LSWR T3 563

Just saw another positive update on the Facebook page from yesterday, that the final £5,000 has now been raised and the fund raising for the restoration has now been achieved (although fundraising will remain open to deal with any potential unexpected situations, as well as for future livery or cosmetic changes etc).

In further recent posts there are some pictures of a fully lined out and lettered tender.

 

Hello,the T3 is home it was on the pad at Norden this morning,I believe it will be reunited with its tender today at Norden and then it will be towed to Swanage later today.It looks stunning.

 

Just shared on the loco's Facebook page: together at last and looking stunning.

 

Gorgeous!
But then, did William Adams ever turn out a bad looking engine?
Pat

 

Beautiful. How long have we got before someone tries to paint it BR black?

 

Looks stunning, hopefully all goes well during the running in and looking forward to seeing the pictures and videos.

 

Now to complete the project. Get hold of a set of matching LSWR carriages, to run with 563.......!

 

I think he was having a bit of an off day with the 46 class 4-4-0T and related 380 class 4-4-0s ...

Tom

 

Has just passed through Corfe Castle. I did press the grab screenshot icon but all I've been given as a result is a black screen...

 

Just turned up at Swanage, thanks to the webcams. (Screenshots worked this time!)

 

That is just superb. Great restoration job, well done to all involved. Like that LSWR livery too, smart shade of green.

 

I had never heard of either of these so checked them out on Google images. They're quite interesting, look vaguely
like something from the NBR

 

Incredibly beautiful loco. I can only imagine the sense of pride and achievement felt by those who have restored it.

 

Is it me, but that shade of green looks lighter in the last shot, that in previous ones, it it a trick of the lighting? Everyone looks to have done an outstanding job, and 563, isn't just back on Swanage railway metals, it's back as a working engine, man of us have watched from afar, been astounded as she was stripped, her condition was not expected, and i bet even those who did the work were in shock to find she was mechanically in x works condition, apart from the firebox,
She was for many years an unwanted engine, and praise has to go to Adrian Coulls for the decision to offer it to the Swanage Railway trust, that was the key that unlocked its return to steam, had it remained with in the NRM, even if loaned, i don't think they would have sanctioned a new firebox.

 

As Hamilton Ellis noted, they were very Beyer Peacock. Now that we know that Nine Elms up to that time was basically an assembly plant for CKD loco kits from BP, it follows that the drawing office and works weren't in good shape for taking on true new builds. Indeed it was 1887 before new building started, following the recruitment of a cohort from Stratford (Francis Pettigrew and John Reid).
The 46 class were better looking as radials than as built, I admit. The 380 class are quite OK, and chunky looking.
Anyway, 563 looks gobsmackingly good.
Pat

 

Always like a bit of human interest. Some of the team that made it happen:

 

A video (not mine) of her unloading and move to Harman's Cross has been uploaded to youtube. Gorgeous piece of machinery and painting!

Been several years since I last made it to Swanage but most definitely on the list for next year.

 

A good renovation of the locomotive but alas the railway itself remains a linear scrapyard.

 

It still hasn't sunk in that this is actually a reality. It's remarkable how an engine's fate can change so drastically in just a decade. She looks unbelievable and the site of her actually running on trains will be a sight to behold.

 

I do sometimes wonder Paul if these comments are worth it? How does that comment help the Swanage Railway and the T3?