Isle of Wight Steam Railway Loco updates

The latest website update is available at

http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk/news/locomotive-engineering-news-february-2014-74.aspx

 

Very interesting! May have to make a trip over this year to see the Ivatt and Newport... On a slight tangent, I have a question about the banner picture at the bottom of the page. Do your four wheelers really have corridor connections like shown, or is that artistic licence?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

There is an element of artistic licence going on there; Push-Pull set 484 does have a corridor connection between the two coaches, that is the right hand pair of coaches in the image. The coach next to the engine in the picture is a repeat image of LCDR Saloon Composite 6369 with an extra corridor connection added.

 

Aha, I didn't realise that was a push-pull set, makes sense now!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

The latest Locomotive Operations update is now available on the IWSR website, link below.

Under the Locomotive News heading of our website there are now news items for both operations and engineering; Locomotive Operating became a department in its own right a couple of years ago, recognising the distinctions between the operation of the railway’s locomotives and the engineering functions needed to restore, overhaul and maintain them in a serviceable condition, ready to meet the demands of our often intensive traffic requirements.

http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk/news/locomotive-operating-news-february-2014-86.aspx

 

"Very interesting! May have to make a trip over this year to see the Ivatt and Newport..."

I'm booked on the UKR tour there on April 12th, but tonight I've noticed this on the Island Line timetable:-
http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/island-line-timetable.aspx
Suspension of Island Line train services


Due to the further movement of a landslip at Sandown, Island Line services are suspended until further notice. A replacement coach service will operate between Shanklin and Ryde Esplanade in both directions. A shuttle taxi service replaces trains between Ryde Esplanade and Ryde Pier Head as trains are not able to run along the pier due to storm damage.

 

Island line are having a very difficult time, washouts, landslides, the pier damaged, Ryde tunnel flooded, St John's depot flooded. Down to just two working units due to the flooding. They are having to overcome crisis after crisis.

 

Terrier W11 Newport was in steam yesterday for testing, first time since 2002 and now with a brand new boiler. The IWSR operational fleet are being steam tested this week, six locos at the moment (11, 8, 24, 38, WD192 & WD198) with the possibility of Ivatt 41298 later on in the year. Photos on the IWSR website:

http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk/news/no11-newport-in-steam-97.aspx

http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk/news/steam-fleet-ready-for-annual-tests-98.aspx

Our new website has been active for a few months now, all of the latest news is in the 'Blog & Stuff' heading of the news index:

http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk/blog-and-stuff.aspx

 

Good news.

Wake up other standard gauge tourist railways!

PH

 

Is there any chance of an Autumn Gala in 2014, similar to the one planned for last year?

I'm aware of the gala at Spring Bank, but I'm sure an autumn one would be well attended too..

 

A gala with all the home fleet, when the Ivatt is restored working passenger trains inc. Ajax and the WD pair will get me on the 700 mile round trip. Much more interesting than a visiting loco from the mainland.

 

We are a bit limited in bringing guests over from the Mainland; they have to be Westinghouse fitted if they are to work passenger trains, otherwise it's freight only - such as when the Well Tank came over a few years ago. Not to mention transport costs and possible clearance problems for anything much bigger/wider than we have already. Yes, we can put up a really good show with the home fleet. This year we should have the O2 and two Terriers on the road which, with our unique carriage fleet, make almost every day a gala!

 

We'll be charging an 'Industrial Locomotive' supplement this year!

 

Well I can think of a beautiful, pre-grouping, Westinghouse-fitted engine which has never visited the IoWSR and is currently in working order...but I accept that the transport costs of bringing Caledonian No. 828 down from Aviemore would be a bit steep!

 

I'd be more than happy with the resident fleet, I can't make the Spring Bank gala due to an earlier commitment....

Does the railway rotate engines regularly in the peak season, and make the roster available on the website ?

 

Locomotives do rotate during the season to accommodate boiler washouts, mechanical exams, running repairs etc. For certain events the Island locomotives are specified by the commercial side, the Austerities tend to be the workhorses of the railway. The idea is to minimise wear and tear on the historic fleet where possible.

There is a page on the website for locomotive availability (link below), although at the moment no information has been published as the season has not yet started - first train is on 16th March. If you intend to visit and want loco information ring 01983 882204, option 3.

http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk/locomotives-in-steam-this-month.aspx

 

Annual boiler tests took place at Havenstreet yesterday - 8, 11, 24, 192 & 198. 'Ajax' has also been test steamed although her boiler inspection is out of sync with the rest of the fleet. So that's six steam locomotives ready for the 2014 season.

W11 'Newport' has been undergoing running in following overhaul and reboilering. See our website for details:

http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk/news/full-steam-ahead-100.aspx

 

6 engines in traffic,with the ivat to make 7, when was the last time there was 7 working steam engines on the IOW , i would guess the summer of 1965 ? how many 02,s were steamed for the final winter season, 4?

 

Thanks for the information !

 

heres a pic of NEWPORT W11 yesterday in steam
cheers,
julian