'Calbourne' Back In Service
The Isle of Wight Steam Railway’s flagship locomotive, 1891-built LSWR O2 Class No. W24 ‘Calbourne’, returned to passenger service today, Tuesday 3rd August 2010.
‘Calbourne’ has been out of service since 2002 and, following a Heritage Lottery Fund supported boiler overhaul, successfully hauled a test train to Smallbrook Junction on the evening of Monday, 2nd August 2010 and her first public train the following morning.
‘Calbourne’s boiler was repaired at the LNWR Works, Crewe, whilst the railway’s Mechanical Engineering Team undertook the rest of the overhaul in the Havenstreet Mechanical Engineering Works. She now looks absolutely immaculate in British Railways lined black livery, a style she has not carried for 46 years.
If all goes well with further ‘running-in’ turns it is hoped that ‘Calbourne’ will be available to work trains alongside another Island railways veteran, 1876-built A1x ‘Terrier’ class No.W8 ‘Freshwater’, during the Isle of Wight Steam Railway’s annual August Bank Holiday Island Steam Show. Show train service and locomotive roster details will be published on this website as soon as they can be confirmed. Full details of the Island Steam Show are on our Special Events pages.