an OO gauge model of 563, which will initially be available exclusively from the Swanage Railway two weeks before it goes on general sale.

It is currently anticipated to be released next autumn with a recommended retail price of £199.95, but Swanage Railway Trust members can receive a 10% discount.

The model of 563 will be a very faithful representation of the T3 as preserved on the Swanage Railway, and painted in the beautiful LSWR Drummond green.

It will be fitted with Adams boiler, chimney and smokebox door, cab beading, equalising beam suspension, double whistles and fluted coupling rods.

Further details of the model are online at https://www.bachmann.co.uk/product/lswr-adams-t3-563-lswr-drummond-green/e85030