Isle of Wight Steam Railway

Although differential line speeds shouldn't prove insurmountable, if sufficient money is chucked at making it happen, operating comercial train sets with two different maintenance schedules doesn't add much to a business case which is already most charitably described as marginal to begin with.

The decision to invest in renewal of 3rd rail, on the Shanklin line, rather surprised me. Adding a second flavour of traction would be more surprising still ..... though 'spose not nearly as much as any notion of applying some joined up thinking to address the Island's public transport issues in the first place.

 

Good news from the Isle of Wight! We will be reopening and running trains on Sunday 12th July. To start with the railway will be running on Sundays and Wednesdays, picking up the pace as the summer goes on to meet the hopefully increasing demand.

Online booking is being encouraged, it's also cheaper than paying at the booking office! More details are now available on the IWSR Website.

The unlocking of the tourist industry is great news, not just for the railway but the whole Island. So many businesses over here rely on the summer season trade to remain viable - just like heritage railways! So do please come and visit us and also consider staying and seeing more of our wonderful Island! Have a look at Visit Isle of Wight for your staycation inspiration...

 

Great news. Well done.

 

Our first post-lockdown training day took place today, two more to follow next week. Around 40 people were briefed on our Covid-19 precautions and operating staff had their competences refreshed. In the afternoon around 100 friends and family members descended on the railway to act as 'the public' to enable the team to put our revised operating procedures to a robust test, many lessons were learned and adjustments made accordingly.

All on track for our first public train services on Sunday 12th July - online booking is encouraged and is cheaper than paying on the day at the booking office!

More details on our website.

 

The Isle of Wight Steam Railway is back in business - our first post-lockdown train left Havenstreet just after 1030am this morning. Have a look at some videos and pictures on our Facebook page. The railway has been satisfyingly busy today with lots of people looking for a great day out to ease their lockdown blues!

We will be running on Sunday and Wednesday at first but hope that demand will build, allowing further days to be added as the summer progresses. keep an eye on our website for updates.

 

It might be helpful for people to know that, according to Facebook, all trains for tomorrow (Wednesday 15th July) are fully booked. Apparently there are still vacancies for next Sunday and the operating days on the following week. In other words do check (also book as well) before travel

 

Sounds like @Islander's expressed hope that 'demand will build' [post #665] is firming up quite nicely. So far, so good ... and long may it continue to do so.

 

Small steps, don't run before you can walk etc, seems to be the best option, its good to hear some good news coming out of this horrible mess of a year.

 

Some potentially good news: https://www.southwesternrailway.com...f-service-island-lines-trains-ready-to-retire

 

A complete unit, or just a driving cab? the problem is though, how much room does the IOWSR have, even for short term storeage ? i'm assuming SWR will want any units sold to be moved off Ryde Depot ASAP.unless some siding space can be found.

 

If (and Paul doesn't seem to) the IoWSR want a cab, please let it be from one of the spares doners, so that the E&OR can have the pick of those that can still move themselves

 

Who knows, maybe the IOWSR will preserve a whole unit , adapt an wagon as a translator so it can be towed so it can be used as an attraction on diesel days hauled by the 03 in some kind of push -pull mode , out of season take some seats out, fit tanks and delivery pipes and you have a weed killer unit,

 

I’m sure common sense be used to decide which, if any, units were broken for parts.

Reading the announcement it sounds like SWR are being quite selective about who they give them to. Applicants need to demonstrate capacity and financial ability to remove and look after the units.

Also interesting that they are subject to a statutory designation notice by the science museum. Future plans for the units needing to be approved by the trustees of the Science museum. I wasn’t aware of that.

So potentially it might not be possible to the IOWSR to take just a cab, if there is another suitable offer on the table that would save the complete unit.

Will certainly be interesting to see where they end up.

 

Well these guys evidently have a plan and have been working on it for some time
https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/london-transport-traction-group-project-483.1418186/
Shame that EoR can't put the 3rd & 4th rails back down, but it would bring a set back to it's spiritual home.

 

Are the planned/proposed/threatened (depending on view point) road races on your agenda?

https://www.autosport.com/tt/news/150891/isle-of-wight-road-race-announced-for-2021
(I'm not suggesting you lockwire up a Terrier and take it down, but it might be a tourism fillip to respond to)
Does a full-fat superbike spec ZXR-10 count as big chufferitis?

 

IOW seems more suited to a Velosolex than anything faster! Thankfully (a) the IOWSR has no level crossings over public roads and (b) the course as suggested is some way away. Hopefully, an air ambulance will be on standby.

 

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance is based at Thruxton near Andover.
That means a long flight or outstationed at Lee on Solent with the Coastguard for those days.

Cheers, Neil

 

I would expect there will be separate airmed for this. the TT has two dedicated helicopters for both the TT and the Manx.

I was more wondering if the possible tourist uptick was something that was on the railway's radar. You can't do road-racing in the wet, so if there's bad weather lots of disposable income will be looking for something to do, and there's a fair biker/rail enthusiast cross-over.

 

Bike event at Havenstreet to attract some of the bikers already on the island perhaps?

 

Doesn't even need to be a bike event, one of the funnier bits of a wet raceday on the Island is the number of bikers trudging round the Manx Museum out of sheer "need something to do"-ity

There's a long way between the current announcements and the event actually happening, but it would seem sensible to make sure that the railway is not going to be unable to get a share of that trade if it comes over (I know I will be over if it happens)