Isle of Wight Steam Railway

03179 arrived on the island yesterday.

 

Spotted this Ashley station update earlier whilst perusing:

 

I am thinking about a visit in September

You used to be able to get a ticket that covered the Ferry, Island line & the IoWSR

Does it still exist as an internet search doesnt bring anything up - there is one via the Hovercraft but not the Portsmouth Harbour ferry

 

The Portsmouth Harbour fast cat now has e ticket only barriers. I think all the combo tickets have been removed (except through rail tickets).
I think they have plans to reintroduce them in the future.

 

From Facebook:
Service Update
We are acutely aware that the Fire Service is currently committed to a significant fire in the West Wight requiring all their resources within the Island and significant mainland resources deployed to the Island with more required.
We have therefore taken the decision to stop steam operation to ensure any risk of lineside fires that could require fire service attendance is removed.
When both trains arrive back at Havenstreet Station we will reduce to a one train service using diesel traction on a limited and potentially disrupted timetable.
Please accept our apologies for any resulting disruption.

 

Good call

 

Isle of Wight Steam Railway have announced that 41313 will be running it's last trains on the Island on Thursday 27th August with a send off event taking place, before it goes on a final tour of other heritage railways for the rest of the year and then moving to Cranmore for it's overhaul to take place.

 

A little bit more information. <BJ>

41313 The Send Off
Our Ivatt locomotive 41313 will be leaving the Isle of Wight for a final tour of leading heritage railway galas, culminating with a full overhaul at Cranmore on the East Somerset Railway.
41313’s final day in service at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway will be Thursday 27th August 2026
Join us at Havenstreet for an action-packed last day
· 41313 operating timetabled departures from Havenstreet at 1045, 1130, 1210, 1255, 1330, 1441 and 1518
· Open Access to our workshops to view sister 41298 under overhaul between 1400 and 1500
· Meet 41313 up close on the platform 1400 to 1430
· 41313 departs Havenstreet platform at 1545 to shed – with a final farewell ceremony
· Three unique footplate experiences available @ £250 each – email us on havenstreet@iwsteamrailway.co.uk – first come, first served
Normal prices apply - Members and Volunteers travel for free (no vouchers needed) – please have your cards with you.
We’ll be releasing further details of 41313 On Tour shortly

 

Let's hope there's some rain then!

 

Yes a good call but decision should have been taken earlier. The IOWSR had become an outlier long after most other railways in the dry south, like the Bluebell, had stopped running steam. Surely a bad piece of PR and likely to annoy neighbours.

Not a good look, especially when there had been minor lineside fires and the fire brigade had, reportedly, already asked the railway to stop using steam.

 

Where is 41313 going 'on tour?'

And does it still have vac brakes?

 

Not sure they were an outlier MHR, Swanage, WSR were all running steam at the time as well as the IOWSR.

 

Severn Valley, Mid Hants and Bluebell, where it'll be spending the winter.

I'd assume it was duel braked, as it's visited quite a few railways, especially the last two years.

 

As of last year, yes, 41313 had vac brakes.

 

If anyone knows, I'm curious about the logistics of that. On the mainland, one would just load the engine on a trailer (with attached prime mover), and down the road one goes (having checked height clearances, etc). Can it go on a ferry on a trailer, or does it have to go as deck cargo on a ship, or what?

Noel

 

Here’s one we prepared earlier …



Source: https://www.wightlink.co.uk/blog/the-weird-and-wonderful-world-of-ferry-freight

Tom

 

At least they did not have to deflate the tyres on the trailer to get it to fit.

 

We went last month Southampton to East Cowes but took the car over - got a combined ticket that gave discount on both the ferry and the railway - that was good

 

In the old days railway stuff was loaded onto the floating crane at Southampton that was then towed across the Solent to Medina Wharf.

I am not sure what if anything (Oil? Brandy for the Parson, Baccy for the Clerk?) is taken to The Island by anything other than the Ferry these days

 

According to a screenshot I've seen on facebook, the IOWSR has offered the East Somerset Railway the option to purchase Ivatt 2-6-0 tender loco 46447. An appeal has been launched to ESR volunteers and members with the intention of raising I think in the region of £275k