IWCR

Coal for the Cement Mills was direct by sea. Most of the Cement left by sea, local cement / concrete by road. I believe the Paraffin came in at St Helens, dont know of any storage tanks probably unloaded direct to the rail tankers (not talking about large quantities here). The facility at Cowes comprised a storage tank not much larger than the rail tanker. This tank was part way up the bank in the Coal Yard area, a small wooden hut adjoined the siding contained a pump, Paraffin would have been pumped from the rail tanker to the storage tank (likely by hand). Distribution by gravity back to the hut where small cans etc would be filled for local road / hand delivery. Other locations would be similar. Gone by mid SR days this traffic would have been readily taken over by road transport, the rise in motoring and increased use of oil / petrol resulted in a dedicated oil terminal at East Cowes which was not rail served. Pete

The real 56037 still exists as a grounded body, a shed at a private address. Pete

The Olive Green loses some of the yellow to weathering within two or three years, this is with modern paints and I assume the same happened with the original pigments. The result is a darker and bluer shade. This is visible on vehicles which have had the paintwork touched up with any fresh patches noticeably yellower than the original finish even with careful tinting with black to darken the new paint. I have been involved with SR carriage restoration for nearly 40 years including many Olive Green vehicles, you can always find original paint samples in protected locations such as door edges which have not been weathered, these spots also do not get repeated varnishing. The different layers of paint are clear and the change in shade can be seen. I have seen references to an official change in the shade of Olive but I couldnt tell you where. Pete

No a shade change did take place with the later green quite a bit darker. Yes repeated varnishing will darken both of them. There would have been a change in paint specification to reflect the colour change, wether this altered the materials the paint was made from I dont know. Pete

Also not previously seen that photo, the only one I had was a single tank at the end of the same siding in the background of a photo taken from the platform. This siding served the power station, was the oil terminal here to? (note: just a small static tank on blocks with a small shed for the pump and hose). Later photos generally have the weedkilling tanks parked here. Pete

The shade of Olive Green changed over the years, the colour by the late 30's was a darker shade than that of the late 20's. The darker shade is sometimes referred to as Eastleigh Green and the lighter shade Ashford Green but I believe the are more separated by date applied rather than location. Very early SR green was different again, this was Sage Green which was a late LSWR colour and it also has a light olive appearance. Take your pick. Pete

The big Road Van was purchased for preservation however it was then scrapped in error. A small road Van was then obtained as a replacement. Having seen the structural state the small one got into prior to a full restoration I would expect the longer version would have been even worse. Pete

Sharps the timber merchant also had a small number of timber trucks in pre-grouping days. At least 1 was an ex LBSCR long wheelbase double bolster, in very early days Ashey Chalk pit had some wagons and an "Incline Brake Van" the latter subject of a court case when the Central Railway "borrowed" it. There were 2 or 3 off the Royal Daylight tank wagons, these carried Naptha (paraffin) which was used as a lighting oil. Landed at St Helens Quay, known unloading points, Newport, Cowes, Ventnor West, Freshwater. Wainwright 1, yell out when you visit, I shall be in the C&W workshop. Pete

The Bluebells Road van was bought in 1961 and came from the Bodmin -Padstow line. It had been withdrawn in 1958 but apparently lingered on in some sort of use for a few more years. Possibly the last in service on mainland BR ?. Pete

Gone from the mainline by then I think, if any were left it would be a west country branch line. One at Longmoor military railway. Pete

Sandown is used for engineers equipment when this is brought over, nothing kept on the Island now. Still three wagons at Ryde, the two match wagons for the LT stock and a seized up ballast wagon. Likely all will go this winter. Pete

Medina Wharf on the Isle of Wight is a river wharf built by the railway for handling coal. The railway closed in 1966, traffic ceasing in May but with engineers trains running until late in the year. Four SR 13 ton opens were left at the wharf after closure for the storage of crane grabs. These remained on site until around 1980. Pete

In 1932 the IOW stock had no 6 wheelers, the 50% figure given is probably right for ex 6 wheel LCDR vehicles although all had been converted to 4 wheelers. This was not done specifically for the Island but mainly around 1919 when a lot of 6 wheel mainline stock was cascaded to suburban duties. By this time LCDR bogie vehicles were arriving as replacements, several sets each year. A small number of other non LCDR stock was also in use. The last 4 wheelers in general traffic on the Island were withdrawn in 1938 although the Freshwater line mail set which was formed of three 4 wheel brake thirds lasted until BR days in 1949, its replacement had probably been delayed by WW2. Pete

“anything can happen in the next half hour“ I thought that was stingray? or was it used in both?. I cant remeber it but I can remember my dad commenting "how do they know it will be half an hour" Dont remember watching supercar but I do remember stingray. Pete

