Isle of Wight Steam Railway

The Science museum has set out quite strict conditions on long term plans, suitable homes and finances before deciding who to give the units to.

So it remains to be seen whether the Essex group can meet these conditions. Hopefully they can.

I’m sure the IOWSR are virtually guaranteed one of the units if they want one. The question is do they want one and have the space?

I wonder what other interest there has been?

 

the main issue really is space, but with many grounded bodies now off site, i suppose that might free up some space, the laying of another siding and bay platform at Wooton, Should also free up space as wagons etc that are destined to go in the bay will free up space in train story for a unit to be displayed

 

This sounds a bit like "I see you have moved out some "stuff". "Whoopee, room for more stuff"

 

No, not at all, Paul, I'm just saying that if the IOWSR ,Is offered a unit, obviously space is at a premium , and I'm just saying that future projects such as the improvements to Wotton might free up further space, but then I guess that different people will have different ideas what to fill that space with, after all, there is not enough undercover space to put every item the railway has under cover all the time , and as further vehicles are restored, so more covered accommodation will be needed.

 

Dogs Pay their fare too though, so are perfectly entitled to Travel.

My Dog loved to travel on Isle Of Man Railways, Douglas to Port Erin Line. He paid his Fare, and enjoyed his trip on the Train, looking out the window and taking in the sights and smells.

 

In my defence though, the very first thing I would ask anyone who may be sharing my compartment is do you mind my dog, if they do, the I will ask the guard if I can move, or if it's easier for them to move them to another compartment, if that's not possible, and they object, to my presence, then obviously I won't be able to travel, I would expect my fare to be refunded, and of course, I would not be at all happy , in fact I would be very very angry, and say so especially as my dog is well behaved and very sociable, more so than some of the unruly brats you see, climbing on seats, jumping up and down, having no respect to other people who may be in that compartment, this was of course in pre covid times, little Johnny wanted to pull the alarm cord, I stopped him explaining its for emergency only, Mum was head in phone, sister was also head in phone, dad was looking out other window, oblivious to what his son was doing, and when she finally looked up she gave me such a dirty look, for daring to chastise her precious son, so with families like that, my dog wins every time.

 

A well behaved dog or a couple of screaming kids, I know who I'd be happy to share a Compo with.

 

Please don't be put off, dogs are made welcome on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.

 

Exactly, you and your dog have paid your fare, and the IOWSR welcomes dogs. If any miserable passengers don’t like that, it’s their problem not yours. Don’t let them ruin your day out.

If I shared my compartment with you and your dog, I’d be fussing him, not asking you to leave the compartment.

 

L'enfer, c'est les autres

Always a risk if you are locked in a compartment. But I would have thought with social distancing there would not be mixing in compartments? Or is the IoW doing it differently to other lines?

 

From my own post (quoting from the railway's website) only on Friday

DO I NEED TO WEAR A FACE COVERING?

• In most cases, no. The vast majority of visitors will have their own compartment, used only by members of the same household.
• If you are travelling alone we may need you to share a compartment with another solo traveller. If this happens we will ask you to wear a face covering.

 

Her, not him, and she's a black GSD , gets mistaken for a police dog, I could always get her to sit, and just stare at a problem child, as if to say, behave or your my dinner she wouldn't harm anyone, unless your a squirrel , then run , run for your life

 

i've already paid ,so hell or high water, I'm coming across, I can understand people with allergies, my step nephew , is allergic, but he adores her, even though he's harming himself, we don't see each other that often, and he and I get on very well

 

A well behaved dog is not a problem; it's the those who think that everyone else loves their animal and lets it wander free and pester others. Unfortunately, in my experience, that seems to be most dog owners.

 

certainly not this one , that also upsets those of us who take the time to look after our pets properly, it gets all dog owners a bad press, its the same with people not clearing up behind their dog, I'm a responsible dog owner, and it gets all of us a bad reputation,

 

Please note, the Island is one of the last strongholds of the Native Red Squirrel!

 

That can easily be put another way - my wife is scared of dogs. So if we had paid our fare, we'd be very angry if we had to share a compartment with a dog, which would very much ruin our day out. While I'm sure that @martin1656 's dog is well behaved, and he'd keep it on a lead and under control, there are sadly many dog owners who don't.

 

Having two small children who get somewhat traumatised by dogs, I wouldn’t wish to share a compartment with a dog and would ask to change compartment if someone with a dog got in.

Tom

 

The heads of young children can be at the same height as a dog and quite frightened. I was attacked by an Alsatian (on a lead) when I was six; fortunately not badly. Since then I’ve been bitten three more times by loose running dogs, the latest this year. The one thing in common was that their owners all said their dog would never do such a thing. On holiday last week our beach picnic was largely ruined by a free running dog scattering sand over food and knocking over a bottle of wine. The owners response to my complaint was that he’s just having fun running on the beach.
You may gather I don’t like dogs but it is with good reason.

 

I think when sharing a confined space with anyone it is sensible to be thoughtful to other people. No one wants to share a confined space with an out of control dog, child or rail enthusiast. (Yes, please I really enjoy listening to your conversation at full volume).

At the same time, not every dog, child or rail enthusiast is going to be a nightmare and not every owner, parent is negligent. While not quite a fair comparison but for example I can't think of anyone who has got on a plane with a small child and thought 'won't this be fun.

I do recall a letter in a railway magazine in the 1980s suggesting children free coaches.

I can see all sides as I like dogs but have also been bitten in the past (rabies shots are not fun), I know people who have support dogs, people who fear dogs, people with kids, people without kids, socially awkward friends and those who are pathologically intolerant of others.

To get back to topic, at least IoW is a relatively short journey and it isn't like 2 hours or a 13 hour flight to the west coast of the US.