Staff from Isle of Wight Tourism and ferry company WightLink visited the Isle of Wight Steam Railway on 25th March 2004. The aim of the visit was to enable our tourist industry colleagues to gain an insight into what we do and how and why we do it, so that they can provide visitors to the Island with well-informed answers when quizzed about the Railway. Commercial Director Jim Loe gave the group a briefing which included slides showing some of our coaches both before and after restoration - You could see they were dubious! After a round trip on the railway behind WD 198 'Royal Engineer' and visiting Granny Winter's Pantry, the signal box, museum and shop they were escorted into the C & W workshop where, by pure chance, an immaculate 4112 and part stripped 6378 were side by side on No.1 road - proof that Jim's slide show did not lie!

IoW Rly Co. Chairman John Sugget explains the workings of the Signal Box.

In the Saloon compartment of SECR 6375, IWSR Volunteer Co-ordinator Graham Gibbons hosts the visitors.

Roger Macdonald explains the carriage restoration process.