In March 2017 the National Railway Museum generously gifted the sole surviving Adams’ designed T3 class, No.563 to the Swanage Railway Trust and ever since day one the exciting ambition has been to return her to steam.
Given our deep-rooted history with the London & South Western Railway, the engine made a welcome return to its spiritual home and the 563 Locomotive Group has been formed to ensure its preservation for future generations but we need your help to do this.
After an extensive strip down and investigation at the Flour Mill workshop in the Forest of Dean, the engine was found to be in a surprisingly good mechanically overhauled condition by Eastleigh Works and although the firebox was life expired, as expected, the boiler barrel is also in an excellent condition with little corrosion inside or out.
No.563 finally returned to steam in 2023 after raising over £650,000 for the overhaul. It can now been seen running on the Swanage Railway where it looks right at home.
The fairy tale story of the T3’s return proved to be one of the most exciting locomotive restorations in that has been undertaken in preservation. A locomotive, which many thought would never steam again was brought back to life on the railway it was built for – Welcome home 563!
The story so far…
In March 2017 the National Railway Museum generously gifted the sole surviving Adams’ designed T3 class, No.563 to the Swanage Railway Trust and ever since day one the exciting ambition has been to return her to steam.
Given our deep-rooted history with the London & South Western Railway, the engine made a welcome return to its spiritual home and the 563 Locomotive Group has been formed to ensure its preservation for future generations but we need your help to do this.
After an extensive strip down and investigation at the Flour Mill workshop in the Forest of Dean, the engine was found to be in a surprisingly good mechanically overhauled condition by Eastleigh Works and although the firebox was life expired, as expected, the boiler barrel is also in an excellent condition with little corrosion inside or out.
No.563 finally returned to steam in 2023 after raising over £650,000 for the overhaul. It can now been seen running on the Swanage Railway where it looks right at home.
The fairy tale story of the T3’s return proved to be one of the most exciting locomotive restorations in that has been undertaken in preservation. A locomotive, which many thought would never steam again was brought back to life on the railway it was built for – Welcome home 563!
Donate Online
No matter how large or small the contribution, we have a wide variety of options available for you to support the project with fantastic benefits available as a thank you in return.
No matter how large or small the contribution, we have a wide variety of options available for you to support the project with fantastic benefits available as a thank you in return.
After reuniting the wheels with the frames we now have a rolling chassis and with this hugely significant milestone, the 563LG team now hopes to finish the restoration ahead of the summer season in 2023!
The restoration of LSWR T3 No 563 is rapidly moving forward. 563’s boiler could steam this year for the first time in over 70 years and the locomotive could be complete next year. Her tender needs to catch up! Will you help make it possible? Join the T3NDER Club today!
On 26th March at 7pm, the Swanage Railway Trust’s 563 Locomotive Group is hosting an online conference about the ongoing restoration of our London & South Western Railway T3 locomotive No.563.
Work on the overhaul of 563 is hotting up! Premier Patterns & Castings Ltd. and Boro Foundry have recently been heat treating the newly cast girder stays before they can be machined at the Flour Mill….
Some good news in difficult times – 563 is having it’s all new inner firebox assembled! The very heart of the T3 will be completed in due course along with lots of other exciting developments!
After reuniting the wheels with the frames we now have a rolling chassis and with this hugely significant milestone, the 563LG team now hopes to finish the restoration ahead of the summer season in 2023!
The restoration of LSWR T3 No 563 is rapidly moving forward. 563’s boiler could steam this year for the first time in over 70 years and the locomotive could be complete next year. Her tender needs to catch up! Will you help make it possible? Join the T3NDER Club today!
On 26th March at 7pm, the Swanage Railway Trust’s 563 Locomotive Group is hosting an online conference about the ongoing restoration of our London & South Western Railway T3 locomotive No.563.
Work on the overhaul of 563 is hotting up! Premier Patterns & Castings Ltd. and Boro Foundry have recently been heat treating the newly cast girder stays before they can be machined at the Flour Mill….
Some good news in difficult times – 563 is having it’s all new inner firebox assembled! The very heart of the T3 will be completed in due course along with lots of other exciting developments!
Your donations helped us bring this unique locomotive back to life in 2023 to coincide with Waterloo station's 175th anniversary - 75 years since the T3 was last seen in steam!
Thank you for your support!
Your donations helped us bring this unique locomotive back to life in 2023 to coincide with Waterloo station's 175th anniversary - 75 years since the T3 was last seen in steam!
Legacy of a Legend
Raising the Pressure
Legacy of a Legend
Raising the Pressure
History in the Making
563 Launch Day – 07/10/2023
History in the Making
563 Launch Day – 07/10/2023
Tender Loving Care
STEAM LOCOS IN PROFILE – LSWR T3s
Tender Loving Care
STEAM LOCOS IN PROFILE – LSWR T3s
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Subscribe to our ‘T3 Times’ newsletter!
Latest News
Preserving the Swanage Railway Trust's unique LSWR T3 class, No.563!
No matter how large or small the contribution, we have a wide variety of options available for you to support the project with fantastic benefits available as a thank you in return.
No matter how large or small the contribution, we have a wide variety of options available for you to support the project with fantastic benefits available as a thank you in return.
No matter how large or small the contribution, we have a wide variety of options available for you to support the project with fantastic benefits available as a thank you in return.
After reuniting the wheels with the frames we now have a rolling chassis and with this hugely significant milestone, the 563LG team now hopes to finish the restoration ahead of the summer season in 2023!
The restoration of LSWR T3 No 563 is rapidly moving forward. 563’s boiler could steam this year for the first time in over 70 years and the locomotive could be complete next year. Her tender needs to catch up! Will you help make it possible? Join the T3NDER Club today!
After reuniting the wheels with the frames we now have a rolling chassis and with this hugely significant milestone, the 563LG team now hopes to finish the restoration ahead of the summer season in 2023!
The restoration of LSWR T3 No 563 is rapidly moving forward. 563’s boiler could steam this year for the first time in over 70 years and the locomotive could be complete next year. Her tender needs to catch up! Will you help make it possible? Join the T3NDER Club today!
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The Swanage Railway Trust is a Registered Charity (1087318).
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Donate Online
No matter how large or small the contribution, we have a wide variety of options available for you to support the project with fantastic benefits available as a thank you in return.
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