London & South Western Railway 4-4-0 No. 563
Swanage, Dorset, UK 		Location: Swanage Railway
Status: Operational
Posted: May 6, 2025 @ 15:05:34 by Russell Newman
The next preserved railway the ex LSWR T3 Class 4-4-0 No. 563, will visit is the West Somerset Railway for their Autumn Steam Festival from the 17th to 19th of October 2025.
Posted: Feb 3, 2025 @ 14:02:02 by Russell Newman
The ex LSWR T3 Class 4-4-0 No. 563, is to start wondering around the heritage railway circuit away from its Swanage Railway base for the first time this year, as the locomotive is to visit the Mid Hants Railway (Watercress Line) for the very first time to be one of their staring locomotives at their Spring Steam Gala from the 25th to 27th of April 2025.
Posted: Sep 22, 2023 @ 14:09:39 by Russell Newman
Following some repairs carried out to the coupling rods and other fettling job carried out, the ex LSWR T3 Class 4-4-0 No. 563 underwent its first light engine test under steam along the full length of the Swanage Railway for the first time which have gone well. The first trains to be hauled by No. 563 for the first time in 75 years will operate from the 21st to 29th of October 2023.
Posted: Aug 30, 2023 @ 09:08:02 by Russell Newman
With restoration work now all completed, the ex LSWR T3 Class 4-4-0 No. 563 has returned home to the Swanage Railway in Dorset ready for testing and running in trials before entering service soon.
Posted: Aug 17, 2023 @ 11:08:57 by Russell Newman
The restoration of the tender of ex LSWR T3 Class 4-4-0 No. 563 has been completed as it has been placed back on its wheels ready for the locomotive it self. The T3 Trust and the Swanage Railway still needs £5000 to completed the work in hand on No. 563. No. 563 is expected to move to the Swanage Railway in the Autumn of 2023 to begin testing and running trials before entering service in 2024.
Posted: Jul 12, 2023 @ 14:07:52 by Russell Newman
A big milestone was reached as former LSWR T3 Class 4-4-0 No. 563 moved under her own steam for the very first time since 1948. This marks the end of the restoration of No. 563 as she is now operational, but with a few small jobs to do and work to completed the restoration on the tender the locomotive will soon be moved back to the Swanage Railway for testing and running in trials beforebeing launched into service soon.
Posted: May 6, 2023 @ 10:05:59 by Russell Newman
Following a very successful steam test the boiler of LSWR T3 Class 4-4-0 No. 563 has been reunited with the mainframes of the locomotive, and the cab has been refitted as well. But the Swanage Railway Trust and the 563 Group still need to raise £50,000 to finish the overhaul and restoration of No. 563 before we can see the T3 running for the first time on the Swanage Railway. Which detials to help can be found on their website and social media.
Posted: Apr 24, 2023 @ 06:04:20 by Russell Newman
Another milestone was reached in the restoration of former LSWR T3 Class 4-4-0 No. 563 as the boiler has passed its hydraulic test and is now ready for its steam test.
Posted: Feb 7, 2023 @ 10:02:54 by Russell Newman
Another milestone was reached in the restoration of former LSWR T3 Class 4-4-0 No. 563 as the boiler with its brand new firebox was successfully test fitted to the mainframes of the locomotive and the tender chassis are now ready to start painting. But their is still more work needed before No. 563 steams again as both the Swanage Railway and the T3 Trust are appealing for £85,000 left to raise to complete the locomotive which details can be found on their website and social media.
Posted: Jul 7, 2022 @ 15:07:38 by Russell Newman
The former LSWR T3 Class 4-4-0 No. 563 has reached a milestone in its restoration as the locomotive has been rewheeled and is now a rolling chassis again. Progress on No. 563 is going well as the locomotive should be completed and in steam for the first time after many years in the summer of 2023.
Posted: May 31, 2019 @ 13:05:10 by Russell Newman
The LSWR T3 Class 4-4-0 No. 563 could be steaming again by 2022 as the Swanage Railway has launched a £350,000 appeal to return No. 563 to steam for the first time since 1948.
Posted: Dec 2, 2018 @ 05:12:53 by Russell Newman
The LSWR T3 4-4-0 No. 563 is currently at the Flour Mill Works at Bream in Gloucestershire. Where it has been looked at to see if can be steamed again and the news from the Flour Mill is the locomotive is restorable and will be working with the Swanage Railway Trust on overhauling No. 563 to working order.
Posted: Nov 13, 2017 @ 10:11:39 by Russell Newman
LSWR No. 563 has now left the Swanage Railway and has moved to the Flour Mill Works at Bream in Gloucestershire for its return to steam.
Posted: Oct 24, 2017 @ 05:10:43 by Russell Newman
The LSWR T3 No. 563 will be moving to the Flour Mill workshop at Bream in Gloucestershire in mid November for a through examination with the view of returning the locomotive to steam at the Swanage Railway.
Posted: Mar 30, 2017 @ 05:03:52 by Russell Newman
In a surprise move the National Railway Museum has donated the unique LSWR Adams T3 Class No. 563 to the Swanage Railway. The locomotive is currently still in London but will be moving to its new home in Dorset soon for display.
Posted: Mar 28, 2017 @ 17:03:04 by Russell Newman
The LSWR T3 No. 563 has returned to the NRM Locomotion Museum at Shildon having spent the last 2 years next to Kings Cross Station in London for the theatre production of the Railway Children there.
Posted: Jun 18, 2011 @ 11:06:02 by Steve Frost
On a working vacation in Canada. The loco is being used as part of a stage production of Edith Nesbitt's story 'The Railway Children'. The stay is for six months initially. As a non-runner a smoke machine will provide the efects as it is propelled by a switcher for the performance. This MUST be a furthest west record for the London and South Western Railway!
Posted: Oct 18, 2004 @ 11:10:59 by Steve Frost
This beautiful example of the British 4-4-0 has moved to the new exhibition at Shildon, County Durham. The 'Locomotion' exhibition contains exhibits from the National Railway Museum and opened in late September 2004.