THE Isle of Wight Steam Railway (IoWSR) marked the 50th anniversary of the Wight Locomotive Society’s move from Newport to Havenstreet on January 24, albeit in a much lower key than originally intended.
The transfer of the fledgling society’s stock from the old Newport station on January 24, 1971 not only heralded the end of the railways in the town, but also signalled the start of the society’s successful restoration of the line between Wootton and Smallbrook Junction.
The stock move was undertaken by‘O2’ 0-4-4T No. W24 Calbourne, adorned with a special commemorative headboard.
Five decades later the IoWSR had intended to re-create the spirit of that historic journey with a special passenger service from Wootton to Havenstreet; the passengers beginning their journey on foot from Newport by following the route of the now-lifted line as far as Wootton.