Lottery grant for the Isle of Wight Steam Railway

The next photo in this gallery (taken from the far end) shows how large the building really is...those wagons are miles away!

 

We are creating a computer spread sheet with all the vehicle lengths in an effort to squeeze as many vehicles and grounded bodies in as possible! The first track to be fully linked up should be the leanto road (road 1) this should happen by the end of August.

 

The informal opening was today! judging by the number of people going past my office it is quite busy. The pathway to the building provides a good view of the trains departing for Wootton.

Still lots of finishing off work to do, for example track 4 is still not connected, the landscaping is to finish, the chalet is still to be positioned. But it is certainly coming to life!

 

i,ve not been over yet, but would love to sometime when funds allow, one question though gary, whilst changing trains is on the face of it a first class experience and will ensure the railway can keep its valuable stock under cover, it does not tell the whole story of the IOW railway , have you given thought to talking to the london transport museum to see if you could loan one of the ex IOW standard stock vehicles, repained and restored to its 1967 standard it would bring the story of the railway scene up to date.

 

If your thinking of the spare standard stock vehicles at Acton I believe they were moved down to Eastleigh and scrapped for spares quite recently. Personally I think it would be interesting to see 03179 return to the Island back in her unique NSE livery, helping represent more recent railway history, but I've seen no update on where she's heading. Any news on that front Gary?

Chris

 

They weren't all scrapped. The LT museum has retained enough vehicles or restore a working 4 car set in the future. At least one or two of the remaining vehicles are ex IOW.

The LT museum may well be happy to lend one of them, to free up space in their depot before they get around to restoring them. However the IOW steam railway already has more than enough stock to fill up the new building, so I cant see it happening.

Perhaps in future when the 1938 stock is withdrawn, the IOWSR might find room for one of them.

 

Apologies for being unclear but I wasn't suggesting all had been scrapped, just the spares which appeared to be in very poor condition; those left are all undercover if I remember correctly, to be restored and perhaps even operated as a heritage train.

Chris

 

Thoughts are always given to the electric era on the Island, but believe it or believe it not we still are short of siding space. Another consideration is if we add to the display in "Train Story" something has to be taken out of the building. If we had more covered space I am sure that the electric era would be covered by the Railway. Perhaps when we eventually get into Ryde St Johns.

I believe that 03 179 is being looked into, but it is difficult finding out exactly what is wrong with it. On the subject of 03s the engine of our own D2059 was started on Friday after an extensive engine rebuild which has involved new liners.

 

There do appear to be conflicting reports, the best I can find is this thread on preserved diesels by someone working at Hornsey but even they don't seem entirely sure.

Chris

 

erm,

the clue is in the title to the IOWSR!

when the 1928 stock was withdrawn the IOWSR declined the opportunity to 'preserve' an example of same. the LT instead preserved some. so no need to preserve them on the IOW.

you can see the 1938 stock in everyday use at Smallbrook or buy a ticket to go from the Pier Head to Shanklin etc! well worth it to see Brading station and St Johns Road and what's left of the non-preserved part of the Island network.

apart from a few early grounded coach bodies and the ex-NLR 4 wheeler what isnt covered is the nearly 40 years up to the arrival of ex LBSCR No. 40 BRIGHTON to the IWCR. the post 1966 history of the Island's railways isnt a particularly happy one, and the IOWSR deserves full credit for concentrating on the steam days when the Island had an extensive network of railways.

go to Acton to see the LT stuff!

cheers,
julian

 

i'm not saying that they should take on a complete unit, just 1 car. i dont agree that the IOWSR should ignore what happened after 1966, whilst they are a steam railway, they happen to have an ex ryde pier tram chassis, and the ex rydeworks shunter 05 , so in some way they already do preserve the post steam era. and dont forget had the ryde to shanklin line not been electrified ,it might even had been closed and then you wold have had no railway anywhere .

 

May i make a suggestion about the shortage of siding space. The remaining land at the south end of Griffins field looks like a large area of free land.

 

Slight problem with a rather large main sewer pipe that is in the rising ground, excavating to level the site would leave it in mid air.
Griffins field has been very difficult to access due to its difficult alignment with the running line. There is some accessible land to the east of Train Story which will either be used as an extension to Train Story or a new heavy overhaul workshop.

 

The IOWSR has come a long way in the last four years, We visit every summer while on holiday, on the island. There has been noticeable improvements in all departments on the railway. And we always travel first class, it's best way to travel on this railway. It adds to the days experience. Thanks for all the up dates.