A fond farewell to Wight Ivatt benefactor Roy Miller, 91
VOLUNTEERS and staff of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway were in mourning after long-time supporter Roy Miller passed away on the morning of April 5.
Roy, 91, a former electrical engineer apprentice in the British Thomas Houston switching division, was best known for his major roles in establishing the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre and with his school friend Peter Clarke set up the Ivatt Locomotive Trust, which went on to preserve BR Standard 2MT No. 41298, bought directly from BR in July 1967.
They had intended to buy a different number from the class and one which had run on the Chesham branch that had taken them both to school, but on advice from a Clapham shed foreman they took No. 41928 as it was in better condition.
They also acquired No. 41313 from Woodham Brothers scrap merchants in 1975, originally as a source of spares, and both locomotives now reside and operate on the IoWSR.
A tender version in No. 46447 was also bought from Barry and is operating on the East Somerset Railway on long-term loan.
Roy and Peter led the overhauls and restoration of the two tank engines, and in an act of incredible generosity signed both of these, No. 46447 and Hunslet Austerity No. 3850 Juno, over to the IoWSR in 2009. In recognition of this, cast brass nameplates are carried on both 2-6-2Ts – No. 41313 Roy and No. 41298 Peter – to recognise their saviours, albeit discreetly and in line with the wishes of the trust as they were never named in BR service.
Roy went on to design a wheeldrop for the Ivatts at Havenstreet and a traverser at Quainton Road.
Roy had been unwell for a few years. His last visit to the Island was in 2018, where all three Ivatts were in steam in what was described as the I-WSR achieving his and Peter’s dream.
On the morning of his passing, No. 41313 was in service and led tributes with a prolonged blast of its whistle.