Isle Of Wight Railway Steam Gala 28-30 May

Excellent, warm and sunny day at the gala yesterday, felt more like the Med than the Solent! Some photos are here - https://railwaygalleries.smugmug.com/IsleofWightSteamRailwayphotose/Spring-Steam-Gala-May-2016/

 

Glad you enjoyed yourself. All of our visitors seemed to be enjoying themselves, hopefully the weather will continue to be kind to us for the last day of the gala!

 

The Havenstreet webcam showed today W11 hauling the Ventnor West set of two interconnected four-wheelers. There are pictures of this pairing taken 80 years ago at Merstone. Does anybody know of similar contemporary pairings which can reproduce pre-war pictures in this way. W.8, also in service today, features in 1930's shots with Set 484. I can't think of any other standard gauge examples although there are a number of narrow gauge ones.

Paul H

 

Footage from a very enjoyable day spent on the Island. A fantastic event, thanks go to the Volunteers for making this event possible!

 

Video from the event;

 

I had the pleasure of attending on Saturday, thanks to all the team it went very well with very appropriate speeches from Steve Oates & Len Pullinger.

Both videos are very nice, but the numbers of passengers seen through the carriage windows look a little on the light side. I hope that everyone enjoyed themselves and the gala washed its face financially.

 

I had a look at the webcam at various times on the Sunday and Monday. Havenstreet was heaving with people when the trains were crossing. We will find out shortly.

With the "visitor" unable to make it, the expenses will have been dramatically reduced and her place has been taken by the revived W8.

PH

 

It looks like to have been a wonderful bank holiday weekend on the IW!

I must say it is rather nice not to have Austerities running this year.

This looks like an all IW year for locos for the IOWSR, except perhaps the Ivatt which looks and performs superbly and has an IW connection of course.

Hopefully the new SECR bogie carriage underframes will arrive soon.

Do please visit! This railway is a pure 'gem'! And Calbourne after her re-paint looks wonderful, as do the 2 Terriers.

Where else can you be guaranteed of pre-grouping carriages and Victorian engines?

Cheers,
Julian

 

Visted on Sunday and a very good day. Had a ride behind the Ivatt tank for the first time. Was sceptcial as to whether it would look out of place but fitted in quite well with the bogie coaches. Biggest improvement to the railway was the new car park surface at Havenstreet - a huge improvement.

 

I am assured that visitor numbers were excellent, thanks to all who staged the gala and to those who came.

 

41298 runs round her train at Smallbrook Junction on 29th May.

 

W8 at Havenstreet with the freight on 29th May.

 

W24 "Calbourne" at Havenstreet on 29th May.

 

W11 at Havenstreet on 29th May.

 

W8 and W11 at Havenstreet on 29th May.