The latest restoration project completed by the Isle of Wight Steam Railway has given an entirely new lease of life to an old British Rail container as a refreshment outlet at the Havenstreet attraction.
‘The Coffee Container’ was officially opened as a barista-style coffee shop, serving coffee that is freshly roasted on the Isle of Wight, yesterday (Wednesday).
Having been on site since 1971 and unused since the late 1980s, the 1957-built container A3705B was taken into the Isle of Wight Steam Railway’s Carriage & Wagon Workshops and transformed into a fully functioning coffee shop with the help of a number of local sponsors and suppliers. A great deal of work has gone into restoring the container with most of the timber throughout having been replaced and new roof hoops manufactured within the Railway’s workshops.
The transformed Coffee Container is now positioned outside of Train Story discovery centre, serving fresh Island roasted coffee from The Island Tea & Coffee Co, speciality teas, pre-packed cakes and snacks, along with tubs of local Minghella ice cream.
Nick Boycott, retail and catering manager said:
“Train Story is situated a short walk from the main station at Havenstreet, so this will provide some much needed additional refreshment for our many visitors.
“This old container has been creatively repurposed. It makes a perfect new venue and we have preserved a railway artefact which is both interesting and has its own story to tell.”
Container A3705B was built by Faverdale Works, Darlington, in April 1957 to BR Diagram 3/001; Drawing No. RCH 2408K. It was constructed with plywood sides, a corrugated steel end, with doors at one end only, comprising a drop flap and two cupboard doors. It could carry up to 4 tons of general merchandise.
Externally, the container livery accurately reflects its appearance when in railway service, in fact when the Coffee Container is closed it looks exactly as it would have done 60-years-ago.
A number of local companies have been instrumental in making this project a success with special thanks going to Howdens Joinery, Sandown; Floor Design Ltd, Sandown; ICR Systems, Newport;
Betapak Ltd of Rookley and Macketts Builders.
The container will be open most running days during the main summer season.
Photographed L-R: Peter Tomlin (Betapak); Mike Townsend (Betapak); Jim Loe (IWSR); Peter Vail (IWSR); Tilly Snooke (IWSR); Nick Boycott (IWSR); Malcolm Smith (IWSR); Nick Felton (IWSR); Bob Huxtable (IWSR) and Chris Lawrence (ICR)
