Isle of Wight Steam Railway

Heritage Railway reports that negotiations are/have taken place for a temporary, unsignalled connection at Smallbrook Jct in connection with the Island Line upgrade - alas the latest Island Rail News apparently says a request for D2059 was dropped following a change in their works schedule?

 

Quick, O2 photo charter at the pier!!

 

Bring your own oxy-acetylene kit and welding certificate, but be prepared to swim .....

 

Replacement service if there are problems with the new trains

*For the more po-faced vexed Vectensians, Winky person indicates that this is not a serious comment before you suffer another bout of apoplexy*

 

Of course it's a serious comment. You're just hiding behind the smiley.

 

I'd be happy to see an 02 at St Johns again.............

 

It's a complex bluff or maybe a double bluff to smuggle serious ideas in the guise of not serious ideas and not serious ideas in as serious ideas.

The Ivatts would represent a new and modern face to the IoW. Might be a bit edgy for the residents of Sandown.

Alternatively, maybe the 503 unit could be fixed up and come over now they've done the regauging.

usual winky person disclaimers apply.

 

A large bequest was made to buy and restore the E1, but it was left up to the railway how to accomplish this, for example by contracting it out to the Flower Mill or similar. The plan was to invest in an improved loco facility and do it 'in house', but I believe this exact course of action is looking less likely. Whilst a new works would be lovely I believe staff numbers are the limiting factor rather than the size of the workshop itself, and that is a function of what the railway can sustain. I think a mix of contracting out the larger parts such as a new boiler, alongside some in-house work and assembly is more likely now.

I'm amazed it has been there for ten years, time is really flying

I'll add a caveat this is just my personal take on things, not official policy.

 

The last time that I went to the IoW St Johns yard was full of 02s. Mind you I travelled over on PS Ryde so it was some time ago.

 

Don't forget the 503 is of a similar age (1938...) to what has just been withdrawn.

 

Having an engineering connection with island line would make sence even if its only able to be used during possessions etc, it would certainly make delivering 007 to Havenstreet easier, possibly along with the other two units , especially if its found to be more practical to load them up at Havenstreet instead of Sandown, Longer term things like tampers and liners, could be hired and used on both lines if the hire co incides with work needing to be done on both railways, Ballasting, certainly would be easier with the hoppers than using small road rail vehicles

 

You are aware that sounds dangerously like common sense?

 

Sorry Howard that you should be joining the WIBNite ranks

 

I can reassure you that my view is solely based on six decades of experience!

Edit: mind you, such a connection might just open up the possibility of the return of (a somewhat truncated and rerouted) 'The Tourist', as a fundraiser, à la Snowdonian, on some quiet Sunday, once a year. Now that's WIBN-itis!

 

( Sounds of sirens in the background, getting louder) this is the WIBN police, step away from your key board, do not press enter,

 

Quite so

 

The Railway's board has recently adopted a new Carriage and Wagon Policy document which is now available on the website here:

https://iwsteamrailway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Carriage-Policy-Jan-2021.pdf

Happy reading!

 

I fear the first paragraph of the third page might have triggered a bout or two of apoplexy.

Good reading and the IOWSR is blessed to have such a fine collection of carriages and the possibility of expanding the fleet.

And I think the addition of an RMB and MK1s is an excellent idea

 

I think as it isn’t really a proper mainline that there won’t be so many rules in letting them run old coaches on the mainline. But they have to be careful nothing hangs down and goes on the electric rails and wooden carriages would be better for falling to bits or catching fire so maybe they will have to run them slower. Once people have seen it working they might be more helpful to extending one of the ends.