Boiler now the T3 target
THE 563 Locomotive Group which is working towards the restoration of the sole surviving William Adams LSWR T3 for steaming on the Swanage Railway, is to focus on boiler work during 2020.
Last autumn, the group announced that it had raised over a third of its £350,000 appeal to restore the locomotive in the first six months. As we closed for press, total fundraising has reached £210,000, with around £4000 a month being added by standing orders from regular supporters.
Significant boiler work and progress has been made with all parts now cleaned, painted and stored ready for refitting at Bill Parker’s Flour Mill workshop at Bream in the Forest of Dean.
In a letter to supporters, the group said that the boiler is the biggest single task. “We expect the work to cost around £170,000 in total and we are going to redouble our fundraising efforts going forward.
“Your support is vital. We have a good amount in our account at the moment but not enough to complete it!”
The firebox door plate and tube plate have been pressed in copper by South Devon Railway Engineering and the wrapper is now being formed up as well. These three components represent a £50,000 investment by the Swanage Railway Trust (SRT) and are vital to continue the steady progress this year.
Many other components that are needed for the project have a long lead time and to delay ordering project critical parts will create sizeable delays to the project later on.
Of paramount importance are the four girder stays and the three different styles of hangers which secure them.
The group has placed an order for the manufacture of these parts with Premier Patterns, which is renowned for its work in polystyrene single use patterns for one-off jobs.
The bill for the girders as completed castings ready for machining is just under £15,000.
A project spokesman said: “With the Covid-19 crisis gripping the world, we are certain now that our progress will be affected going forward. We expect longer lead times, reduced access to funding and a focus on saving the railway during these uncertain times.
“We must focus on saving the railway but supporters can rest assured that T3 restoration is still ongoing. We can continue to accept new subscribers and donors through the official 563 webpage. For the moment however, we would urge supporters to contribute to the SOS appeal at the Swanage Railway www. saveourservice.co.uk”
The T3 was gifted by the National Railway Museum to the SRT in March 2017, on the condition that if the heritage line should ever decide it no longer wants it, it offers it back to the National Collection.
➜ For details of how to contribute to the T3 project, visit www.563locomotivegroup.co.uk