Freshwater enters Historic Dockyard

Following her first ever visit to the K&ESR over the May Bank Holiday, W8 “Freshwater” called in at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard last weekend; TTT are grateful to Jeff Layfield of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway for providing the information and forwarding the accompanying photograph taken on May 12th.

Back home at Havenstreet, the Terrier is scheduled to feature on a two-train timetable over the Late Spring Bank Holiday, May 27th and 28th.  An intensive service is planned, starting and finishing from Havenstreet with trains also passing at the station.  The first train from Smallbrook Jn will be at 1102; the last arrival being at 1611.  Prospective visitors should check the website at www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk before travel for more details.

As the boiler ticket for W8 runs out next year, this summer provides a last opportunity to see the iconic Island locomotive in service and with the kind cooperation of the IWSR, TTT hope to be able to advise when the engine will be in service.  Generally speaking, as on the K&ESR and Bluebell, more powerful engines are generally used on the main summer services.

Mr Stroudley’s Terrier; aka No.40 “Brighton; aka 32640; aka W11 “Newport” is currently out of service awaiting heavy boiler repairs.  This engine was based at Ashford from July 1948 and, as a frequent performer on the K&ES route, would have spent much of the ensuing 30 months or so sub-shedded at Rolvenden.  Interestingly it ran purely with its Southern number of 2640 as it did not adopt BR guise until being repainted in lined BR black at Eastleigh in March 1951 before transfer to Newhaven.  It is fair to say that a return to one of its former haunts is now long overdue at 56 years and counting!

HN-16/05/2007