Many thanks to Steve Oates from the IW Steam Railway for this report from the AGM and Members’ Day. Ed
An enjoyable and informative day at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway’s Members’ Day last Saturday combined the formal business of the Isle of Wight Railway Company Annual General Meeting with some unique travelling experiences for Railway members.
Members from home and away
Members converged on the Railway from both the Island and from the Mainland, and a special train was laid on for members arriving via Smallbrook Junction.
This involved the first run for the refurbished 03 Diesel locomotive D2059, which hauled three goods brake vans as a ‘passenger’ train for members on their way to the Steam Railway’s headquarters at Havenstreet.
The Diesel loco and the three goods brake vans, which have all received significant refurbishment work over the past year, carried members from Smallbrook Junction to Havenstreet Station. The vehicles involved were No. 56046 LSWR Road Van, No. DB993853 BR Ballast plough brake van, and No. 55724 ST 15T ‘Pillbox’ brake van.
2009 a great success
In a packed AGM, Railway Chairman Steve Oates updated members on a successful 2009 and highlighted the impressive start to the 2010 season with visitor numbers to date up by over 20% year-on-year.
Members were then updated with presentations on future plans for the Railway, while an auction and other fund-raising opportunities after the meeting raised £600 towards the Railway’s current appeal for funds for a new Rolling Stock Storage and Display Building.
Behind the scenes tour
Following the formalities of the AGM, and with the Railway closed to the general public for the day, members were invited to tour behind the scenes at Havenstreet Station, see the latest work in the Railway’s Mechanical workshop, including progress with the Railway’s ‘flagship’ loco No. 24 ‘Calbourne’, view the current Heritage Lottery Funded work on historic rolling stock in the Carriage & Wagon workshop, and to inspect the site of the Railway’s proposed new Rolling Stock Storage and Display Building.
‘Unique’ Train Run on Island for First Time in 70 Years
The highlight of the day was the special train laid on for members during the afternoon.
Hauled by the Railway’s oldest locomotive, the 1876 ‘Terrier’ locomotive No. W8 ‘Freshwater’, the train comprised a complete set of four former London Chatham & Dover Railway (LCDR) four-wheeled carriages, each dating from the Victorian era!
The carriages were originally used on the Island’s once extensive network of 55 miles of railway lines during the early part of the last century.
When they were taken out of service the carriage bodies were sold off for use variously as garden chalets, farm buildings and beach huts, before being rescued in more recent years for restoration by the IW Steam Railway.
IW Steam Railway Operating Manager Alan Doe said this was the first time the Railway has run a complete train of LCDR carriages, and he believed this was in fact the first time such a train has run on the Island since before World War 2.
The carriages making-up the train were pull-push set 484, (Brake Third 4112 + Composite 6369), Composite 6378 (the most recent 4-wheel restoration) and Third 2515, the IWSR’s disabled facility carriage.
