Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2010 | Page 65

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Island Life - October/November 2010

Photo: Restoration work on Coach 2403 in the IWSR’s Carriage & Wagon Workshop Below: A unique Island train of Victorian
wooden-bodied four-wheeled carriages hauled by the 1876 locomotive No. 8 ‘Freshwater’

One original locomotive ‘Calbourne’

auction of railwayana.

“So during 2011 we want to celebrate

and six carriages recovered 40 years ago

Steve added: “It is going to be a very

are still used today. They are among an

special year for the Isle of Wight Steam

the Isle of Wight Steam Railway one

impressive current collection of eleven

Railway. It’s terrific to be celebrating

of the leading heritage railways in the

locomotives, two of which are of Island

and paying tribute to the vision,

UK and an important and major visitor

pedigree – ‘Freshwater’ and ‘Newport’.

commitment and enthusiasm of a small

attraction for the Island. There will

There are also the original six carriages,

group of individuals who, 40 years ago,

be a great deal going on and our aim

which date from Victorian times, as

worked so hard to save a little of the

is ensure there will be something for

well as other rolling stock that has been

Island’s once extensive railway network.

everyone to enjoy.”

all that has been achieved to make

renovated with the help of previous
lottery funding.
There will be two unique events
on key anniversary dates in January
and April, one marking the date 40
years ago when the IWSR was first
established at Havenstreet, and the
other to commemorate the date 40
years ago when trains operated for the
first time.
Other highlights will include two
special Railway Gala weekends, a
series of walks along some of the
Island’s former railway lines, specially
commissioned film shows, and an
Visit our new website - www.visitislandlife.com

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