The first of two Ivatt Trust owned Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T locomotives, No.41313, arrived on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway during the evening of Thursday, 3rd August 2006. The original plan had been for sister locomotive No.41298 to lead the way to the Island once fully restored, it was only recently decided that No.41313 would make the journey across the Solent first. The unrestored 41313 was one of the first locomotives to be saved from the notorious Barry scrap yard in South Wales in 1975. Since then it has remained more or less untouched in the Ivatt Trust's workshop at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre.

John Antell's low loader carrying 41313 backs off the ferry and up the linkspan at Fishbourne, IOW.

No.41313 has been transferred to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway's Mechanical Engineering Workshop at Havenstreet in order that a full assessment of the work required to return her to working order can be made. The move forms part of a long-term agreement between the Ivatt Trust and the Isle of Wight Railway Co. Ltd. providing for the two Ivatt tanks be restored for operation on the Island. Many spare parts for use in the overhaul are already in the ownership of the Ivatt Trust and will be shipped to Havenstreet in due course.

In a well practiced operation an unloading ramp was constructed at Havenstreet. IWSR CME Len Pullinger calls on the Class 03 locomotive that was to assist 41313 off of the trailer.

Meanwhile, Trustees Roy Miller and Peter Clarke are continuing with their meticulous restoration of the trust's other Ivatt Class 2 tank, No.41298 at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre. The repaired rear pony truck has been reunited with the frames and preparation for final reassembly is now well advanced. The transfer of the Ivatt locomotives to the Isle of Wight will see a 1960s British Railways modernisation plan for the Island take place at last. It was intended to introduce the similar BR Standard Class 2 tanks to the Island to replace the then seventy year old LSWR O2 tanks but the plan never came to fruition. Instead the once extensive Island railway network was pruned back to the Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin electrified section that still survives today. Various drawings for the proposed modifications considered necessary to the Class 2 tanks for Island service, including those for the fitting of the Westinghouse air brake system, have come to light recently and these will be utilised during the restoration process, albeit over forty years late!

Class 03 D2059 eases 41313 down the ramp.

No.41313 touches down on IWSR metals.

41313 was accompanied through Havenstreet Station by the chassis of LSWR O2 class W24 'Calbourne'.

Above and below: No.41313 and W24 head towards the workshops.

No.41313 in her new home - restoration plans will be worked up in the near future.

The following pictures were taken at the Buckingamshire Railway Centre (Quainton Road) on the 2nd and 3rd of August as No.41313 was prepared for her journey south to the Isle of Wight:

41313 stands opposite sister engine 41298, also due to move to the Isle of Wight once returned to working order.

Trustees Peter Clarke(left) and Roy Miller stand by 41313 as she is about to leave Quainton Road.

No.41298.