A VICTORIAN steam locomotive that has starred in stage productions of The Railway Children on both sides of the Atlantic has been unveiled at Corfe Castle station.

The Adams T3 class No.563, arrived at Swanage Railway's road-rail interchange, earlier this year, after being donated by the National Railway Museum.

Now it has been officially unveiled at Corfe Castle in front of descendants of its designer, William Adams.

National Railway Museum head curator Andrew McLean unveiled No. 563 during a welcoming ceremony at the station.

Swanage Railway Trust chairman Gavin Johns said: "It was an exciting moment when Andrew McLean pulled the cover sheet off the locomotive to reveal its glorious Victorian lines with gasps of admiration and appreciation from our guests, staff and members.

"Seeing the expressions of delight on the faces of William Adams' descendants was wonderful – a special and moving moment. It was a very memorable day."

Attending the welcoming ceremony for No. 563 were Dr Robert Adams – whose great-great grandparents were the parents of William Adams – as well as Alex Campbell, the great-great grandson of William Adams' brother John.

Robert said: "It was truly fabulous and extremely enjoyable – an occasion that my wife Margaret and I will never forget. The importance rightly placed on William Adams as one of the greatest locomotive designers of the 19th century was well illustrated.

"It was a real thrill to see No. 563 unveiled at Corfe Castle station. Like all of William Adams' designs, the locomotive is beautiful in appearance as well as efficiency.

"It has been described by locomotive experts as one of William Adams' great masterpieces.

"The ceremony at Corfe Castle station was amazing and fabulous – a real credit to all those connected with the Swanage Railway. Anything that promotes the awareness of the importance of the London and South Western Railway to the public is a good thing."

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.