A 130-YEAR-OLD locomotive, which appeared on the London stage in a production of the classic “Railway Children” story, was a star of the West Somerset Railway’s autumn gala which brought thousands of rail enthusiasts to the line last weekend despite the wet and windy weather.

Stations along the line were a hive of activity with railway buffs anxious to see and ride on trains pulled by a range of rare and classic locomotives, including T3 4-4-0 number 563 that was visiting from the Swanage Railway.

Recently restored to its full glory and painted in its original London and South Western Railway (LSWR) livery, the T3 built at Nine Elms, lit up the darkest of afternoons.

Designed by William Adams and built in 1893 the T3 originally plied its trade on the Waterloo to Exeter line. During its working life 563 ran more than 1.5 million miles, before being retired and set aside for preservation in 1945.

It even found its way onstage at the London Roundhouse in “The Railway Children” before it was eventually moved to the Swanage Railway Trust in 2017 where it now permanently works.

Since then it has been restored to its original condition at a cost of £650,000 in the Swanage railway workshops.

Two other rare engines showing their paces at the display were “Boots Number 1”, the UK’s only working fireless steam locomotive, and the Caledonian Works 1219 engine restored at the WSR Williton workshops.

A WSR spokesperson said: “The season is now almost over but trains will run on October 25, 26, 28th and 29 and November 1 and 2.

“The railway then takes a break before opening up for some special Christmas themed events on November 29 and 30 and December 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 23 and 24”.