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Isle of Wight Steam Railway

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Freshwater, Nov 12, 2013.

  1. Paulthehitch

    Paulthehitch Well-Known Member

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    Martin, not everyone is a gricer and an out of focus background, not identified in any way, is unlikely to mean a thing to them,
     
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  2. cav1975

    cav1975 Member

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    @Gladiator-5076 thank you for bringing this to our attention. The BBC has now cropped the image so that steam locomotives are not visible. I would like to stress that the gentleman concerned has no links with the Isle of Wight Steam Railway and it is unfortunate that the BBC chose to use a photograph that was taken on our premises.

    Nick Felton - Trustee Isle of Wight Steam Railway
     
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  3. cav1975

    cav1975 Member

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    Thank you for your support which was useful.

    Nick Felton
     
  4. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Strange then, that your railway contacted the BBC, Insisting that the railway image be removed ,and that the gentleman in question has no connection with the IOWSR.
     
  5. Paulthehitch

    Paulthehitch Well-Known Member

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    @cav1975 is a senior figure whereas I am not. Unlike some places which could be specified, it is not a hanging offence to have differing opinions but it is time to let go of this particular issue.
     
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  6. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    I agree, clearly the BBC made a mistake, lets leave it at that. So whilst we are on the subject of the IOWSR, Does anyone have the numbers yet for the season so far, hopefully the railway covered its costs and made a small profit, which is the best anyone can hope for in what has been a very stressful operating season, having sampled the covid service i was impressed, mostly by the way the risk element had been controlled as much as possible, at a time when it was thought no railway could operate .
     
  7. cav1975

    cav1975 Member

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    Thanks for visiting Martin. A lot of thought and effort has gone into making the IWSR Covid secure and welcoming and its good to see that the efforts have been noticed.
    Numbers have been excellent since the railway reopened in mid-July, indeed on some days we've had to turn people away but bear in mind that train capacity has been reduced due to the need for social distancing.
    As you will appreciate the railway has incurred a full year's costs but less than half a year's revenue so the overall results this year are expected to be a significant loss. Having said that the days that we have been able to operate have all more than covered their direct costs so have been worthwhile financially.
     
  8. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    The public still know you are there!
     
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  9. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    And that is just important, to keep the public, who are your customers informed, that you are open, and that its as safe as it can be made to visit, We live in strange times at the moment, and public perception is very important.
     
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  10. kwrail

    kwrail New Member

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    General question for the IWSR team.

    With the arrival of the first class 484 unit on the island yesterday - which are a massive improvement on the 1938 stock - there will inevitably be discussion around extending the Island Line. Both back to Ventnor and to Newport. Especially given that Vivarail are developing a battery version of the unit, as well as a DEMU version. Which would get round the electrification issue.

    What are the thoughts of the team on extending the line back to Newport and sharing their line with class 484 units? How feasible is it?
     
  11. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    I'm not in any way connected with the IOWSR, but here's what i think, I can't see it happening, Such are the magnitude of works required to extend Any line, it will cost more money than it could ever pay back, for instance, Ventnor, Whilst its possible, there are issues, firstly new earthworks and a bridge at Shanklin, the formation has been removed and an access road created to a holiday complex, at Wroxall, the station site has been redeveloped, but i dare say that there might be enough room for a single line and platform, but there are houses i believe on the formation, just by where the bridge was, then there is Ventnor tunnel, agaain there is a water main, going through it, that would need re laying elsewhere, then again the station site is an industrial estate, but again, there might be enough room for a platform, but not much more.

    Newport, is very much the same, Wotton needs major works, the cutting needs digging out, bridge will certainly need work, possible replacing, if the road has been made wider when the bridge was infilled, the track bed is intact, but pipes have been laid in it, these will need to be moved, then, what about Newport, the old formation is breached and even a station near the quay is still some way from the heart of the town. it will need a massive amount of money, that neither the council, government ,or IOWSR HAS.
     
  12. Paulthehitch

    Paulthehitch Well-Known Member

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    Complete wishful thought I fear. Take a look at an Ordnance Survey map which will show how the railway avoids serving centres of population between Ryde St. Johns and Newport. The inhabitants of Binstead, Fishbourne, Upper Ryde or Wootton Bridge would have to be nuts to use the train in preference to the bus. (Six services an hour Ryde to Newport plus one from Ryde to East Cowes.) The buses can travel up to 40m.p.h whereas, in common with virtually every tourist railway, the IOWSR is limited to 25 m.p.h.

    @martin1656 has said just about everything else I would have wished to.
     
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  13. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    A build on the above comments, all of which I agree with. If I were going to extend Island Line to Newport and/or Ventnor, I wouldn't do it with heavy rail but take advantage of the ability of light rail to go to places that a train can't get to without heavy engineering. Whatever the merits or demerits of such a choice - which I am not commenting on - that option has effectively been killed for a decade or 3 by the decision to invest in Island Line "as is".
     
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  14. daveannjon

    daveannjon Well-Known Member

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    Just re-read the July 1956 Trains Illustrated which had an interesting snippet saying a company named I.W.Travel Ltd had been formed with the intention of taking over the whole island system. They thought the government wasn't opposed to the idea, although the British Transport Commission had not been approached.

    Dave
     
  15. kwrail

    kwrail New Member

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    Fair enough. So nice idea but not practical. At least the Island Line looks a bit more secure now

    So what about the idea of being able to run steam trains from Ryde onto the IWSR? My guess is that is more feasible. Thoughts?
     
  16. City of truro fan

    City of truro fan Member

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    They are putting a connecting in at small house junction to push work trains over and everyone wants a steam engine to run through there and go on the main line which they will do if it’s there.
     
  17. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    IF, and at the moment nothing is settled there is a connection put in at smallbrook,its going to be unsignaled, so only can be used under possession, that means that any movements to, or from the IOWSR, Onto Island line can only be undertaken with the up line ( ryde bound) being closed to any other traffic for the duration of any move, possibly also the down, if clearances are thought to be a problem, So regular steam movements no, but one offs, or engineering works, then yes, but with strict control of any conflicting movements for instance, if calbourne was to be invited to be on display in Ryde Yard, she could move under her own power, as long as she meets what ever criteria is said she needs, i don't think Island line would demand she is fitted with TPWS , In cab radio etc, but who knows, if there was to be regular steam working, then the connection would have to be signaled from the St Johns panel of course, thats being renewed, so they could decide to have the necessary parts already built in to signal up the junction at a later date.
     
  18. Paulthehitch

    Paulthehitch Well-Known Member

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    I.M.H.O. it's pure W.I.B.N. and nothing more
     
  19. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Certainly through running would be nice. It might or might not be worth doing, depending what practical difficulties through movements would present and what benefits they would offer. An unsignalled connection for occasional stock transfers, with no intention of through running, would have minimal cost and some benefits, so does seem worth doing. Anyway the present time, when the Island Line is being massively upgraded, is the obvious time to put in the connection, if ever.
     
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  20. D1039

    D1039 Guest

    Vivarail have developed diesel-electric (Marston Vale) and battery diesel (TfW) versions, but have stated they'll be developing further designs based on battery platforms rather than diesel.

    As for extensions, I've got a fairly safe bet on that no new proposals will proceed to spades in the ground in England in this Parliament. Meanwhile, not far from me the long heralded reopening of Portishead in 2012 has slipped another year, to 2024.

    Patrick
     

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