Gallery-IoW

Isle of Wight

: Ryde Pier Head was once a grand station, with four platforms and through services to many parts of the Island. Now only a single track remains, with all trains using the Western-most platform. Passengers off the Wightlink Ferry from Portsmouth join 484003 on the 15.45 to Shanklin on 19th July 2022. Photo: Alan Jones.

: The 2021 upgrades to the Island Line now allow a half-hourly service to operate between Ryde and Shanklin, with trains crossing at Brading. Every other working commences/terminates at Esplanade, with one train per hour travelling to Pier Head to connect with the Wightlink ferry to Portsmouth. 484003 leaves Pier Head on 17th July 2022 with the 17.45 departure to Shanklin. Photo: Alan Jones.

: The abandoned girders in the foreground once carried a tram service from the Esplanade to the Pier Head, which closed on 26th January 1969. They have recently been refurbished and re-decked and now support a much-needed pedestrian walkway to the Pier Head. On July 19th 2022, 484003 leaves Esplanade station for Pier Head with the 17.15 from Shanklin. Photo: Alan Jones.

: Ryde Esplanade is a popular station and is also the interchange point with many of the Island’s bus services provided by Southern Vectis. To the left of the picture, and catching the attention of the gentleman with the camera, is the Hovercraft terminal, which provides a speedy 10 minute crossing to Portsmouth. Unit No. 484003 works the 18.15 Shanklin to Pier Head on 19th July 2022. Photo: Alan Jones.

: Clearance in Ryde Esplanade Tunnel, into which 484004 is about the enter with the 18.14 Esplanade to Shanklin on 19th July 2022, was one of the main motivations for the use of Underground stock on the Island. However, these restrictions have now been eased, allowing surface stock to be used on the line. Photo: Alan Jones.

: To allow for the higher floor level of the Class 484 surface stock, all Island Line platforms had to be raised. This work was carried out in first half of 2021, along with various other upgrade works, with the line closing completely for the duration. Unit No. 484003 pauses at Ryde St Johns Road on July 19th 2022 with the 16.45 Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin. Photo: Alan Jones.

: The Island’s Class 483 1938 units were replaced by former London Underground D78 stock from the District Line, formed as five sets of two cars and allocated class number 484. Sets 484001 and 484002 are seen outside the deport at Ryde St Johns Road on July 19th 2021. Photo: Alan Jones.

: The line South from St Johns Road is double track as far as Smallbrook Junction, where a cross-platform interchange with the Steam Railway was built by Network South East in the early 1990s. Traditional Southern Railway rail-built semaphore signals contrast with the new rolling stock as 484003 heads South with the 16.45 Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin on 19th July 2022. Photo: Alan Jones.

: Shanklin is now the end of the line, with the section to Ventnor closing on 18th April 1966, and regretfully leaving one of the most attractive parts of the Island isolated from the rail system. 484003 enjoys its short, 6 minute turn-round time before heading back North to the Pier Head at 16.16 on 19th July 2022. Photo: Alan Jones.

: The former London Underground 1938 stock was withdrawn from service on the Isle of Wight in early 2021 and most of the two-car units have entered preservation. Set No. 483007 (comprising vehicles 127/10291 and 227/11291) went to the Steam Railway and is seen in beautifully restored condition in the Haven Street museum on 15th July 2023. Photo: Alan Jones.

: 1959 Doncaster-built D2059 spent its BR working life at Gateshead until April 1984, then moved to Colchester and finally to Norwich Crown Point in January 1987 before withdrawal in July 1987. It moved to the Isle of Wight in November 1988, via the Fishbourne Ferry, and has since been resident at Haven Street, as seen here on July 15th 2023. Photo: Alan Jones

: A close-up of the whistle on Unit No. 484004 at Shanklin. These are sure to be in high demand by enthusiasts when the times comes! Photo: Alan Jones.