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Isle of Wight Steam Railway

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

  1. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    I'm sure if the IoWSR were allowed to operate the line, they could come up with ways to avoid future problems that might bring ...

    16261731014_7e76d4b4db_z.jpg

    Tom
     
  2. JMJR1000

    JMJR1000 Member

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    Now Paul I don't think it's really fair to pair up W.I.B.N. with naivety, or indeed blame it as the primary cause for why the heritage railway movement is facing rougher times of late. As others have said on here before there are various reasons, all rather complex and probably deserving of a new topic thread all on their own at some point. Simply put though, you can roll your eyes and act antagonistic to any notions you'd consider W.I.B.N. all you like, but nothing is gonna change the fact such mindsets have been what sparked the creation and subsequently continued to push forward many great schemes all across the country, and will undoubtedly long to do so. Whether you like it or not...

    I'm not entirely sure I can agree with your current line of thinking and method either, in assuming all these recent problems that the heritage railway movement has endured of late, are all essentially vindications that you were always right and everyone else is wrong and that's that. For like I said before there are varying problems the movement faces now, but their not all necessary down to certain factors that you yourself have always assumed were fundamental problems with heritage railways.

    And one last point, a curiosity I wish to enquire on. Considering your sceptic mindset to say the least about both extensions to railways and new builds, I do wonder how you'd take to the IOWSR extending to Ryde, as well as building a new Beyer Peacock 'Ryde' replica. Because I can see both happening at some point, as their seems to overall be quite a fair amount of enthusiasm behind both. But seeing as you've never been all that keen on either sort of projects anywhere else, yet the IOWSR clearly seems to be a soft spot for you, can you perhaps see yourself feeling rather conflicted somewhat?

    If the railway were to do these things, would in your mindset of matters as they stand now, would you not feel they are going against what you believe is the right way of doing things? Perhaps you might feel disappointed in them somewhat, or dare I say, betrayed... Touch dramatic perhaps, but just curious to know.

    I can tell from past messages you clearly see IOWSR as the perfect example of how you feel other heritage railways should be like, so would wonder how you'd feel if they did something that goes against all that.
     
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  3. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    No individual or organisation can ever be perfect!
    As for returning to Ryde, clearly if Island Line had not received its capital injection and been forced to close as a consequence, an extension of IOWSR to St. John's Road would have been more desirable. With an E1 to renovate, a new build "Ryde" is definitely W.I.B.N. at present.
     
  4. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

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    Talking of the E1, is there any progress on this? I noticed it was boiler less on my recent visit.

    Also are there any plans for Ajax? With the Ivatts and Austeritys as the core modern fleet, W2,W8, W11 and W24 as the island pedigree locos, and Invincible as part of the IOWSR history and early years. Is there any need for Ajax, other than as a train story exhibit?
     
  5. JMJR1000

    JMJR1000 Member

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    Now that we can certainly agree on, no one or thing is absolutely perfect. As for Ryde, I'd imagine it will happen at some point, seeing as both the IOWSR and the company running the rest of the island's railway network have been in talks for a while now on this subject. There is clear desire on both sides to see it happen, just the question of when and how they go about dealing with certain challenges as far as I can tell. In the case of running into the station for example, there is the question of how IOWSR trains can run in and out of the station as easily as possible, where surely a run-round loop would be desirable but I know there are potential issues to resolve in doing that.

    Yes I was thinking myself actually about the E1, in all this talk of potential future prospects and current goings on on the railway, little if anything has been said of it. Just seemed strange to me, all the excitement and celebration in the E1 going to the IOWSR with the intent to restore it to steam, yet that was years ago and I wouldn't be surprised if a good few folk may have even forgotten about the E1 and it's current location now.

    I know it's generally advised to only work on getting an engine running when the need for a replacement for another engine due to be withdrawn arises, but all the same I would have thought there'd be a certain eagerness and excitement to get on with it, certainly for an engine so appropriate as well as ideal for the railway. I'm sure I heard from somewhere too that the money to fund most if not all the work required was already in place too.
     
  6. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    I thought it had been noted earlier on the thread that the change of franchisee from SWT to SWR had lead to a distinct cooling of the desire on at least one side to see it happen. Which doesn’t mean never, but probably on the back burner all the time SWR hold the franchise for Island Line.



    There is clearly work under way on the E1 - when I saw it in August, all the motion was disassembled and laid out in Train Story. From what I can see, the really big deal will be the boiler, which is complex and expensive. That is something where a lot of planning could be occurring without any visible signs; meanwhile, it looks like disassembly and review / refurbishment of many of the mechanical parts is occurring to the largest extent possible while still preserving a moveable chassis. Ultimately, you don’t want to make a loco immobile if at all possible until you are absolutely ready to work on it at maximum capacity. So from afar, it looks to me that things are progressing in a logical and well-managed manner.

