This time last week I was just about leaving the hotel to attend Narrow Gauge South and my island adventure lay ahead of me, looking back just under a week later and it’s pleasant and calming to remember the sunny day spent riding the rails beyond some other shores…
“Thrum Ttt Thrum Ttt Thrum Ttt Thrum Ttt”
It took a moment to register as we boarded the train at Smallbrook Junction, but the austerity in service was priming the brake system for departure. The sound that must have accompanied so many childhood summer holidays, today just witnessed by our handful of passengers and the bluebells in the woods. Rattling off down towards Haven Street my stresses and anxiety quickly took a back seat, there is no better place than aboard a train, stood by an open window…
I love a good steam engine shed for inspiration - Haven Street did not disappoint… weathered steam locomotives, a clutter but not untidy, repurposed rolling stock as sheds, a lovely warmth in sunshine - whilst we waited to press on to Wooton. The line threads through largely agricultural land, in contrast to the island line, and has a rather magical charm. A slow pace, traditional style recreation carriages, almost like going to see a film about the old days…
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| In use but not untidy. |
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| Weathered finish! |
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| Lovely to see BR blue represented on a heritage railway. |
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| Repurposed body from one of the coaches now in use, which use the CCT chassis. |
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| Interesting detail of the corrugated cladding on the shed behind inset to the brick base - mentally noted for a future project. |
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| Fantastic warmth in the ballast colour and shade, presume shingle might not be the best material though? |
On our return we broke the journey for lunch at Haven Street and enjoyed the shed, the museum, the train story, the cafe and shop. Everything is all nicely turned out, a proud collection of volunteers making the most of the short but characterful railway.
I was struck by the warmth of colour. Everything felt ‘on holiday’ from the ballast and concrete platform to even the warm shade of green on the carriages, it sounds mad, but it was if someone had swapped the sun for a warm white LED…
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| Not cut down but definitely an Island 03! |
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| Sat on the 1938 stock, desperately trying not to buy a set from Revolution. |
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| Seeing 03179 was a real hilight - beautifully restored, really a tribute to the owners. |
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| NSE signage, now your talking! |
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| The end of the line at Smallbrook Junction. |
“Thrum Ttt Thrum Ttt Thrum Ttt Thrum Ttt”
Then, it was done. We were sat back at Smallbrook Junction and ring of the rails amd whine of the DC traction motors heralded the Island Line 484. With almost no time to think, to absorb the experience, we were back on the ferry and heading for home. Tired but happy.
I am so glad Steve and I made the effort to visit the island. It has long been on my to do list, but it is easy to put things off, harder to make the time, to prioritise the experience… but what it was was wonderful.
Until next time, more soon…
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The line feels pretty unique for how secluded and undeveloped the countryside is. The coaching stock is also something special. I only visited once but I am determined that that first visit won’t be the last!
ReplyDeleteThe coaching stock is a nice touch but I can’t get over the fact it’s all on CCT underframes… if you ever get up to North Wales I’d be happy to show you how scenic the Llangollen is - and the wonderful heritage of the Ffestiniog.
DeleteHi James
ReplyDeleteGood you had a “reviving” visit to the Isle of Wight. Your trip seems to have been positive on top of a successful Narrow Gauge South.
I went to the isle of Wight only once for our friend’s son’s wedding – twelve years to the day before your trip. I had a trip on the Steam Railway but hauled by the Barclay 0-6-0 tank AJAX which I had seen sheeted over at one of the Midlands ironstone mines probably forty years earlier. Isn’t preservation wonderful sometimes? I did not ride on the Island Line – a tube train was a little to close to work then.
Nice to see some of the 38-Stock is still on the island hopefully in running condition although I think the only LUL approved stock is the LT Museum’s set which can run over the Tube network. I can claim a small hand in making that happen, as when I worked in Covent Garden and we were putting together the Lottery bid for what became the Museum’s open access store, “The Depot” at Acton, I suggest including a sum to restore some 38-Stock to working order. Although it was not enough as things worked out, it at least got the project off the ground and allowed the work to progress.
Best regards
Alan
Wonderful story thanks Alan, think you’ve mentioned this before but I’d forgotten. That circle of heritage experience, from sheeted to preserved between sightings, a tribute to those hard working dedicated individuals who make all this possible.
DeleteSome brilliant photos there James. Thanks for sharing. I do love an Austerity tank. They are such good looking locos, small but powerful, and perfectly suited to a small railway like this. Mind, I've also had a thing for the IOW 03s and 05 since seeing photos in a magazine as a kid. Lovely to see them in their home environment.
ReplyDeleteI hope you found the trip a positive experience.
Thank you Dave, certainly was good fun.
DeleteLooks like a top day out. When we spent a week on holiday on the island a few years back, the Island Line wasn’t running (think it was when they were changing over to the 484s) so getting to experience them is worth a trip back.
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed the steam railway though, we too had an Austerity. I enjoyed the carriages too, made a refreshing change to travel in something other than a Mark 1 on a heritage line!
That’s true, I spent most of my journey with my head out of the window, which I do on most railways, so the coach is merely a vehicle in that regard.
DeleteTbh, for me, whilst the steam railway was lovely it was the Island Line that was special.
It looks like you had a good time on the steam railway James. Did you manage to have a ride in one of the bogies coaches, all over 100 years old I think and still on original underframes. I used to dish out mince pies on Santa specials from one of the brake coaches in the early 2000's at Small brook Jnc. The best way to travel along the line is via a Wickham trolley, I used to help the lineside bramble bashing gang out and we travelled by Wickham trolley with two trailers loaded with strimmers and bill hooks. On the way back to Havenstreet from Wooton on a very wet day we trundled down the sharpish gradient into Havenstreet station at a fair rate of knots the gang leader casually mentioned to the driver that it might be best if we slowed down, the crossing gates were fast approaching! The gang had all been talking away and hadn't noticed the driver pumping the brakes and sweating all the way from the top of the gradient! We missed the gates by a whisker...
ReplyDeleteI've also travelled the line in a Pillbox brake van and a shark brakevan too. Apparently the Wickham trolley was rolled down an embankment on the island line many years ago whilst travelling to a worksite!
Take care.
What an experience on the Wickham!!
DeleteWe did come back on the bogie coach, as I suspected it was ‘original’, very nice indeed.