LSWR T3 563

I hope she does steam. If I had my way,and the money, I'd steam every single 4-4-0 in the country

 

I beleive they have said previously they would like to depending on the outcome of an assesment?

 

Indeed, and a successful fund-raising effort. I hope it will happen, and would be prepared to donate, but I'm not expecting it any time soon ;-)

 

lets not run before we can walk, As i read it the Flour Mill have offered to undertake a strip down and detailed assessment on the engine so a decision can be made on whats needed,and the costs involved, at no cost to the Swanage Railway. the engine will have to be dismantled anyway to assess its condition.

 

Not every just the Southern ones
So a future gala, 563, 30120 925, 926 , Assuming that 30120 gets an overhaul , and that 926 is still in ticket in 3 years

 

But not 928?

 

I think that the SRT wish to see 563 steam.
I would think that an appeal for funds will be made alongside any assessment process.

Cheque books at the ready!

 

Should make a few people happier

https://www.facebook.com/swanagerailway/posts/1440091986039361

 

lets all cross our fingers in the hope that she is found to be in good condition

 

All fingers well and truly crossed. Is there any merit in sending the Bluebell's Radial tank over to them at the same time - are they not related mechanically...?

 

I'd settle for 'reasonable' ..... considering it was dragged off the Eastleigh scrap line for cosmetic restoration back in the 1940s.

If only! Absolutely lovely loco the Radial. I was lucky enough to catch it in steam many moons ago. When working, it smells as good as it look. Did that make me sound weird?

 

Presumably they were burning Welsh then, rather than the filthy stuff they were using last time I visited

Paul H.

 

No more so than the rest of us.

 

I will settle for restorable, most things can be repaired, for instance, valve and Cylinders can be re bored, or sleeved as long as the castings are not cracked, boilers can be rebuilt, but at cost, , a lot depends on when and why she was withdrawn, in many cases, as a result of more modern engines coming available as they are now reduced to secondary duties, rather than being worn out, And what work was actually done in the first restoration,

 

T'was a very long time ago! Nearly 40 years, as the crow flies.

 

Great news and a very big "thank you" to the anonymous "generous benefactor" who is after all, taking something of a risk. Imagine forking out a substantial sum of money for the transport costs and a survey by the Flour Mill only to be told at the end of the examination, "Sorry - this engine has well and truly had it; static future only." If that was me, I think I'd feel pretty devastated. Still the article does mention that "on initial inspection, 563 looks eminently restorable," so hopefully this won't be the hcase This is groundbreaking territory, however. While 563 is obviously in much better condition than some of the worst Barry wrecks which have been restored, it hasn't steamed since the end of the Second World War and I'd personally be surprised if Swanage gets away with anything less than a replacement of at least part of the boiler.

Pity Eastleigh didn't do to 563 what Swindon was reputed to have done a decade or so later to Caerphilly Castle on its withdrawal for preservation, in which case the report from the Flour Mill would probably say, "Put some water & coal in the tender, light a fire in the firebox, raise steam and off you go!"

I think many of us would love to see these two Victorian L&SWR gems in steam together, but this post from Mark Thompson on the "Bluebell Matters" thread sounds a big caveat:-

488 engenders much affection but isn't seen as a priority due to its limited use. It could probably manage four pre-grouping bogie carriages, but would not be powerful enough for the summer season on the Bluebell. 563, on the other hand, could comfortably work five or six Mark 1 coaches at Swanage. It's a much more powerful engine. Another factor is that whereas 488 is just one of many unique, elegant pre-grouping engines at the Bluebell;, 563, if steamable will become the Swanage's de facto flagship loco. There would be nothing quite like it on any other heritage line. It does mean that the line would have to make a slight compromise from the 1950s/60s image it portrays so well, but to see this superb engine working again, it would be worth it. Perhaps in the longer term, the Swanage Railway might like to consider trying to put together a set of L&SWR carriages to run with it? I believe it has one "Ironclad" and there are a couple of grounded bodies at Swanage and Harman's Cross.

 

Easier to paint it in lined BR black, all this talk of entirely feasible engineering, it's the livery that is the debatable issue here.

 

That's the equivalent of painting HMS Victory in Home Fleet grey.

 

Dont even go there, if you want black, Southern black with later sunshine lettering i wonder will we one day see 563 and 120 pass at Corfe both working trains ?