Record 2011 for the Isle of Wight Steam Railway

Dispite the economic woes the Isle of Wight Steam Railway has enjoyed record passenger figures for the second year in a row. 2010 saw passenger numbers of just over 110,000 but this has been surpassed in 2011 with just over 115,500 passengers carried.
A number railways have had excellent passenger figures in 2011, with the the South Devon and KESR also posting record passenger numbers. Is this all due to people staying in the UK for their holidays?

 

That is indeed an impressive achievement, but I think you might want to change the title...

Regards,

Dan

 

I know, it was too late by the time I spotted my error, as you know you can not change the title so its there for all to see!

 

Why not? Quite a few heritage railways have now collected disused bridge spans that they are unlikely to ever use! Round those up and put them all together......

 

Will the IoWSR railway ever push westwards towards Newport? I walked it a while back and as far as I could tell the trackbed is clear even after it crosses the main Newport to Ryde road. Closing the Cowes to Newport to Ryde line was stupid (to say nothing of Shanklin to Ventnor) but not protecting the trackbeds for future reopening - now that is the real crime.

 

Totally confused me at first but, having read the other new posts, I now understand! Simply posted in the wrong thread, Roger!

 

Extending the line back to Newport is definitely something the IOWSR would like to do one day. As always though it's a matter of cost, and the railway has other priorities at the moment such as building a carriage shed.

So hopefully it will happen one day, but unless a generous benefactor comes forward it will be many years before the railway can think about funding an extension.

 

The IOM 2011 record figures must be partly due to the fabulous publicity afforded by the MOSI IOM display then.
well done all round.

The melter

 

i can see what your getting at, but wrong island....

 

Same mistake made when we moved to the IoW..... NatWest said they don't do mortgages for 'our' area, we needed the Ulster Bank. After a quick geography lesson, it was all smiles....!

Ian