    0FDE8DE5-968C-48E7-B217-8A94F708A983.jpeg

    Tom
     
  7. JMJR1000

    JMJR1000 Member

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    Ah I see, apologies Tom, I had forgotten about that change of franchisee, a pity the new folk don't seem so keen on it. Though what I find rather odd, is why there's been little to no mention of the local council involved. Most councils usually seem quite keen to support their local heritage railway, seeing them as nothing but a great asset for the area.

    But the Isle of Wight's council seems rather mute a lot of the time about the railway and support for it... I'd be happy to learn I'm wrong on this front, just not sure at this moment either way, as as far as I can tell I've not really heard much of the local authority's involvement in aiding the railway in anyway thus far.

    Oh well that's good to hear Tom, thanks for the update and general info on this matter, just wasn't aware of all this going on as the IOWSR haven't mentioned the E1 in their news updates in a good while.
     
  8. gwalkeriow

    gwalkeriow Well-Known Member

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    The Isle of Wight council are supportive but at arms length, they have bigger problems to deal with that they seen determined to make even worse (traffic chaos in Newport and elsewhere, a floating bridge that is not fit for purpose etc)

    As far as the E1 is concerned much of the investigation involves determining which parts are LBSCR and which are Bagnall.
     
  9. nanstallon

    nanstallon Part of the furniture

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    ... but we must have dreams. Sometimes they come true.

    However, mine is to see the E1 back at work. When I was a kid, I had a TrixTwin train set with an E1.
     
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  10. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    The E1 was rebuilt with a Bagnall boiler, did the work go further than re boilering then? its certainly going to be interesting, As regards Ajax, if I remember correctly, at the time, it was the most powerful engine on the IOWSR, But that was before the arrival of the Austerities , then the Ivatts , Was the axle box problems ever sorted out on Ajax,? she was taken out of traffic with knocking boxes I believe, then of course, came the larger engines, so she was forgotten about .
     
  11. gwalkeriow

    gwalkeriow Well-Known Member

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    From the mid 1920s the E1 was overhauled by Bagnalls so I think that it’s a fair bet that it’s not just the boiler that they replaced.

    I thought that Ajax simply got to the end of its boiler ticket? It has bags of character and does its job, but speaking from a C&W point of view it’s to and throw action through the draw gear do not do wooden coaches any good at all.
     
  12. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

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    Ajax was a useful additional loco when it first entered traffic in (I think) 2003.

    However the IOWSR has since gained 2 additional austerities (including Juno), 2 Ivatts and the E1, So it’s hard to see Ajax ever becoming a priority for overhaul.

    The IOWSR strategic vision talks about selling non Island locos if they become surplus to requirements. Ajax would seem the most likely candidate for this if it ever happened. However it does now fulfill a useful role in train story allowing visitors onto a footplate.
     
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2019
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  13. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    What about Invincible? I can remember when that was the only steam engine in working condition, but obviously its now hardly a candidate for overhaul, except as a shunting, demo goods type , or just shuttles engine. but such is the feeling the railway has for her, its never going to be sold on, If the railway ever decides to enlarge the museum to have a rail connected road, to be able to take a small engine on static display then I can see Invincible being that loco, and possibly Ajax should the desire be to one day overhaul Invincible.
     
  14. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

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    Invincible is currently under overhaul, ready for the railways 50th anniversary in 2021.
     
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  15. JMJR1000

    JMJR1000 Member

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    Indeed the same for Calbourne, withdrawn from service not that long ago in fact, with intent for it to be good and ready for the big year in 2021.
    I believe the intent is to have Invincible and Calbourne wearing their first liveries upon operating on the railway in the early days, RAF Green and Malachite Green respectively.
     
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2019
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  16. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    I cant remember invincible in RAF green, I always remember her as being in sunshine green livery lined out with yellow and black .
     
  17. JMJR1000

    JMJR1000 Member

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    Well I'm only quoting from what the railway has stated before on the subject, stating they wished to paint Invincible in the livery it wore when it served at a RAF base.
     
  18. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

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    I remember this. Not authentic but looked really good, especially as it matched Calbourne , Freshwater and the coaches. It carried the number 37 as a continuation of the SR/BR numbering system for the island. They stopped short of putting ‘Southern’ lettering on it though!

    Just found this photo.

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/nickstransportpics/15175705194


    That was the late 1980s though, so was probably RAF green in the 1970s.
     
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2019
  19. NeilL

    NeilL Well-Known Member

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    Is this the Invincible that used to trundle back and forth between Farnborough goods yard and the RAE, that I remember well from the 60s?
     
  20. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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