Wootton appeal relaunChed

Plans to develop Wootton station as a pre‑Grouping time warp have moved to the top of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway’s fundraising agenda. It is proposed to enhance the recreated Isle of Wight Central Railway station with a siding to display restored IWCR wagons and, possibly, a second platform capable of taking the Ryde Pier tram or Ventnor West push‑pull set. The plans would also include the installation of IWCR signalling. An appeal launched in 2011 paid for a new station building and extension to the platform ‑ but the project was put on the back burner, but with the completion of Ivatt 2‑6‑2T No. 41313, the Wootton development is to become the main focus of the railway’s fundraising efforts, with detailed costings to be finalised later this year. The other appeal currently running is to repair the corroded underframes on the railway’s three SECR bogie coaches, with £142,000 raised towards its £200,000 target.

STEPHEN LEEK the stationmaster observes the arrival of ‘terrier’ no. W8 Freshwater at Wootton with the IoWsr’s goods train on september 11 2016.