[Jan 5, 2019] Island engines together (Isle of Wight)

August 4th &5th W24 Calbourne will be on the bogie set. W8 Freshwater will be on the 4 wheel set and W11 will be on the push/pull set. (Hauling in both directions) This event should see the introduction of 4 wheel guards brake coach 4115 after its complete restoration from its former use as a building. It is also hoped to have in the 4 wheel train coach 10 the Oldbury that was featured in the railway restorations program on channel 4. This will be the first time the Isle of wight steam railway has been able to run 2 trains of 4 wheel coaches simultaneously on the railway. It is also a very long time since 2 trains of 4 wheelers have run on standard gauge in the UK. With W11 on the push/pull set it recreates the train that was used on the Ventnor west services. There will be some double heading. The timetable is now on the railway web site. I should add that this will be the last chance to see the Island engines together for a few years. W8 is in the final year of its 10 year ticket and W24 ends in 2019

 

Sounds good, though Tanfield may have something to say about that comment!

 

Looking forward to it, just booked accomodation on the Island, a long weekend from Manchester

 

I have had a look at the Tanfield stock list and take your point. They could run two trains of four wheel carriages but have they? I cannot see any photos of two on the web site.

 

I hunk the Tanfield only run four-wheelers, so this would occur every time they run a 2-train service.

 

The final preparations for the Island Engines gala are now underway at Havenstreet, the gala timetable has been published and can be seen on our website here.

As previously mentioned by Newington, the timetable will feature:

• W24 Calbourne on the 4-coach LBSCR bogie set
• W8 Freshwater on the 4-wheel set, which will be the first outing for freshly restored LBSCR Stroudley Brake Third 4115. It really does look magnificent so this is a not to be missed opportunity to be one of the first passenger to ride in it since the 1930s!
• W11 Newport will be on the Wootton shuttle with the Ventnor West Push-Pull set. This set is very rarely operated on its own, so here is another rare opportunity for you.
• IWR Oldbury No.10, as featured in the Channel 4 Carriage Restoration programme, on display in the C&W workshop.
  
• You'll need a drink in the predicted hot weather, so a Real Ale Bar will be in operation at Havenstreet Station. We have a selection of Island brewed ales ready for your enjoyment.

If you've not yet made your travel arrangements you can see full details of how to get to us here.

Remember, this will be your last opportunity to see all three of our Island locomotives in steam together for some years as W8 Freshwater is due to be withdrawn for overhaul at the end of the 2018 operating season.

We are all looking forward to seeing you on the Island this weekend!

 

Having worked on 4115 for so long really looking forward to riding in it on Saturday.

 

Duplicate post deleted!

 

Yes it is pedantry time again! This is a Billinton era vehicle which gives its passengers all of five inches more legroom than its Stroudley equivalents did. They had no more than a touch over 5ft. between partitions. It is indeed a magnificent job,

PH

 

A bit of guesswork on my part -not 100% right this time. A marvellous job none the less.

 

The full 7-carriage set was worth venturing out in the heat for, a magnificent sight. Might wait for the temperature to fall a bit before taking a ride however...

 

Thanks Chris for the above pic.

No double heading necessary, as the Terriers hauled long rakes of 4 wheelers years ago, but nevermind!

Surely this what railway preservation is all about - a scene of yesteryear captured today in idyllic surroundings.

And to think all those beautiful carriages were sheds or summerhouses or grounded bodies for more years than they ran on metal!

The IOWSR is a very special railway, and I would urge all of you to visit it.

Cheers,

Julian

 

Well what a simply magnificent day! Thanks to everyone who made it happen. Having spent Tuesday wandering around Havenstreet with Gary today was a day for more train rides and photographs. It's such an easy line for photographs, so I took loads, and I make no apology for posting a whole 24 of them here:

 

Have uploaded videos to Youtube from yesterday's "All locos together" event, the links to the videos are:-

No.8 bringing a rake of 5 four wheelers into the platform at Havenstreet, with newly restored brake 4115 ready for first it ever passenger service at the IWSR.


No.8 with again with brake 4115 in/out Havenstreet to/from then ends of the line


No.11 with the push pull set

 

Glad that you enjoyed your first ever visit to Havenstreet, a number of your photos show the new head of the HRA enjoying himself firing on one of the Terriers. Incidentally two GM's of other Southern based railways are firemen at Havenstreet.

 

The Terrier cabs looking even narrower than normal, looks like you get a great view from 4115 however.

 

When an engine is dwarfed by a four wheel coach then you know that it really is small

 

It's worth remembering that the seven four wheelers shown here represent over thirty years of skilled work.

PH