Historical Wagon Restoration Department Launch
The Isle of Wight Steam Railway is launching a new initiative to inject fresh enthusiasm and effort into the repair and restoration of the railway’s truly unique collection of historic wagons and departmental vehicles. Led by Carriage & Wagon Supervisor Gary Walker, a Historical Wagon Department is being formed to take on responsibility for the fleet of original Isle of Wight railway wagons, a collection that is the envy of many other heritage railways. The collection includes not only representatives of wagons built for the original Island railway companies but also examples from the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway, London & South Western Railway, South Eastern & Chatham Railway, Midland Railway, Southern Railway and British Railways.
The years have taken their toll on many of the mainly wooden-framed wagons and it is becoming increasingly important that every effort is made to preserve them for future generations, both as static exhibits and as part of the railway’s demonstration heritage goods train. In recent years some excellent progress has been made; the rebuilding of an L&SWR Road Van, 3 LB&SCR Single Bolsters and a number of other LB&SCR, SR and BR wagon types are amongst the Carriage & Wagon Department’s achievements. The wagon restoration team currently has the Heritage Lottery Fund sponsored rebuild of an LB&SCR 10-ton Open wagon well underway and has recently converted an SR Parcels and Miscellaneous Van (PMV) into a workshop to support an increasing level of restoration activities.
Historical Wagon Department Inaugural Meeting - 18th September 2010
The inaugural meeting of the Historical Wagon Department will take place at Havenstreet Station on Saturday, 18th September 2010 at 2pm, chaired by Gary Walker. The meeting is open to anyone with an interest in securing the future of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway’s historic wagon collection and is willing to give either moral or practical support to the initiative. Gary is looking to recruit practical help to reinforce the restoration effort, gather ideas as to how best to utilise and display the historic stock and also for assistance in raising funds to support the work – even wagons are not cheap to repair or overhaul!
Gary Walker and his team look forward to meeting you at Havenstreet Station on Saturday, 18th September 2010 at 2pm!