Southern yes please, however where are these "nice coaches they make", I am not aware of much current RTR N gauge coaches in SR livery. The type of stock used with SR Terriers would have been cascaded pre-grouping carriages, not the latest Maunsell & Bulleid ones, (Note: the SR built no steam hauled surburban or local carriages, only main line stock), The best available are the long out of production Farish generic 4 wheel and bogie suburban stock. Many Hattons could produce their generic 4 and 6 wheel stock in N if the OO is a success?, this could lead to a demand for SR terriers. Malachite:- only carried by one locomotive, yes would be nice to have. Pete

Newport was the only station name used in in every region. I have seen a photo of a full set of BR totems in each regional colour in a collection. Pete

The chimney is a straight pipe, this passes through a cast iron plate attached to the roof. This plate is a loose fit around the pipe and has a groove around the hole to allow packing to be inserted to keep the weather out and support the pipe clear of the roof woodwork. Pete

The LBSC sets were early Southern imports, the IWC had some early Brighton vehicles but these had gone by grouping. Yes the Bemridge vehicles were as described, they were built by Oldbury for the Golden Valley Railway, repossessed following a failure to actually pay for them then offered to the IWR. One of the 6 wheeler bodies was grounded at Totland and the Brake at St Helens, both now long gone, Let me know when your are visiting, you will find me in C&W. Pete

Following on from earlier post re IOW carriages. Yes most of the SR era imports were LCDR many of which were originally Mainline six wheelers converted into 4 wheel Suburban stock around 10 years prior to transfer. However there were five sets of LBSCR vehicles (2 Stroudley, 3 Billington), these had all been built as Suburban 4 wheelers. The only 6 wheel passenger stock running was 2 ex Bembridge Line carriages which had been converted to full brakes during IWR days, these were withdrawn mid 20's. Pete

Not directly no. I have read a WW1 soldiers account (dont know where) who was surprised when travelling to the front in France to find himself in a North London Carriage just like those he used at home including livery and internal adverts, the final part of the journey was then by London Bus. Several grounded bodies which have been preserved are believed to have a war service background including North London and Taff Vale vehicles and these were from South Coast locations. Many wagons were used as well, an example of these I can identify, a batch of wagons were requisitioned from the SECR, these had been contractors wagons (Price & Reeves) built around 1899 and used on engineering works, later bought by the SECR. 5 plank dropside, grease boxes. Returned in 1919 they were stored at Ashford. 20 were sent to the Isle of Wight by the Southern Railway for modernisation works, 1 survives and is preserved. The hospital trains were complete rakes adapted for the task, I understand much of the rest was just anything available which would do the job, the need to transport men and materials from the ports was immense although distances were relatively short. This need could not be met by the French and Belgian railways alone who also had to meet their own armies requirements. Pete

This was proposed for use on the Ryde - Cowes line on the Isle of Wight after closure by BR. A company was formed (Sadler Vectarail) to operate the line using these, discussions with BR and the Council ran on for a year or two. The Sadler railcar was brought over and exhibited on the Island at one of the County shows. The proposal failed over lack of money and BR's reluctance to allow access over its lines at Ryde. The Wight Locomotive society (founder of the current Isle of Wight Steam Railway) was at this time to be based on the Vectarail line and work steam hauled tourist services on summer sundays. After Vectarail failed the Locomotive society went its own way with a short section of the line, it also purchased a number of wagons which Vectarail had acquired for Permanent Way maintenance. Pete

Many coaches were requestioned / purchased for WW1 use in France, these would have mainly been used for troop transport well behind the lines and likely remained in their original railway liveries. Post war they were returned to the UK, some back into railway service but many older vehicles such as four and 6 wheelers were no longer wanted. Places like Ashford ended up with stored vehicles which were then scrapped, this has resulted in the South Coast hosting some grounded bodies which are far from their railway of origin. Vehicles used by the ROD in Britain are more likely to have received a military livery, these would have been for more specific uses and there was time and staff available to paint them. Pete

Even "Dave" has less often repeats. Pete

The Tysley project could actually be viable, They are a TOC in their own right hence would deal with their own operation. The intention I believe is a very local short distance operation at low speed, Much like a preserved railway train just operating over part of the national network. I dont believe there is any intent to operate long distance railtours with these. Pete

It was an edge railway, horse or hand operated. I have seen a map of the layout, not sure where though. the line ran from a quay alongside the creek up to the farm and a brickworks. I think the estate ended up in the hands of one of the Ward family. The tramway had gone by the time of the first OS map. if you visit Northwood Park at Cowes which is the grounds of Northwood House, the Wards main residence it can be seen that many fence posts within the grounds are made of a very light section flat bottom rail, could these have originated from the tramway?.