Isle of Wight Steam Railway - '50th Anniversary Gala' 04-06/06/2021

Monday the 18th of January 1971: The Wight Locomotive Society were issued a weeks notice to quit their site at Newport station, by the 25th. The society had their sights set to make a base at Havenstreet, with their collection; O2 Class - W24 "Calbourne", 5 coaches, and a few historic wagons, making home on just over a mile and a half of track.

Colloqually known simply as 'The Move', the 24th of January 1971 saw "Calbourne", which had been nursed back to life at Newport by the WLS after its purchase in November 1966, make a handful of trips between Newport to Havenstreet transfering the WLS collection to their new home. The frantic nature of the move, makes the success story of the Wight Locomotive Society all the sweeter; especially given the obstacles that faced the move, including adverse weather, landslips and the minimal preparation time.

50 years on, the Isle of Wight steam Railway has become one of the most reknowned preservation success stories. To celebrate their anniversary, the railway held a '50th Anniversary Gala' over the weekend of Friday the 4th - Sunday the 6th of June. Each day of the event featured something different, to add to the spectacle; Friday and Sunday featured demonstration freight services and double headed workings, Saturday featured a photo line-up in the morning of the three operating locomotives at Wootton, as well as late evening services, while Sunday showcased a recreation of the morning mail services that used to frequent the Islands' railway system.

Visiting from the Kent & East Sussex Railway, 'Terrier' - 2678 "Knowle" (name not carried) reprised its Isle of Wight identity for the duration of the event, regaining the number W14 along with the name "Bembridge". W14 would be flanked by the IoWSR's own pair of Island locomotives; W11 "Newport" (name not carried), and W24 "Calbourne". The visit marked W14's first visit to the Isle of Wight in over 80 years.

Locomotives:
Ex-LSWR O2 Class - W24 "Calbourne"
Ex-LB&SCR A1X 'Terrier' Class - W11
Ex-LB&SCR A1X 'Terrier' Class - W14 "Bembridge"

All footage filmed on Friday the 4th, Saturday the 5th, and Sunday the 6th of June 2021.