563 to be restored to working condition Swanage Railway

[341o2]

Both the Bournemouth and Dorset Echo have reported that a donation from a private individual will mean that the locomotive will be transferred to a specialist firm to see whether restoration to working condition is feasible

"No. 563 will be taken to the Flour Mill locomotive workshops, Gloucestershire next month to be stripped down and fully examined to establish if restoring the T3 to full working order is possible mechanically and financially.

The Swanage Railway Trust has started to gather funds from the public to raise the money required should a restoration to full working order be possible.

Matt McManus, trustee of Swanage Railway Trust and responsible for the T3 locomotive, said: “I would like to thank the very kind and generous benefactor who is funding the stripping down and examination of the T3 by a prestigious engineering workshop that has a proven track record in overhauling Victorian steam locomotives.

“No. 563 is one of our most prized assets – we are committed to its on-going care and conservation with the hope that the T3 can be returned to steam.

"On initial inspection, No. 563 looks eminently restorable to full working order and that is our aim."'

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/ne...ive_No__563_could_return_to_rails_in_Purbeck/

In view of the rather disastrous year for the steam loco fleet - I observed 34072 on shed looking not like going anywhere soon last week - perhaps some good news

 

[Cowley]

Wow. That’ll be amazing to see. Not many locomotives of that era running these days.

 

[mushroomchow]

Exciting stuff. The T3 sure is a graceful thing - even back in 1945 its value was recognised such that 563 was preserved while many similar-aged classes were lost to the ages in the post-war "rot".

The initial assessment sounds like it was promising.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Yes it would be excellent to have working examples of both T3 & T9s available, I presume that the Greyhounds were evolved from the former? Also did they share the same stomping grounds in their day?

 

[Flying Phil]

That is a very elegant design and the outside cylinders really suit it, even the cab layout is neat and stylish. Hope it does get restored to working order.