A £50,000 appeal has been launched to help get the overhaul of a 1920s train back on track.

Swanage Railway volunteers are hoping to steam ahead with plans to carry out a major heavy overhaul of the only surviving 1920s Southern Railway 'N' class steam locomotive.

Designed by Southern Railway chief mechanical engineer, Richard Maunsell, 2-6-0 wheel arrangement locomotive No. 31874 was built at Ashford in Kent during September, 1925, and worked across the south of England for almost 40 years.

The 103-ton 'N' class locomotive hauled passenger and freight trains across the south of England before being withdrawn by British Railways at Guildford in Surrey during March, 1964, and being sent to the Barry scrapyard in South Wales.

Last year, the Swanage Railway entered into a 25-year agreement to lease No. 31874 – along with two 'U' class Richard Maunsell-designed steam locomotives No. 31625 and No. 31806 – from their Hampshire owner John Bunch for use on the Purbeck heritage line.

The Swanage Moguls Fund was created by the Swanage Railway Trust to fund the major heavy overhaul of the three classic Southern Railway locomotives which all date from the late 1920s.

The three classic Southern Railway steam locomotives are known as Moguls because of their 2-6-0 wheel arrangement.

The £50,000 fund-raising drive for No. 31874 by the Swanage Moguls Fund was launched at the iconic Great Dorset Steam Fair near Blandford.

The Swanage Railway Trust has also published a new fund-raising and information website to promote the Swanage Moguls Fund, where donations can be made.

The term Mogul is believed to have originated from a 2-6-0 wheel arrangement steam locomotive built for the Great Eastern Railway in 1879.

Swanage Railway director and locomotive provision portfolio holder, Kevin Potts, said: "Inclusion of the three Maunsell Moguls in the Swanage Railway's steam locomotive fleet will complement the Swanage Railway's motive power and go a long way towards safeguarding the provision of steam services between Swanage and Norden – and perhaps beyond in due course.

"It is important these three iconic Southern Railway locomotives remain working in a setting that typifies their use during their former working lives.

"The locomotives are ideally suited to operations on the Swanage Railway, being both powerful enough to handle five-carriage trains – and longer, if needed – yet also economic to operate.

"Overhauling steam locomotives to the standard required for operating public services is an expensive undertaking so the Swanage Railway Trust welcomes contributions to support the overhaul of the Maunsell Moguls."

To find out about the Swanage Moguls Fund, visit swanagemoguls.com or you can also donate £5 using a mobile phone by texting MOGULS to 70660.