The Isle of Wight Steam Railway has announced a special ‘Calbourne Weekend’ to mark the return of their newly repaired flagship locomotive, 1891-built London & South Western Railway O2 Class No. W24 ‘Calbourne’, which re-entered service on 3^rd August 2010.

 

‘Calbourne Weekend’ will take place on Friday 8^th, Saturday 9^th and Sunday 10^th October 2010. A two-train service will be in operation, featuring two veteran Isle of Wight locomotives in steam together for the first time in eight years; W24 ‘Calbourne’ and 1876-built London, Brighton & South Coast Railway A1x ‘Terrier’ Class No.W8 ‘Freshwater’. Both locomotives date from the time when Queen Victoria was still on the throne!

 

The star of the show, ‘Calbourne’ is now resplendent in early British Railways lined black livery and will be heading a train of former London Brighton & South Coast Railway and South-Eastern & Chatham Railway bogie coaches, recreating a typical Island railway scene from half a century ago. Meanwhile ‘Freshwater’, the Isle of Wight Steam Railway’s oldest locomotive, will be in charge of a train of Victorian four-wheeled coaches which will recreate a typical Southern Railway scene from the inter-war years. The four-wheeler set includes the unique Ventnor West Branch Push-Pull set, consisting of two fully restored London, Chatham & Dover Railway coaches. The two-train service will enable visitors to ride behind two different trains, representing two distinctly different eras of Isle of Wight railway history.

 

Several other attractions are being firmed-up for the weekend and are likely to include a formal dedication ceremony for the locomotive, photo opportunities, a special photographic display of ‘Calbourne’ through the years, a preview of the Railway’s 2011 programme of 40^th Anniversary celebrations, workshop tours and commemorative memorabilia.

 

The Railway’s ever-popular Real Ale Bar will be open for business throughout the weekend. The bar will be featuring a selection of fine traditional ales from the Isle of Wight’s three local breweries.

 

A special guest during the weekend will be former British Railways Driver Ken West. Ken started his career at Newport Shed, subsequently moving on to Ryde. During the final years of British Railways steam on the Island ‘Calbourne’ was his regular engine.  He drove some of the final steam trains on the Island’s once extensive rail network and the first trains after electrification. Following retirement, Ken was reunited with ‘Calbourne’ as a volunteer driver on the Steam Railway and was her driver on the day she was withdrawn from service for overhaul in 2002. It is expected that a number of other veteran Island Railway staff members will be amongst the weekend visitors.

 

For Mainland visitors, the Isle of Wight Steam Railway hopes to be able to offer special travel and accommodation packages in conjunction local ferry operators and hotels. Updates and confirmed details of the ‘Calbourne Weekend’ will be published on the events pages of this web site in the build up to the event.