Ryde Social Heritage Group research the social history of the citizens of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Documenting their lives, businesses and burial transcriptions.
RYDE SOCIAL HERITAGE GROUP
Based at Ryde Cemetery Heritage & Learning Centre. Preserving, documenting and promoting the social history of Ryde on the Isle of Wight.
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Wight Locomotive Society

"Calbourne" moving from St. John's 1969

VETERANS RESCUED

5 July 1975
A further “rescue operation” by members of the Wight Locomotive Society—the Island preservation group—had bought an 1898 railway carriage body, which had spent over 25 years as a hen house, back to the railway at Haven Street.

This latest move to rescue a vintage piece of railway began about a year before (1974) when No. 4115, which began life on the London, Chatham and Dover Railway and came to the Island in early Southern Railway days, was donated to the Steam Railway by Atherfield farmer Mr. Aubrey Morris.

The removal by road from Ash Hill Farm to Haven Street was planned for October 1974 but torrential rain made conditions impossible.  The carriage body had to be carefully lifted out from the field because of the presence of overhead power lines.  It was hauled on to a vehicle for the journey to Haven Street where it was off-loaded on to a specially prepared base.

No. 4115, which still showed traces of its Southern green livery, was to be mounted on suitable bogies if these could be located from mainland sources.

Engine 211 unloaded by floating crane 1923

2 August 1975
The Wight Locomotive Society had secured another vehicle of great historic significance for their collection at Haven Street station.  Isle o of Wight Rly No. 38, a “high roof” composite carriage dating from 1882, had spent many years as part of a bungalow at 126 Southwood Road, Hayling Island, and would have been demolished, had it not been discovered by enthusiasts.

No. 38 was built by the Oldbury Carriage and Wagon Co., of Birmingham, as one of a pair for service between Ryde and Ventnor.  It became Southern Railway No. 6335 in 1923, but was withdrawn from service in March 1927.  Wight Locomotive Society members paid £50 for the carriage body.  A demolition order was place upon it by Havant Council, and No. 38 was saved before the order took place.  The museum piece made the road and sea journey back to a secure future on the Island’s steam line.

Notes:
“How it all began” read more about Haven Street Railway here

Images:
Photo (left) taken early 1923. The southern railway sent over two railway engines. They were brought by the Admiralty Floating Crane from Portsmouth and the crane put the engines on the line at pier head Station. Engine 211 became W20 “Shanklin” – Roy Brinton Collection.

Photo 1969 (above right), of “Calbourne” being taken by road from St. John’s Station – courtesy of Albert Jackson, who lived in St. John’s Road, and ran out to take photos of the engine making its way up St. John’s Road.

Sources: IW County Press and RSHG Archive
Article: Ann Barrett