Fantastic turnout for the anniversary event at the old Newport Railway Station yesterday. Ed
Over 200 Islanders, railway fans, Isle of Wight Steam Railway personnel and the Lord Lieutenant of the Island, remembered and re-enacted the final train to leave Newport Railway Station 40 years ago in January 1971, by taking part in ‘The Last Train Walk’ yesterday morning (Sunday 23rd January 2011) from the site of the former station to Wootton and Havenstreet on The Isle of Wight Steam Railway.
The event marked the date, virtually 40 years to the day, when the very last steam train left Newport hauling the fledgling IW Steam Railway’s rolling stock to Havenstreet Station, to begin a new chapter in Island railway history.
Wide variety of people taking part
Among those taking part yesterday were Islanders, railway fans and people of all ages, ranging from families with young children to a number of IW Steam Railway personnel who were there 40 years ago, plus several Islanders who still clearly remember travelling on trains from Newport before the end of steam and the closure of passenger services in 1966. Steam power was also represented, in the form of a 1923 Aveling & Porter steam roller owned by Andy Barrett from Wootton.
“It was quite something to see so many people taking part”, said walk leader and IW Steam Railway member Roger Macdonald. “We had hoped that maybe 50 or so Steam Railway personnel would join in, but this really seems to have grabbed people’s interest. It was great to see so many people who were there 40 years ago walking alongside a good number of younger people and families all interested in helping us mark this important anniversary”.
Dignatory unvieled plaque
In bright weather and with well over 200 people assembled outside the Hamilton & Marshall building, which stands just by the dual carriageway in Newport on the approximate location of the former Newport Railway Station building, IW Steam Railway Chairman Steve Oates, welcomed the Island’s Lord Lieutenant, Major General Martin White, to begin proceedings by unveiling a specially commissioned blue plaque fixed to the wall of Hamilton & Marshall’s building, and which commemorates the former station site.
To the sound of whistles from the steam roller, ‘The Last Train Walk’ headed off at around 10.45am following the course of the former track-bed wherever possible, heading through the short Snooks Hill tunnel, past Fairlee and Binfield, and on past the former Whippingham Station, before finally arriving at Wootton Station, now the western terminus of the IW Steam Railway.
There, walkers boarded a steam train to Havenstreet, headed by the Steam Railway’s first locomotive No. 24 ‘Calbourne’ which hauled the final trains out of Newport in 1971.
Original staff on board
On the footplate of No. 24 ‘Calbourne’ was IW Steam Railway Engineering Manager Bob Huxtable, who was one of the footplate crew on the locomotive 40 years ago which headed the very last train out of Newport.
Also on duty on the train was founder member of the Wight Locomotive Society (the forerunner of the IW Steam Railway) Iain Whitlam, who was on duty at Newport Station on the day of the last train, plus IW Steam Railway Operating Assistant Terry Hastings who assisted with planning the move to Havenstreet in 1971 and travelled on the very last train.
“This has been a very special start to our 40th Anniversary year”, said IW Steam Railway Chairman, Steve Oates. “There really was a terrific atmosphere and many happy faces as the events of the 24th January 1971 were recounted and retold along the way by those who were there! And we were particularly pleased that several of those who worked the last trains on that January day 40 years ago were able to be with us on the walk.”
The ‘Last Train Walk’ was the first of several special events marking the IW Steam Railway’s 40th Anniversary. Forthcoming events include two galas, further walks along routes of former Island railway lines, two film shows, a continuous 40-hour train service, and, on April 12th, ‘The First Train’ which will re-enact the first public train service of the fledgling IW Steam Railway in 1971.
