My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I got my hands on this negative as it features the rarely photographed LSWR Adams radial 4-4-2T No. 3488 which, thankfully, is still with us today at the Bluebell Railway in Sussex. 3488 was the member of this class that was sold to the government in 1917 and then to the East Kent Railway as their No. 5 in 1919 but subsequently bought back by the Southern in 1946 as emergency cover for the other two survivors. This loco deserves to be in a record book for the ultimates in recycling and is a remarkable survivor. This shot was, of course, taken at Lyme Regis which is conveniently chalked on the hand barrow. The livery is plain black and the picture was taken after November 1946 but before its BR number 30583 and lined black livery were applied in October 1949. Withdrawal from BR service was in 1961. Courtesy the Mike Morant collection
RCTS: 25th Anniversary Special 28th June 1953 Stroudley A1X 'Terrier' 0-6-0T No. 32667 and Adams radial 4-4-2T No. 30583 at Axminster having double-headed the tour tdfain to Lyme Regis and back. It's apparent from other photographs of this trip that the two locos had swapped positions at Lyme Regis as 30583 was the pilot engine for the outward leg.
[Mike Morant collection]
[Mike Morant collection]
Adams Radial 4-4-2T's nos. 30584 and 30583 double-heading the 10:45 ex-Waterloo at Combpyne on 25th June 1960. Note the camping coach in the background. 30583 was sold out of service to the Bluebell Railway following withdrawal in July 1961 but 30584 had already been withdrawn in the February of that year. Courtesy of the Mike Morant collection
Mike has very kindly sent in the following three pictures which besides appearing here will also feature in our branch collection. Many thanks to Mike not only for the pictures but also for the detailed captions which accompany them.
From an email from David Badman received 19.09.2025:
While researching for an article I am writing for "For The Love Of A Railway" a group based in Axminster who are building a layout of the Lyme Regis Branch in public display for public display I came across your excellent web site - Thank you.
A small point - the caption on the photo of the 1953 RCTS tour is wrong. The Terrier was 32662 (now preserved at Bressingham) not 32667. According to a contemporary report in The Western Morning News RCTS had hoped for 32646 the actual original loco.
best wishes
David Badman
While researching for an article I am writing for "For The Love Of A Railway" a group based in Axminster who are building a layout of the Lyme Regis Branch in public display for public display I came across your excellent web site - Thank you.
A small point - the caption on the photo of the 1953 RCTS tour is wrong. The Terrier was 32662 (now preserved at Bressingham) not 32667. According to a contemporary report in The Western Morning News RCTS had hoped for 32646 the actual original loco.
best wishes
David Badman