Bachmann reveals new T3 Class locomotive to join the EFE Rail range

The EFE Rail model has been developed with the help of the South Western Circle – the historical society for the London & South Western Railway – who have provided archive drawings and photographs, and the Swanage Railway Trust 563 Locomotive Group who have provided access to the preserved locomotive throughout its restoration.

Specification highlights

• Five pole motor with flywheel mounted in the locomotive
• Separate metal bearings fitted to each driving wheel axle and each bogie wheel axle
• Diecast metal chassis fitted to both the locomotive and tender
• Gearing arranged for prototypical running speeds and haulage capabilities
• 16.5mm (OO gauge) wheels to NEM310 & NEM311 standards with detailing
• A close coupling mechanism, which is fitted with a coupling pocket to NEM362 standards
• Diecast metal boiler, running plate, front splashers and locomotive footsteps
• Representation of the inside valve gear
• A full set of decorated, model-specific accessories, including bogie splashers (intended for display purposes only), guard irons and etched engine head signals
• Where appropriate, models will be supplied with a set of authentically decorated etched number plates
• Firebox lighting with twin LEDs operating on DC and DCC
• Textured filter in the firebox hole to simulate a burning coal fire DCC:
• Next18 DCC decoder interface located in the tender SOUND:
• Twin speakers installed in the tender of all models for optimum sound reproduction

The T3s were originally built with equalising beam suspension, and this was later changed to traditional springing, both types are included in the tooling suite along with the option for plain or fluted coupling rods.

The prototypes sported bogie splashers and on the EFE Rail model these will be supplied as accessories (for either the rear or both wheelsets, depending on the period) for display purposes or where layout conditions allow. Also included in the accessory pack will be a set of etched engine head signals of LSWR or SR pattern (again depending on the specific model) to allow authentic route patterns to be displayed to suit individual requirements.

The Engineering Prototypes for the EFE Rail T3 are now under review and livery samples are being prepared. Full details of the initial models, including liveries, identities, pricing and availability, will be included in the Winter 2024 British Railway Announcements, which will be published on World of Railways on Wednesday, November 6th, 2024.

About the prototype

Part of a family of four 4-4-0 locomotives, the first T3 was built by the LSWR in 1892 and by the end of 1893, the 20-strong fleet had been completed. The elegant appearance of the T3 carried many hallmarks of a locomotive designed by William Adams, with long frames extending beyond the smokebox and stovepipe chimneys. Intended for use on the undulating lines west of Salisbury, they worked from depots on the Bournemouth line as well as the West of England line. Whilst in service several changes and modifications were made to the locomotives and once Dugald Drummond took post as the LSWR’s Chief Mechanical Engineer he began to change the stovepipe chimney to one of his own design, whilst some examples also received Drummond boilers. All 20 locomotives were inherited by the Southern Railway (SR) at Grouping in 1923, however with the SR being an early adopter of electrification there soon became a locomotive surplus and within ten years, all but three T3s had been withdrawn.

The final three were withdrawn in 1936, 1942 and 1945 – the last being No. 563, which was then stored before appearing at the centenary of Waterloo Station in 1948. No. 563 would go on to be saved as part of the national collection, appearing at the Museum of British Transport at Clapham and then the National Railway Museum (NRM) at York.

In 2017, the NRM transferred ownership to the Swanage Railway Trust 563 Locomotive Group, a move that drew much attention at the time but one that ultimately resulted in the locomotive being restored to full working order. No. 563 returned to steam in October 2023 at the Swanage Railway where it can be found running today.

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