40 YEARS ON Commemoration
of the last British Railways Steam Train on the Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight Steam Railway commemorated the
40th anniversary of the final British Railways steam train on the Isle of Wight
on 31st December 2006. A special exhibition of photographs and other memorabilia
of the last days of steam in 1966 was mounted at Havenstreet. Many former Island
railwaymen came along to recall their memories of the end of the old order and
the coming of the former London Transport tube trains on the newly electrified
Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin section in the spring of 1967.
WD192 'Waggoner' hauled the public train service,
carrying a specially made headboard. Later in the afternoon 1876-built A1x 'Terrier'
No.W8 'Freshwater' took part in a short ceremony during which the ashes of long
standing Isle of Wight Steam Railway member Fred Ward were consigned to the
firebox, followed by a special train for Fred's friends and relatives.
After dark 'Freshwater' hauled a commemorative train
for IWSR members and invited guests on an 11-mile round trip of the line, recreating
the atmosphere of the final British Railways steam train of 1966. Former Island
steam drivers Ken West and Tony Tiltman traveled as special guests on 'Freshwater's
footplate. At Havenstreet Station a fusillade of detonators heralded the trains
arrival, another reminder of the 'end of steam' commemorations of forty years
ago. It was the end of Isle of Wight steam and the closure of most of the Island's
railway system that inspired the formation of the Wight Locomotive Society,
leading to the preservation of O2 Class locomotive W24 'Calbourne' and the selection
of carriages that went on to form the nucleus of the present day Isle of Wight
Steam Railway.
The headboard carried by
WD192 and W8 on 31st January 2006 - the fortieth anniversary of the final
British Railways steam train on the Isle of Wight.
Hunslet 'Austerity' 0-6-0ST
No.WD192 'Waggoner', returned to working order earlier in 2006, departs
Havenstreet with a train for Smallbrook Junction.
Driver Dave Smith positions
the headboard at Smallbrook.
Entering Havenstreet Station
with a Down train.
W8 'Freshwater' ready for
Fred Ward's late afternoon memorial special.
As the light fades W8 'Freshwater'
and WD 192 'Waggoner' stand together at Havenstreet.
W8 waits to start the 40th
Anniversary commemorative train.
Driver Len Pullinger adjusts
the lamps whilst Fireman Neil Rees trims the coal.
Veteran Island Steam Drivers
Ken West (Left) and Tony Tiltman on the footplate.
