The Isle of Wight Steam Railway’s Spring Gala is returning for 2017 following the success of last year’s event and will be taking place over the late May Bank Holiday weekend (27th-29th May).
3 steam engines of an Island pedigree – ‘Calbourne’, ‘Newport’ and ‘Freshwater’ – will be the stars of the show, with the flagship LSWR Adams 02 Class No 24 ‘Calbourne’ alternating with the Ivatt Standard Class 2 41298 hauling a classic bogie coach set. The LBSCR Stroudly Terrier No 8 ‘Freshwater’ will work the 4-wheel vintage carriage set.
The charity’s newly restored London Brighton & South Coast Railway 4-wheel brake coach No 4115 is also anticipated to enter service for the Gala.
The Terrier No 11 ‘Newport’ – if available – will operate a shuttle service into the siding with the Push/Pull set. This will be an accurate recreation of the train service that ran from Merstone to Ventnor West.
The highlight of the event will be in the afternoon when the Push/Pull set is hauled on the full line for 1 return trip as the remainder of the 4-wheel coaches will simultaneously form the other service train. It is believed this will be the first time 2 four-wheel passenger trains have run together since the 1930s.
Both 4-wheel trains will then combine and be hauled by the double-headed Terriers.
For further information and the day’s timetable see www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk.
