David Shepherd will join Pete Waterman at Dedication Ceremony of Isle
of Wight Steam Railway’s Flagship Locomotive No.24 ‘Calbourne’ tomorrow.
The renowned wildlife artist David Shepherd CBE will be joining visitors and guests tomorrow at the first day of The Isle of Wight Steam Railway’s special ‘Calbourne Weekend’, which is being held to mark the return of the Railway’s newly repaired flagship locomotive, 1891-built LSWR O2 Class locomotive No. W24 ‘Calbourne’.
He will speak alongside railway fan and music producer Pete Waterman OBE at a special dedication ceremony for the locomotive at 12.45pm tomorrow (Friday 8th October).
Acclaimed wildlife artist
David Shepherd is best known for his critically acclaimed work as a wildlife artist and as an outspoken World campaigner on conservation issues.
David is also a keen railway enthusiast and was instrumental in the foundation of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, when in 1966, as a young budding artist, he generously made a substantial donation which enabled the fledgling Wight Locomotive Society to buy the Railway’s now-unique flagship locomotive No.24 ‘Calbourne’ and save it for preservation.
“David Shepherd is a key figure in the history of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway”, said IWSR Chairman Steve Oates. “The Railway probably owes its existence to David as, with one minor exception, all of the other attempts to secure Island engines and rolling stock from BR in the mid-1960s sank without trace. It is very fitting that he will be joining us tomorrow to speak at the dedication ceremony for the locomotive he helped to save”.
Patrons of the Steam Railway
David has remained a patron the Railway ever since and also owns a number of steam locomotives, both in the UK and in Africa. He is the founder of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation.
He received an OBE in 1979 “for services to the conservation of wildlife”, and he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours for services to charity and wildlife conservation.
David will speak alongside the hugely successful music producer and pop impressario, Pete Waterman, who is now also widely recognised as being a major figure in the world of steam locomotives and is a strong supporter of heritage railways across the UK. Pete owns LNWR Heritage Ltd – the major steam locomotive repair and restoration business based in Crewe where the boiler to IW Steam Railway locomotive No. 24 ‘Calbourne’ was repaired. Pete will take part in the formal dedication ceremony and take a trip on ‘Calbourne’.
Details of the Calbourne Weekend
Throughout the celebration weekend there will be a two-train service featuring two former Island locomotives in steam together for the first time in eight years – Both locomotives date from the time when Queen Victoria was still on the throne! For the photographers, a diesel-hauled goods set will be in operation, and there will also be a chance to meet Calbourne’s former footplatemen who crewed the loco back in BR days.
The star of the show, No. 24 ‘Calbourne’, resplendent in early British Railways lined black livery, will head a train of former London Brighton & South Coast Railway (LBSCR) and South-Eastern & Chatham Railway (SECR) bogie coaches, recreating a typical Island railway scene from half a century ago. Meanwhile, the Steam Railway’s oldest locomotive, the 1876-built ‘Terrier’ class engine No.8 ‘Freshwater’ will head a train of Victorian four-wheeled coaches recreating a typical Southern Railway scene from the inter-war years.
The two-train service will enable visitors to ride behind two different trains both of which will comprise only former Island railway rolling stock. Each day at 4.35pm there will also be a special working of the IW Steam Railway’s unique ‘push-pull’ set with Locomotive No.8 ‘Freshwater’.
The Railway has invited Calbourne’s footplate crews from BR days, Ken West, Tony Tiltman, Ray Maxfield and John Farrngton, plus former guard Wally Thrower, as guests during the weekend.
It is expected that Ken West will be on the footplate from time to time, and we hope he will be joined by the others at various times over the weekend.
In addition, there will be a chance each day to meet and chat with Ken and some of the other former BR crew over a cup of tea or pint of ale, and hear their memories of Island steam in BR days!
Tickets are available, with a choice of First and Third Class travel.
