Operating Department News - December 2011
October started in the midst of a mini heat wave with temperatures exceeding 80oF on both the Saturday and Sunday. However, despite the Indian summer weather, relative tranquillity descended upon Haven Street on Monday 3 October, the first day without any published train services for 113 consecutive days. It certainly had been a busy summer! With the exception of the daily service during the half-term ‘Wizard Week’ at the end of the month a one-train service operated on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays in October, with published services running to the basic ‘green’ timetable.
W8 ‘Freshwater’ at the head of an all-LBSCR train at Wootton on 27 November 2011.
Wednesday 19 October saw new signals brought into use at both Smallbrook Junction and Wootton. Following previous incidents it had been decided that the use of green flags to signal locomotive run-round movements should be abandoned in favour of a system less susceptible to human error.
Each station has two new signals, one controlling movements from the single line into the platform road and the other controlling movements from the run-round loop back onto the single line. At both locations, the former is connected by rodding directly to the facing point lock lever and is normally in the ‘Off’ (or ‘clear’) position. After the train has come to a stand at the platform this signal is returned to danger at the same time as the facing point lock is disengaged prior to the points being changed. The ‘loop to main’ signal is connected directly to the point lever and this signal moves to the ‘Off’ position at the same time as the point lever is reversed. This confirms that the points have been changed and authorises the locomotive driver to proceed back onto the single line from the run-round loop. Because these signals co-act with the facing point lock and point levers they could more accurately be described as point indicators.
One of the new signals being installed at Smallbrook Junction – September 2011.
It is worth noting that mechanical signals were last used at Smallbrook Junction on Saturday 17 September 1966, the final day of the summer timetable at the end of which Smallbrook Junction signal box closed for the very last time. At Wootton, mechanical signals were in use until 1 January 2008 when fixed signals were temporarily removed pending the completion of the works to extend the run-round loop and lengthen the platform. With the second phase of this work now well underway it is hoped that full mechanical signalling at Wootton will be reinstated soon. Indeed, a new foundation and locking room for the signal cabin (formerly located at the FYN Railway station at Newport and subsequently relocated to Freshwater) is included in the current project. The cabin will be re-located onto the platform extension.
On Saturday 22 October we ran a wedding charter. Although it had originally been intended to use the four-wheeler set, some of these vehicles had already been prepared for winter storage and were therefore not available for traffic. However, we were able to include the Ventnor West Set 484 which was coupled to Brighton Third 2416 and Brighton Brake 4168. With W8 Freshwater carrying the Wedding Belle headboard and carriage handles suitably adorned with white bows, the wedding party joined the train for their 15.15 departure to Smallbrook Junction and a non-stop run back through Havenstreet to Wootton before the special returned to Haven Street.
The total number of passenger journeys recorded in the Guards’ Journals for October was 6,934. This was a decrease 15.8% compared to figure of 8,233 from October 2010 but it should be remembered that our 2010 total was swollen by the very successful ‘Calbourne’ weekend which marked the return to traffic of our flagship locomotive after a lengthy overhaul.
Published train services in November operated on Thursdays and Sundays, to cater largely for the coach tour operators’ ‘Turkey & Tinsel’ product. Although passenger volume is relatively low during November, the quieter operating days offer a welcome opportunity to undertake supervised staff training. A special low season timetable during November saw the operation of four round trips, the first of which left Haven Street at 10.55. The last train arrived back at 15.29. Remembrance Sunday fell on 13 November. Waggoner carried a ‘Poppy’ headboard and the first Up train of the day stopped at Ashey station for two minutes at 11.00 to mark the Armistice.
A total of 1,590 passenger journeys were recorded for November, which compared with 938 in November 2010, a welcome increase of 69.5%.
In December, we operated Santa Specials over 10 days, with trains running on Saturdays and Sundays prior to Christmas as well as the four days immediately prior to the big day! Mince Pie Specials ran on 26, 27 & 28 December. After a two day break, we welcomed passengers again over the New Year period, with services operating on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and 2 January.
The same timetable was used for all published services in December and the New Year period, with one train operating four round trips. During this period, the Guards’ Journals recorded a total of 6,581 passenger journeys. This represents an increase of 18.4% compared to the figure of 5,559 journeys recorded during same period in 2010 although it should be remembered that the especially wintry weather in December 2010 had a negative impact on our business with some visitors unable to reach Haven Street because of heavy snow.
To mark the end of our 40th Anniversary year we operated a special late evening service on New Year’s Eve. Available only to staff, volunteers and their family members, the ‘Train Across the Years’ left Haven Street for Smallbrook Junction at 23.23, hauled by No. 192 Waggoner. The train then ran non-stop to Wootton, with the single line tokens being exchanged at Haven Street just as the hands of Old Father Time stroked midnight, heralding the arrival of 2012. For those present on that evening - 45 years to the day since steam hauled passenger services ceased on the Ryde - Shanklin line - it was a memorable and atmospheric end to a very special year. It was also an opportunity to look forward to our new developments at both Wootton and Smallbrook Junction and, hopefully, some good news regarding our Heritage Lottery Fund application in respect of Changing Trains.
WD192 ‘Waggoner’ ready to depart Havenstreet with the New Year’s Eve special.
Looking ahead to the 2012 operating season, we have made some changes to the basic timetable. With its extended platform and newly built Isle of Wight Central Railway style building we are aiming to enhance the service to Wootton. On most days, the first departure from Haven Street will be to Wootton at 10.05. We are also increasing the number of days on which our established ‘blue’ timetable will operate, meaning that the final departure from Haven Street will be the 16.33 to Wootton, returning as the 16.47.
Finally, it’s pleasing to report that Richard Brooker has passed out as Signalman.