Isle of Wight Steam Railway

I suspect for many people it's the opposite. I've certainly missed my railway volunteering more this lockdown than any previous one, but indulging in some WIBN has lightened the mood a little. Indeed, some of the less extravagant WIBNisms I've been discussing I've actually been drawing up some plans for in the extra time I have so they're more likely to happen either at all or more quickly once we can get going again, which is giving me something to look forward to.

Back to WIBN on the Isle of Wight, whilst some folk have been enjoying the speculation and others have been pouring cold water all over it, over on the IoWSR website it has said the following since, I think, the 16th January, I certainly recall seeing it before the last bought of speculation and being rather confused as to why everyone was saying "keep guessing":

• Special guest locomotive! - original Island 'Terrier' Knowle/Bembridge will be visiting from the Kent & East Sussex Railway

No doubt now that the IoW has confirmed they're actually doing this we will have a colossal rowback on how this emphatically isn't an example of WIBN but a sensible business decision...

 

Great news and thanks for pointing that out Flying Scotsman!

But who is going to tell the IOWSR that this is a ridiculous WIBN suggestion?

 

Misread this and thought someone was actually suggesting a 4472/60103 visit to the IoW… wouldn't that be nice!?!

Simon

 

I think "bleak" referred to mood, and the impression given of the railway by you as a prominent volunteer by the tone of many of your posts. I last visited Wight on 31st December 1991 as part of a railtour marking 25 years since the end of steam on the Island, on which I had my only rides yet on the IOWSR. Even on that bleak day (and, weatherwise, it was!), I could see that the IOWSR is nothing like bleak.

More generally, you should not underestimate the ability of volunteers with no official status at their railway to convey a tone for what that railway is like. There are a number of posters on here who really convey a sense of how xyz railway is somewhere I'd really like to visit; it would be great if you joined their number.

 

On the subject of Knowle / Bembridge, didn't at least one of the last Island Terries recieve SR black livery with sunshine lettering, If the remarks Alex made are confirmed, and 2678 Is to make a working Visit, could it just for the visit be renumbered back into its IOW guise, as W14 with Bembridge plates ?

 

They don't need confirming Martin, you can see for yourself on the IoW website, far more official than anyone on here!

 

What would you have described the restoration of Welsh Pony as WIBN? A loco that the FR didn't 'need' but which has this year ended up being part of the core fleet and providing some good cheer in an otherwise difficult year. WIBN ideas often end up as good publicity or actually being more useful than expected.

Let's be honest all heritage railway is WIBN.

Moreover, denigrating all ideas as WIBN actually undermines the power of your point. You end up casting out potentially viable ideas by lumping them with the chaff of the completely unlikely. You lump the Paul Lewin's of the world with the random blokes on facebook. Moreover, it becomes a label to be applied randomly like some Soviet era designation 'splitter' 'Zionist-Maoist Trotskyite nationalist'. You end up less Cassandra and more the Boy who cried wolf.

 

W11 has carried this livery on the IOWSR, so presumably this was the one that carried it in service.

Wouldn’t be authentic for W14 as it left the Island in 1936, but still might make it look more the part if temporarily renumbered.

Interesting that of the four preserved IOW terriers, the two with a much longer history on the island (40 ish years) are at the IOWSR. The two that were only there for 6 or 7 years are preserved on the mainland. I wonder if that’s by luck or judgement?

 

https://iwsteamrailway.co.uk/event/50th-anniversary-gala/?mc_id=4638

The photo of ‘Newport’ looks strangely like ‘Freshwater’ doesn’t it!?

 

Good spot, I didn't see it lol

And Knowle looks like 11 did when I first started there...

 

There is absolutely no intention to link Paul Lewin with any of the hopelessly starry eyed stuff found in print either here or other internet sites

 

Like a terrier visiting from the mainland?

 

I was told on HOPs about the intended guest but as I don't haunt the website I was unaware the info was now generally released Pity!!

 

You mean like restoring a 25 mile railway line that had been closed for 63 years? Restoring locomotives that had been out of use for 80 odd years, and building new locomotives and coaches?

The point remains that the whole sector is built on 'wouldn't it be nice'.

Moreover, no one is denigrating the efforts of anyone by talking about things they would like to see.

 

Thanks for spotting this Alan.

Website now corrected with the added bonus of a 24th January 2021 photo of Calbourne in steam for the 50th anniversary of the move from Newport.

 

This is pure thread drift The "jury is still out" regarding the 25 *ile railway Building new stuff was justified Welsh Pony's return took ages to start but her history fully justified this She turned out to be really useful

 

But wouldn’t you have classed both as ‘WIBN’ and therefore ‘spending other people’s money’?

 

Essentially WIBN is about "bright" ideas for others to do

 

Certainly while I sympathize with those that have been laid off, but that is no reason for you to come barging in here swinging your hammer, stacking so many things into the WIBN category when they were pretty sensible and innocent enough discussions and suggestions. Quite frankly I find it condescending an attitude of yours to be berating people for just wishing to talk of more hopeful and positive prospects, your "if you are feeling bored look at YouTube for a while" to be just down right snarky too.

If you find folks talking on here about WIBN subjects and stuff you don't like, I can suggest to you that you needn't have to pay attention and reply to them, your remark of not doing such things works both ways Paul. If you are feeling irritated YOU could watch something on YouTube for a while, or read a book. Something that doesn't involve ruining harmless more positive chit chat on here.

I think you'll find the thread drift began when you decided to throw your WIBN accusations around...

I won't discuss my grievances any further on this matter however, as I usually am not one to get into personal arguments, and this is meant to be a forum to discuss things railway related. So onward to more productive and positive discussions.

 

Stop moving the goalposts Paul.