Isle of Wight railways and tube trains

[editor]

This is an interesting article about stock problems on the line:

When the Isle of Wight’s railway was electrified in 1967 by British Rail (BR)’s Southern Region, they imported ex-London Underground Standard Stock dating from the 1920s to comprise the train fleet. The Island Line’s Standard Stock, in turn, was replaced in 1989-90 by 1938 Tube stock, brought in by Network SouthEast (NSE). Now, nearly 30 years on, it will soon be time for the 1938 stock’s replacement as well.

The Island Line was electrified at the same time as, and had economies of scale with, the Bournemouth electrification project. Whilst the former had been specified to operate 7 car trains up to every 12 minutes, it has degraded significantly in recent years.

Third Ryde Tube: Transfer Troublesome - London Reconnections

 

[A380]

If they stick with the strategy of repurposed underground stock, could the IoW see these?

British Rail Class 230 - Wikipedia

I sort of hope not as there is a rumour a battery powered unit might come to the Bletchley Bedford line... We should definitely get some diesel ones. Hurrah for London cast offs!

 

[Puddy_Tat]

If they stick with the strategy of repurposed underground stock, could the IoW see these?

British Rail Class 230 - Wikipedia

I sort of hope not as there is a rumour a battery powered unit might come to the Bletchley Bedford line... We should definitely get some diesel ones. Hurrah for London cast offs!

don't think so - the D stock is 'sub surface' not 'tube' so it's a bit bigger (like so)

and probably wouldn't fit.

not sure what the next tube stock to be withdrawn will be - 1973 stock off the Piccadilly Line or 1972 stock off the Bakerloo

 

[Puddy_Tat]

This is an interesting article about stock problems on the line:

they look bloody knackered - suppose they weren't quite designed for an 80 year working life...

 

[salem]

Not to mention the additional stress of being constantly exposed to the elements by the sea. Impressive really.

 

[davesgcr]

Not to mention the additional stress of being constantly exposed to the elements by the sea. Impressive really.

Very relevant point - the 1920's tube stock that came to the Island from 1967 had the traction motors largely installed above the chassis , in sealed compartments - the ultra modern at-deco 1938 replacements sourced in the late 1980's have them below the chassis (giving more passenger accommodation) - much more vulnerable accordingly.

Bearing in mind the salt laden environment and standing on Ryde Pier , it is a major tribute to the engineering crews that they lave lasted so long - I suspect by now that most of the "spares" from what was a very large 1000+ fleet have been exhausted from the store cupboards of Acton / Golders Green and so on.

This is a subject much covered in other forums - perhaps the most proactive solution would be to open up the Ryde Tunnel (there was , not much above it, property wise - but experts can check) - and converting the line back to normal size train acceptance. There are literally hundreds of quite good DC stock becoming available in the next few years (but no "Tube" trains till about 2024)

The economics of the line are such - that one can forget new build .....

 

[mauvais]

Is there anywhere else where the heritage railway stock (steam!) is newer than the mainline trains?

 

[davesgcr]

Is there anywhere else where the heritage railway stock (steam!) is newer than the mainline trains?

The IoW has always lived on "retreaded" stuff from the mainland - they have a Standard 2-6-2 T built in the 1950's , but much of their stock is Victorian and Edwardian era origin. Superbly restored too. I commend a visit to their workshops , being a bit away from the scrapyards of the mainland , (and lumbered by high transport costs on the ferries) - they were able to save a good bit of the Island's rolling stock to excellent effect.

 

[JuanTwoThree]

So it's not a made-up dream of mine that I caught a steam train on a pier when I was about 6 (in 1962 ish).

I can also remember standing on a footbridge while a steam loco went under us. Which was fun. But I think that was in Uckfield.

 

[davesgcr]

So it's not a made-up dream of mine that I caught a steam train on a pier when I was about 6 (in 1962 ish).

I can also remember standing on a footbridge while a steam loco went under us. Which was fun. But I think that was in Uckfield.

I think steam went on the Isle of Wight in December 1966 , - so yes - very possible.

I have good memories of steam trains running alongside the beach at Swansea - that would be about 1962 when I was 4. F==ck sandcastles , give me more trains must have been my subliminal thoughts.....

 

[JuanTwoThree]

I can also remember standing on a footbridge while a steam loco went under us. Which was fun. But I think that was in Uckfield.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Is there anywhere else where the heritage railway stock (steam!) is newer than the mainline trains?

not sure there is now, although about 15 years ago, i visited the mid-hants railway and one of the steam locos in service (9F 'Evening Star' built 1960) and the 'heritage DMU' in service were both slightly newer than the late 1950s 4-CEP i got to alton on

 

[editor]

From that to this

 

[Puddy_Tat]

From that to this

indeed

looks like demolition had started. have one from 1910 instead. More Uckfield here.

 

[Dogsauce]

Is there anywhere else where the heritage railway stock (steam!) is newer than the mainline trains?

Not quite the same thing, but when I was at the Midland Railway Centre a few years back it seemed interesting to me that the rusting ex-Barry hulk of the second-to-last 9F built sat in front of me (92219 of circa 1960) was newer than the restored Class 20 diesel sat behind it (1958 vintage).

 

[Gromit]

don't think so - the D stock is 'sub surface' not 'tube' so it's a bit bigger (like so)

and probably wouldn't fit.

not sure what the next tube stock to be withdrawn will be - 1973 stock off the Piccadilly Line or 1972 stock off the Bakerloo

Barons Court Westbound fast and local

Bakerloo drivers think they'll be next. They are certain of it. I try my hardest not to laugh when they say it.

Bakerloo never runs at capacity. Why would they spend money on a low capacity line when they can increase capacity on one that creaks at the seams with passengers.

They'll spend the money on the pic first.
1. Because it gets rammed.
2. It makes more money
3. The Heathrow contract.

 

[Gromit]

don't think so - the D stock is 'sub surface' not 'tube' so it's a bit bigger (like so)

and probably wouldn't fit.

not sure what the next tube stock to be withdrawn will be - 1973 stock off the Piccadilly Line or 1972 stock off the Bakerloo

Challenge for the train nerds.
What destination is the D stock showing?

 

[19sixtysix]

Ealing Broadway

 

[Gromit]

Ealing Broadway

Yep

 

[19sixtysix]

Having done crystal palace to ealing broadway as a commute I'd call that a decent information source.

 

[editor]

Things are looking up slightly for the reopening of closed lines

The bid, submitted by the Isle of Wight Council and sponsored by Island MP Bob Seely, proposed two schemes:

• extension of the existing Island Line service (Ryde-Shanklin) south of Shanklin to reach Ventnor, calling at Wroxall

• integration with, and extension of, the existing Isle of Wight Steam Railway route to provide passenger services through Smallbrook from Ryde to Newport

Here's the lines

The news follows the announcement last September that the Island’s existing public passenger route – from Ryde to Shanklin – will receive £26 million of investment, including to provide refurbished rolling stock, a new passing loop at Brading (to provide a half-hourly service) and improvements to track quality

Isle of Wight awarded government funding that could see closed railway lines restored

OLD railway lines between Ventnor and Newport could be reopened, as part of ambitious plans to restore routes lost to the Beeching cuts.

www.countypress.co.uk

 

[Roadkill]

I was drinking with friends in the Cock and Bull next door when someone torched that building.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Things are looking up slightly for the reopening of closed lines

i'll believe it when i see it - the 'new money' from the current government is enough to pay for a pile of feasibility studies (nice little earner for the consultants) - i was involved round the fringes of one or two getting on for 20 years ago