Isle of Wight Steam Railway

Taken from a train on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.

Taken from a train on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. I assume that this elderly railway carriage has been acquired by the railway, to be restored. Judging by those in use when we visited, the transformation would be something worth waiting for.

Smallbrook Junction is just that - a junction. The only means of getting to this station is by railway. When the Isle of Wight Steam Railway is not working, no trains stop at the adjoining Island Line station. When the railways were fully operational on the Isle of Wight they were steam powered and this line and what remains of the Ryde to Ventor line were connected. Now this preserved line runs from here and the 'mainline' runs from Ryde Pierhead to Shanklin. www.ipernity.com/doc/364457/26200383

The standard of restoration of these coaches is superb - both inside and out. The website gives details of the origin and life history of all the coaches that have been restored and some that await refurbishment or indeed rebuilding. The carriage and wagon workshop is open to the public on running days.

This series of photos shows how the token, authorising that engine to travel on the single track line between Haven Street and Smallbrook Junction, is used to unlock the point lever at the entrance to Smallbrook Junction. Top left - the fireman hooks the token's loop on to the catcher arm. Top right - the train guard - once the train is stationary with the brakes applied - takes the token to the Ground Frame box and unlocks the point lever and moves the switch blades across. Bottom left - once the engine has passed up the line, the guard switches the points back. Bottom right - the engine having returned to its train, the guard removes the token from the ground frame and returns it to the engine crew.