Isle of Wight Steam Railway

Om museet

The first railway on the Isle of Wight opened in 1862, and by 1890 lines served much of the island. Most of them were poorly funded and relied on elderly locomotives and carriages passed on from the mainland, which is why the surviving stock is of special interest to railway historians. The first closures came in 1952, and in 1966 the Ryde to Newport to Cowes and Shanklin to Ventnor lines were shut. Steam services ended on the remaining Ryde to Shanklin line on 31 December 1966.

A small group of enthusiasts, the Wight Locomotive Society, raised money to save the locomotive Calbourne and a number of carriages. In 1971 the Isle of Wight Railway Co. Ltd. was formed to buy the length of track between Wootton and Havenstreet, and the line was gradually extended towards Ryde. In 1991 it reached Smallbrook Junction, where an interchange station allows passengers to change to the island's other railway line.

Today the railway is run largely by volunteers and runs steam trains over about 5½ miles (9 km) of countryside. Havenstreet station is the base for visitors and for the railway's workshops. It holds the Train Story Discovery Centre, an indoor museum about the island's railways with a carriage from 1864 and former London Underground trains that ran on the island's other line until 2021. The oldest locomotive was built in 1876.

Højdepunkter

• Steam trains through the Isle of Wight countryside between Smallbrook Junction and Wootton
• Train Story Discovery Centre, an interactive indoor museum
• Victorian and Edwardian carriages, the oldest dating from 1864
• Former Underground trains that ran on the island until January 2021
• Station café, barn café, playground and railway shop at Havenstreet

Permanent udstilling

• Train Story Discovery Centre – An interactive indoor museum on the story of the island's railways, with the oldest carriage, built in 1864, and Underground trains that ran until January 2021.

Grundlagt

1966

Ejer

Isle of Wight Railway Co. Ltd.

Entrépriser & rabatter

Guide prices published by Visit Isle of Wight (adult standard travel ticket booked online); fares can change and can differ for special events. The ticket includes unlimited trips in standard carriages and entry to all facilities at Havenstreet station, including the Train Story Discovery Centre. Dogs and bicycles travel free. First Class tickets are also sold; see the railway's website for prices. Members use free travel vouchers.

Tilgængelighed

• Delvis kørestolsvenlig
• Elevator
• Handicaptoilet
• Handicapparkering
• Servicehunde tilladt
• Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
• Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger

Havenstreet station has ramps and level access, and the Train Story Discovery Centre has a lift. Accessible toilets are provided at Havenstreet, Wootton and Smallbrook Junction. An induction loop is available in the booking offices. Parking for disabled visitors is provided. Some exhibits involve steps, such as the Underground train and the tram. Guide dogs are permitted.

Børn og familie

Velegnet til børn og familier

• Interaktive stationer
• Puslerum
• Legeplads / legehjørne

Children's tickets are inexpensive, infants travel free and up to three children go free with each full-price adult in the listed offer. The station has an indoor and an outdoor children's play area, children's meals and high chairs, and baby changing. The Train Story Discovery Centre is interactive.

Transport & parkering

The station is at Main Road, Havenstreet. Secure cycle parking is available, and bicycles are carried free on the trains.

Service & spisesteder

• Café
• Museumsbutik
• Wi-fi

Wi-fi is listed in the Visit Isle of Wight entry for the railway. There is a station café, a barn café and a railway shop at Havenstreet, with free entry to the café and playground. The café serves hot and cold food and drinks on all running days, and picnic areas are available.

Arrangementer & udlejning

• Lokaler til leje
• Private fester
• Firmaarrangementer

Conference facilities, meeting rooms and marquee space are listed for events and team activities.

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