Isle of Wight Steam Railway Carriage and Wagon updates

Sit down - I agree with you! :O I'm still of the opinion we need loos on our trains, but as a TTI filling up half a dozen tanks in the morning is a drag, half that would be much better.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

Get a bit of 1840s kit up and running, then just sling 'em up on the roof!

 

After a lengthy break, C&W News has returned to the IWSR Web Site - lots of news to catch up on!

We also have two IWSR C&W Facebook pages - C&W Happenings and SECR Carriages Appeal.

 

Would that be the body in the photos below?

I've finally had a chance to check this out, and though it looks pretty innocuous on the outside these estate agent shots of the interior *appear* to show doors consistent with an LBSCR Stroudley brake van (as can be seen here on the far left?) - an amazing survivor if so.

http://www.wightagents.co.uk/Files/Images/PropertyImages/27902_27032035/27902_27032035_img_05.jpg
http://www.wightagents.co.uk/Files/Images/PropertyImages/27902_27032035/27902_27032035_img_04.jpg
http://www.wightagents.co.uk/Files/Images/PropertyImages/27902_27032035/27902_27032035_img_03.jpg
http://www.wightagents.co.uk/Files/Images/PropertyImages/27902_27032035/27902_27032035_img_01.jpg

 

That is the one.

 

Doesn't look like the St Helen's I know.
No Rugby League ground for a start.

 

would such a vehicle if it became available be an easier do than building an Oldbury brake coach from scratch? building a full brake van ?

 

Speaking personally I would much rather see something newly built that is a faithful copy of the original, a couple of the early batch of brakes had birdcages ! The goods brake if ever acquired could then be restored as a goods brake.

 

From photographic evidence, the old Midland single balcony brake van was a pretty regular feature of IWCR non-passenger trains during the 20th century and a recreation would sit very well alongside that lovely old ex-MR 6w crane.

 

Agreed. Looking at the work involved in restoring no.10, a new build replica of an Oldbury brake coach should be well within the capabilities of the team at Havenstreet.

 

Duplicate post

 

Whist I agree with whats been said re building a replica Oldbury brake, will it have enough space for buggies pushchairs etc, the reason I queried a full brake as part of the rake is to allow enough storage space for passengers buggies etc, perhaps you might need both a brake vehicle , and at the other end a full brake possibly with a compartment that can take an wheelchair party?

 

With only one of the Oldbury coaches any where near to being in a condition to put into passenger use it will be many years before their is anything resembling an Oldbury set in service. Plenty of time to adapt plans to the requirements of the time.

 

As the superb restoration of No.10 was at a pace dictated by the timetable of Mr.Snow's (much appreciated) programme, is it safe to assume the speed of a second IWR carriage's return to the land of the living will be according to the rate of fundraising? Even with all the neccessary funding in place and the invaluable experience already gained on No.10, do you suppose anyone would be likely (or perhaps, crazy enough?) to view the 6 months, first time out, as a record ripe for plucking? .... and would you feel they needed locking in a room with rubber walls if they did?

I'd imagine the hi-tec (oh yes it is!) laminated wooden underframe represents a significant portion of the total cost, so anything beyond the second example will neccessitate the additional time and funding to procure further assemblies. So .... what's the minimum number of 4 wheelers that IWSR loadings require to form an operationally useful regular workaday set?

 

That depends on the actual job, I would imagine if you had an all new flat pack coach with everything laser cut, an new underframe ready to take the body and everything to hand, or on call, including the craftsmen then I would imagine a build could be very rapid .

 

They are very low capacity coaches, I would imagine at least eight if not ten to make a useful stand alone set. Yes the second one will take longer than six months, so far No 10 has been 0n the go for 16 months and is still not ready for traffic. It is acting the part of what is to us a prototype.

 

I could well imagine that being the case for an all-new carriage, with nowt by way of 150 year old timbers to slow things down (the same thought crossed my mind when looking at what the L&B's 'Pilton East' were tackling).

S'pose the number of doors on a compartment carriage is a bit of a giveaway..... Those old photos of early IWR trains always show an impressive number of vehicles but, when you think about the number of actual seats, it doesn't take long to realise that three of the Met.8-wheelers not only have the capacity of (at least) seven Oldbury style carriages, but take up significantly less platform length providing it .... overall, they're probably lighter 'per seat' too (it's just occured to me that it's a bit surprising none of the IWC's 5-compt ex-LWSR stock was run in 'block' mode on the island).

Has there been any opportunity to fit No.10 with full brakes yet, or is it not a priority until there are more working examples?

Now you mention it, the original Wright-built C&N stock seems quite advanced by comparison .... although, they certainly made up for that by purchasing those primitive second-hand LSWR 'workmens' 3rd's. It seems a fairly safe bet one of those monstrosities would be pretty low on anyone's 'to do' list, so I might just have to add one to my €uromillions dream shopping list - just for the hell of it - on condition it's run as a "Children's Carriage" .... aren't I a nasty old goat?

 

Number 10's air brake fit is ongoing, but as it is almost 100% new parts it is taking quite some time.

 

I see 4115 has been out on a test run today.

 

It has Its patchy appearance is due to it being in the middle of having a further coat of varnish added.