A STEAM locomotive that has starred in stage productions of The Railway Children on both sides of the Atlantic has arrived in Dorset.

The Victorian locomotive, Adams T3 class No.563, arrived under a protective tarpaulin at Swanage Railway's road-rail interchange in Norden, after being donated by the National Railway Museum.

The steam locomotive was transported by ship to Canada in 2011 where it had a six-month starring role in Toronto's Roundhouse Park for a production of Edith Nesbit's classic children's tale.

Then, after returning to the UK, the locomotive starred in Mike Kenny's adaptation of the novel in front of 1,000 people at London's Kings Cross station.

Swanage Railway Company chairman Trevor Parsons said: "We are delighted, thrilled and very grateful to the National Railway Museum for donating such a rare Victorian steam locomotive to the Swanage Railway.

"Thanks to the T3's ownership being transferred to the Swanage Railway, we hope to suitably display the locomotive to the public and illustrate a period of important London and South Western Railway history that has previously not been possible.

"Our primary aim is No. 563's conservation and preservation."

Built in February 1893 for hauling express trains on the London and South Western Railway, it was withdrawn from service at the end of World War Two.

By then, the locomotive which could reach speeds of 80mph, had around 1.5 million miles on the clock.

However, instead of heading for the scrapyard the locomotive was selected for restoration and display at the centenary celebrations for London's Waterloo Station in 1948.

Mr Parsons said: "It's absolutely incredible to see the T3 on the Swanage Railway and marvellous that she has finally arrived. Even with the protective tarpaulins over her, you can really appreciate the locomotive's distinctive and charming Victorian lines.

"The locomotive is a complete original and sports its livery dating from 1893 – the T3 is a time capsule from 1945 when the locomotive was withdrawn by the Southern Railway after a hard working life of 52 years," he added.

"The vacuum pressure gauge for the brakes still has the original 'L&SWR' - for London and South Western Railway – written on the plate behind the glass. Step on to the T3's footplate and you are transported back in time 120 years to the 1890s and the life of Victorian railwaymen."