Sunset of steam on the isle of wight: cowes and ventnor

Sixty years ago this month, on March 6 1966, the Western Region achieved two major goals with the end of both steam power and the Somerset & Dorset route – bringing a mighty era to a rather grubby end.

In the first 15 years of its life as a heritage line, steam on the West Somerset Railway underwent a remarkable transformation, from humble industrials to stars from the National Collection.

T WO OF the last locomotives from ‘Collection ...

This substantial shed served the considerable freight needs of the Cumbrian port, with two heritage preservation attempts failing after its 1968 closure.

Heading south, a WD 2-8-0 passes Newburn Junction with loaded coal, circa 1967. The oldest of the two routes in view is coastal, dates back to 1840 and first ran across a wide expanse of water known a

Steam Railway meets up with Gavin Collins, Chairman of the North Dorset Railway, and Phil Jacques, the line’s Operations Manager, to talk about what this S&D anniversary year (and beyond) holds for the expanding heritage line.