SWANAGE TO DISCOVER VIABILITY OF ‘T3’ RESTORATION IN MAY

The Swanage Railway will know in May 2018 whether ex‑National Collection Adams ‘T3’ No. 563 can return to steam, according to railway trustee Matt McManus. The Adams‑designed 4‑4‑0 left the railway on November 13 for Bill Parker’s Flour Mill workshop in the Forest of Dean, where the 1893‑built engine is being stored during the winter months before it is stripped down for mechanical assessment in March. Mr McManus told Steam Railway that an outline cost of restoring the former National Railway Museum exhibit to steam will be given in May. If the inspection concludes that the ‘T3’ cannot be economically restored, the engine will be reassembled as a static exhibit. Mr McManus said: “It won’t return to Swanage until we have undercover accommodation for it.” The LSWR locomotive had been exhibited in the open at Corfe Castle since it arrived at the railway on April 12 2017. Mr McManus added: “We have an agreement with Bill Parker to leave the ‘T3’ at the Flour Mill until we’re ready to take it back. We want No. 563 to live at Swanage so we have to build a home for it.” He also told Steam Railway that the fundraising appeal had so far raised over £43,000 towards the restoration of No. 563, but could not confirm whether that figure included sponsorship by an anonymous benefactor towards the transport of the ‘T3’ to the Flour Mill and its strip‑down (SR473). As Steam Railway went to press on December 20, the parallel crowdfunding campaign – which aimed to raise up to £50,000 towards the 4‑4‑0’s hoped‑for return to steam – had raised £4,046, three days before the online crowdfunding appeal’s deadline. Donations after that date should be made payable to: the T3 Fund, Swanage Railway Trust, Station House, Swanage BH19 1HB.