Southern Steam - Last days of steam on the Isle of Wight

One of the unique aspects of the railways of the Isle of Wight is that virtually all the rolling stock that has run on the Island has been second-hand. This tradition was maintained throughout Southern Railway and later BR ownership, creating a living museum of Victorian rolling stock. Locomotives were for the most part ancient, the classes most associated with the island being the former London Brighton & South Coast Railway A1X 'Terrier' 0-6-0Ts and the ex-London & South Western Railway O2 Class 0-4-4Ts which were to monopolise traffic on the line from nationalisation until the end of steam.

Nine O2s were sent over to the Island during 1925 and 1926 - they were so successful that a further 14 were sent over, the final two being sent over in 1949. They were ideal for Island duties except for the lack of adequate coal bunker space, so extended bunkers were fitted from 1932. The class lasted until the end of steam on the Island in 1966, depicted in this film. the latter scenes of which show the third rail in place, ready for the introduction of suitably ancient ex-London Transport 'standard' 1923 Tube Stock in 1967.

Fortunately one of the remaining O2s, No.W24 Calbourne, was rescued by the Wight Locomotive Society and remains as an active locomotive today on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.

http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk/

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• isle of wight
• steam
• southern
• region
• railway
• british
• rail

[sd24440]

I remember standing on the footbridge @ Cowes when I was 5 and watch the trains come aand go waiting for my dad to finish @ Clare Lallows.

[Lost00track]

thank goodness somebody recorded these moments. they are priceless.

Would love to be able to see places like Bembridge, the FYN line. Shide quarry, Medina warf. Sigh maybe its on film in somebodys attic waiting to be discoverd.

Great views of Ventnor station. thanks for sharing

[matthew376]

Thanks for this video if you have any more IoW footage, could you please upload it soon?