‘Terrier’ Knowle back on Isle of Wight
LBSCR ‘Terrier' 0-6-0T No. 2678 Knowle crossed the Solent on May 27 in readiness for the Isle of Wight Steam Railway's June 4-6 50th anniversary gala.
Now based on the Kent & East Sussex Railway, the locomotive worked on the Island between 1929 and 1936 where it was named Bembridge following the tradition of naming locomotives after local towns and villages.
Arriving on the Wightlink ferry at Fishbourne after an absence of 85 years, Knowle travelled on to Havenstreet and will spend a month visiting the steam railway. Its arrival was captured on Meridian TV's 6pm news that evening.
Railway general manager Steve Backhouse said: “It's great to welcome this magnificent piece of Island railway heritage back for our 50th anniversary gala.”
Earlier, on April 12, resident LSWR O2 0-4-4T No. W24 Calbourne featured in a series of trains to mark the actual 50th anniversary of the inaugural services, running from Havenstreet to Woodhouse Farm crossing using the same locomotive and three coaches as in 1971.