Everyone Needs A Coach (2)

Havenstreet Heritage

Many heritage lines use the ubiquitous ex British Railways "Mark 1" coaches to trundle their customers around.

They were relatively cheap and plentiful. Some railways have attempted to out-heritage this policy by running stock that either ran on their line itself, or, at least, came from an older era or was operated by an original  company.

The Isle of Wight Steam Railway could not countenance Mark 1 stock as it never operated on the Island (it wouldn't go round the corners in Ryde Tunnel!), so coaches that actually ran on the various lines have been "de rigueur". This Island was well used to using cast-offs, so, at closure, there was an adequate number of bogie coaches of significant vintage available.

But, latterly, the preservationists have sought to acquire and restore a large batch of four-wheeled coaches, the remnants of which had remained on the Island after their withdrawal from active service. 

Usually only the body (or bits thereof)  remained so they have been united with goods wagon chassis of a suitable size.

Most were cast-offs from mainland use but one is particularly special because it was bought new for the Island! The centre compartment was First Class, the two ends were small and cramped thus ideally suited to the Third Class riff-raff!

1864 : built for the Isle of Wight Railway

1923 : in use as a garden shed in Bembridge

1983 : returned to Havenstreet (Steam Railway HQ)

2007 : restored as part of the Peter Snow TV railway restoration
           programme. Usually on static display

1896 : built for London Brighton and South Coast Railway

1925 : transferred to IoW

1931 : in use as a bunglow at Gurnard Marsh

1984 : acquired

1993 : start of four year restoration

1897 : bought from the North London Railway

1926 : withdrawn from active servicer

1974 : discovered on Hayling Island (mainland!)

1986 : restoration complete

188?  : built for the London Chatham and Dover Railway (L C D R)

1924 : two coaches convered to a "push Pull" set for IoW use

           usually between Merstone and Ventnor

1938 : in use at Gurnard Marsh and Newtown Creek
????  : restoration completed

1899 : previously a four compatment 2nd class coach with brake van

           built for L C D R. It was downgraded to Third Class.

1924 : To IoW - guards compartment turned into a 5th for passengers

1937 : in use as a chalet at Brambles Chine

1981 : to Havenstreet

2002 : restored

1886 : built for L C D R as a First Class coach

1930 : transferred to Isle of Wight downgraded to Third Class

1937 : in use as a garden chalet at Rookley

1984 : rescued

2009 : five year restoration completed

1896 : built for London Brighton and South Coast Railway

1925 : transferred to IoW

1931 : in use as a bungalow at Rew Street

2005 : rescued

2018 : five year restoration completed.

And there are more; awaiting time, labour and money!

For a small preservation society, perhaps without the national kudos of, say, the Bluebell Line, The IoW Steam Railway has achieved a huge amount in the way of restoring the past. If you have never been to the line, please do go. And if you are quick, you will still be able to ride on 1938 tube trains to get to the interchange at Smallbrook Junction.

But for the time being, please concentrate on the last restored coach illustration above.

Looks familiar?

By the way, properties at (e.g.) Gurnard Marsh have gone a bit up-market since the days of habitable 19th Century railway carriages.

More tomorrow.

Venture P.S.
In passing, a few blogs back, fbb mentioned GoNorthEast's Consett area services with "refreshed" "Venture" livery. There was a cover ...

... from an old timetable book, but fbb was unsure of the present position vis à vis printed material. But it looks as if there is a present-day version of the Venture timetable book.

fbb could not find a PDF of the complete production, but did come across an older version.

It contained full timetables, not one of those useless frequency lists which leave so many questions unanswered and have the potential of leaving so many passengers stranded. Good clear PRINTED timetables make journey decisions so much easier.

There is also an excellent Consett network map of which only a chunk can be adequately blogged.

fbb guesses, but lacking any empirical evidence, that today's "refreshed" booklet is equally excellent.

Chocolate peanuts all round to "the lads and lasses" at GoAhead.

Breathe In!
An embarrassing picture of a GoAhead Go Cornwall bus, possibly following a sat nav!

Snigger, snigger! Nice looking buses, though ...

... which used to carry Red Flash branding in Plymouth City. (e & o e)

The "squeeze" was tweeted (or maybe re-tweeted) by Marc Morgan-Huws.

Now who do he work for? A clue?

A bus company whose first area of operation is Kernow, i.e. Cornwall.

He does a bit of Railway Modelling as well, so must be a "good chap"!

 More four-wheelers blog : Wedneasday 19th August