THE ISLE of Wight Steam Railway celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Southern Railway in style on June 23 ‐25, with the event “exceeding expectations”.
Headlining the three-day gala was recently overhauled ‘Terrier’ No. 72 Fenchurch, visiting from the Bluebell Railway. IoWSR general manager Steve Backhouse said: “Fenchurch ran impeccably throughout the weekend and was certainly much admired. Being air-brake-fitted, she is one of a select number of guest locomotives able to haul trains on the IoWSR.” There were two Stroudley 0 ‐ 6‐0Ts running at the gala, the second being IoWSR resident No. W11 Newport, with another Havenstreet inhabitant – ex ‐LSWR ‘O2’ 0 ‐ 4‐4T No. W24 Calbourne – completing the line-up. The pair were appropriately turned out for the Southern centenary celebrations, with No. W11 currently painted in Maunsell ‐era olive green and Calbourne in Bulleid-era Malachite green.
Fenchurch and Newport operated a special ‘Terrier Day’ on the Friday, with Calbourne joining the fray for the Saturday and Sunday. All three took turns hauling the line’s rakes of wooden-bodied Victorian four-wheel and Edwardian bogie carriages, while No. W11 took the railway’s Southern-liveried demonstration goods train before double-heading with Fenchurch on the four-wheelers each evening.
Backhouse commented: “The weekend certainly exceeded our expectations, and we welcomed twice as many visitors as last year’s gala event. We’ve never specialised in the ‘mega’ galas seen at other railways; however, it was great to see la
