W24

Could someone from the IOWSR please give an update on how W24 is progressing since the boiler returned from Crewe? What are the chances that she'll run again this year please?

D1004

 

Anyone from the IOW out there please?

D1004

 

The only info I can find is on their web site. Just a shame that the local government doesn’t build a bridge across the Solent. This would make it a lot easier to get there.
http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk/

 

they'd burn it down i guess.....they seem to like being independent

 

a bridge would be cheeper than the ammount you have to pay on the fast cats, but would not be good for the island , the roads are little more than tarmacked tracks at the best of times plus a road link would mean the end of island life
getting back to W24 i guess its going to be a case of it will be ready when its ready personally i would love to one day be able to see her at ryde st johns pulling out for smallbrook [-o<

 

A bridge or a tunnel would be more expensive than the ferries, and by some considerable margin - aside from the vast cost of construction needing to be paid back, you'd need to restrict numbers anyway as the island simply couldn't cope with more cars. If you are able to, its much nicer to experience the island by foot, bus and train.. and a lot cheaper too.

Regarding Calbourne, i'd suggest dropping the line an email.

Chris

 

And further consideration then has to be given to the fact that the bridge would need to be high enough for the large naval, container and ferry ships to use the Solent. To do that, it would have to be so high in the air as to be somewhat vulnerable to high winds, and would cost an absolute bomb.

 

W24's return to traffic is eagerly awaited by many. I imagine that being on an island limits the numbers of volunteers and the time they have available. With the Ivatt 2-6-2Ts as (presumably long term) projects, there is much to look forward to. Personally, I've always felt that a car is not really necessary for visitors as the bus service is very comprehensive, and rover type tickets very reasonably priced.

John

 

The general feeling on the Island is against a fixed link to the mainland. We might all enjoy having a good moan about the cost of crossing the Solent but would it be any cheaper if there was an alternative – who is going to pay the astronomical costs involved? I can't see how local goverment (responsible for maintaining roads that have been described in this thread as being little more than tarmacked tracks) have got the ability to finance such a link, I certainly can't see it being a priority for central government. Even if it became significantly cheaper to reach the Island could it cope with the potential increase in visitor numbers, and the increase in population created as it became far more viable as a permanent base for those working in the Dorset/Hampshire/West Sussex areas? The Island (and the IWSR) has it’s distinct character because of it’s separation (not necessarily isolation) from the mainland, let’s keep it that way!

Moving on to W24’s return to service; I think it is fair to say that things are not progressing as quickly as everyone would like as a result of the effort required by the Mechanical Engineering staff to get the two Ivatt’s and W24’s boiler over to the Island last autumn and now the need to provide sufficient operational locomotives and coaches for the 2009 operating season.

http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk