| 2343 |
LBSCR 4-wheel 5-compartment
Third |
Built 1896 - To IOW 1925 |
|
One of a series of nine Second
Class carriages designed by Robert Billinton, they were all downgraded
to Third Class in 1911. On transfer to the Island in 1925, 2343 saw
service as part of the 4 car Set 497.
Withdrawal in 1931 followed
the arrival on the Island of the first London, Chatham and Dover bogie
stock, the body was then sold and became a bungalow at Gurnard Marsh.
On redevelopment of the site 2343 was donated to the Isle of Wight Steam
Railway, arriving at Havenstreet on 20th July 1984.
Restoration of the body started
in 1993 and, following mounting on the underframe of Parcels and Miscellaneous
Van S1617S, was returned to passenger service in 1997.
|
|
| 6336 |
NLR 4-wheel 4-compartment
Composite |
Built c1864 - To
IOW 1898 |
| In December 1897
the Isle of Wight Railway purchased seven coaches from the North London
Railway, among them was number 46. Originally a four compartment First
Class carriage, one compartment was downgraded to Second Class by the
IWR. After transfer of ownership to the Southern Railway 46 was allocated
the new number of 6336 but never carried this number in service. Withdrawal
took place on 27th February 1926. In 1975 the body of 46 was rediscovered,
built into a bungalow on Hayling Island. The owners generously donated
the body to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway and it returned to the Island
during 1975. 46 was the first grounded body to be restored to passenger
service by the Railway, being mounted on the underframe of a Southern
Railway parcels van. Following return to service in 1986 46 was entered
in the Association of Railway Preservation Society's Best Preserved Carriage
competition and, to the gratification of the small team who had carried
out the work, was awarded first prize. When first restored the coach carried
the varnished teak livery of the Isle of Wight Railway it has since been
repainted in Southern Railway lined olive green carrying the number 6336. |
|
|
Southern Railway Push-Pull Set 484
|
| 4112 |
LCDR 4-wheel Saloon Brake Third |
Built 1898 - To IOW 1924 |
| 6369 |
LCDR 4-wheel Saloon Composite |
Built 1887 To IOW 1924 |
| Both of these coaches, originally
six wheelers, worked together on the Sheppey Light Railway, forming part
of Set 40 from 1919. In 1924 the Southern Railway had them sent to Lancing
works in Sussex for conversion to Push-Pull operation. Both vehicles lost
their centre pair of wheels, 4112 becoming a Push-Pull driving trailer.
Together the pair became Push-Pull Set 484. The set worked mainly on the
Merstone-Ventnor West branch although it did also work occasionally on
the Freshwater and Bembridge lines. Set 484 was withdrawn in 1938 and
both carriage bodies sold out of service to become bungalows, 4112 at
Gurnard Marsh and 6369 at Newtown. Both bodies were eventually acquired
by the Isle of Wight Steam Railway and returned to service, mounted on
former Southern Railway parcels van underframes. Set 484 is now in regular
passenger service and, when hauled by an olive green 'Terrier', is truly
a recreation of travel from a bygone age. |
|
|
 |
|
4112 - Push-Pull Driving
Trailer
|
6369 - Push-Pull
Trailer |
|
|
6369 - Interior view of the First Class
Compartment
|
| 2515 |
LCDR 5-compartment
Third |
Built 1894 To IOW
1930 |
| This coach began life
as a six wheel 4-Compartment Brake Second, being downgraded to Brake Third
about 1899. In 1916 the centre pair of wheels was removed and 1924 the
Guards observatories (duckets) were removed. In 1929 it was selected for
transfer to the Island but, because sufficient brake carriages were available,
the Guard/Luggage area was converted into an additional Third Class compartment.
Withdrawal took place in May 1937 and the body became a chalet at Brambles
Chine, Colwell. Following rescue by the Wight Locomotive Society it was
moved to Havenstreet in 1981. 2515 has undergone restoration to full working
order in Havenstreet Works, the completed vehicle emerging in the summer
of 2002. The body is now mounted on the underframe of Parcels and Miscellaneous
Van S1783S. Part of the restoration process involved the creation of a
wheelchair compartment, although the exterior appearance of the vehicle
remains unchanged. The restored LCDR 2515 was the overall winner of the
2002 Heritage Railways Association Carriage and Wagon competition. |
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