A UNIQUE steam locomotive has hauled its first passenger train since 1945.

Church bells at St Mary’s Church rang out in Swanage to mark the T3 class locomotive No. 563’s return to rails after a challenging £650,000 restoration.

The Victorian steam engine, built in 1893, escaped being scrapped so it could mark the centenary of London Waterloo’s station in 1948.

One guest at the launch ceremony on Saturday, October 7, was Swanage Railway Trust patron Sir Philip Williams.

Sr Philip’s great-grandfather was on the board of the London and South Western Railway Company, which designed and built the locomotive.

He said: “The T3 is a magnificent and supremely elegant locomotive - a wonderful living exemplar of the great age of steam in the territory for which she was designed. It will be fantastic to see No. 563 in steam and raring to go again.

“It is also a very great pleasure and privilege for me to have been asked to participate in No. 563’s launch ceremony and ride in her first train. Because of my family link to the London and South Western Railway and the T3, I will have a real sense of history in re-launching the locomotive.”

Also attending was the Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset, Angus Campbell, and Anthony Coulls, senior curator of rail transport and technology at the National Railway Museum.

Anthony said: “The National Railway Museum transferred the T3 class locomotive No. 563 to the Swanage Railway Trust in 2017 because of the heritage railway’s outstanding record in recreating a classic Southern Region branch line and the locomotive’s strong historical connections to the area.

“We are thrilled to see the T3 returning to steam for the first time in 75 years and now being able to offer passengers the unique experience of riding behind the Victorian locomotive through the Purbeck countryside.”

Swanage Railway Trust chairman, Gavin Johns, said: “We were able to celebrate the T3’s return to passenger service after 78 years thanks to the National Railway Museum’s faith in the Swanage Railway Trust, the dedicated work of the 563 team, the strong support of our donors who shared the vision to return the engine to steam and the engineering skills of the team at the Flour Mill in Gloucestershire.

“What a brilliant and very original experience which is a great example of enthusiasm for Britain’s railways at their very best.

“It was a pleasure to greet the Lord-Lieutenant and his wife who, along with Sir Philip and Lady Williams, were our guests of honour. It was good to see that they were able to meet as many supporters and guests as possible and had a great day on the Railway.

“The newly restored T3 looked magnificent in the October sunshine with the locomotive resplendent in its London and South Western Railway livery.”