The Swanage Railway Trust's 563 Locomotive Group has given an update from Herston Works following the arrival of locomotive LSWR T3 No. 563's tender tank.
Work has included refurbishing parts of the tank and replacing the its well section. Coal rails have been fitted back to the tender for the first time since the 1960, when 563 underwent a cosmetic restoration at Eastleigh, when the T3 was last seen in its Drummond livery.
The Trust is still appealing for donations, and now needs less than £50,000 to complete the overhaul of the 130-year-old loco. You can make a donation on the Swanage Railway Trust's website or the 563 Locomotive Group website.
The Trust reports that “The frames looked wonderful out in the sunlight and we can't wait to see the tank get the same preparation and treatment by our staff and volunteers in the works before Phil Anderson comes back again to line it and apply the LSWR lettering.
“This is yet another great achievement and the job list is getting ever smaller as we continue to make further progress with the tender and engine and there's less than just £50,000 to raise to fund the work needed to complete the overhaul.”
It will be great to see 563 steam again and haul revenue earning trains at Swanage.
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