Isle of Wight railways

Locomotives were introduced onto the Isle of Wight in 1859, with the Cowes and Newport line opening in 1862 for commercial purposes. When Medina Wharf was built in 1877, the railway became important for transporting coal and goods to Newport for over 50 years, extending to a passenger service at a later date. The steam trains became a valuable means of transport on the Isle of Wight, and in 1868 the Sandown to Newport line was built by the Isle of Wight Railway Company to run over a stretch of 9 miles. Unfortunately, due to a catalogue of problems, the line did not

open until 1880, but subsequently closed soon after when the company went into receivership. This prompted the Cowes and Newport line to purchase the abandoned line and build more railways and stations at Newport, Shide, Blackwater, Merstone, Horringford, Newchurch, Alverstone, and Sandown. They renamed the company the Isle of Wight Central Railways. Prior to the name change, in 1875 the Ryde to Newport line was opened. It was designed to run from the East of the island to the West coast. The final part of the railway to be completed was the Newport to St. Lawrence line in 1897,

which was extended to Ventnor West in 1900. Passenger trains, however, were owned by the Isle of Wight Railway Company, opening lines from the North of the island to the South on 23 August 1864. The Company continued with their enterprise of extending the railways, as this mode of transport was popular with the Islanders. A train ferry was also commissioned at this time, but only operated for 6 years, and closed in 1888. The introduction of the railways had become a renowned success, and was more

convenient than the previous horse-drawn tram system, making it a profitable business. After the construction of Ryde Pier in 1812 which linked the ferries to the mainland, the two mainland railway companies, the London and South Western Railway, and the London Brighton and South Coast Railways, became enthusiastic about the profitable network, and built a joint-owned railway line along the route that had been used by the trams and train ferry in 1880. Around 1923, the railways were all under the Southern Railway Company, and the Isle of Wight became a popular

destination for tourists, who enjoyed the convenienvce of the railways until the 1950s. In 1961, the British Railway Board was formed with their First Chairman Dr. Beeching. He had a mission to make railways extinct, and was responsible for the closure of a third of Britain's railways. He succeeded in his quest to disable the Isle of Wight of its convenient mode of transport, and by 1966 very little remained of this once thriving locomotive industry. The steam locomotives had been banished, and the railway lines destroyed. Few services survived Dr. Beeching's brutal plan. But the Ryde to Shanklin line was left intact, and the steam trains were replaced with new

electric London Transport tube trains, which were built in the 1920s. These slim trains were ideal to travel along the island's unique and narrow landscape. A new station was built in the village of Lake, which is sandwiched between Sandown and Shanklin, and was opened in 1982. Other junctions were built at Smallbrook, Brading, Sandown Lake, and Shanklin.Railway enthusiasts of late have been devoted to raising funds to restore the railways on the island, and are hopeful that their dream will one day become reality. As very little evidence remains of this once majestic activity of the prominent sound of the steam trains, it is sad to think that this experience will never be exhumed from its helpless grave for future generations to enjoy.

Ghosts from a Bygone Era
The old Newport station harbours the spectre of a railwayman. This ghostly figure has been seen going about his duties with the sound of his lantern swinging by his side. Doors have also been known to rattle as the man wearing Victorian-style overalls complete with a flat cap checks that the ghostly doors are secure. He has also been seen walking through a closed door. This image has been seen repeatedly by staff at their workplace, which stands around the area of the old station. Could this ghostly figure be reluctant to leave his lost workplace? The mysterious chuffing sound of a phantom train pulling three carriages has been witnessed along Holyrood Street in Newport, crossing a long extinct viaduct. Is this the replay of a busy working railway line begging to be remembered?

the ghost train at Holyrood street
The ghost train is an unexplained occurence, as trains ceased to run the Newport line in the 1960s, with very little remaining of its lengthy track today. But a recent report from a particular lady states seeing a train with three carriages run along a non-existent track over a viaduct towards Cowes. The deathly silence of the steam locomotive made this lady come to the comclusion that she had witnessed a ghost train, which seemed to be running in mid-air. Another encounter with the ghostly image of a train comes from a resident, who lived close to the once busy railway track. The lady gave her account of the noise of a steam train puffing through a tunnel, whistling as it travelled. Train wheels clacking along the track, the hissing of its engine coming to a halt, and the unloading of cargo, made this particular lady wonder whether the tales of an unseen ghost train could actually be a figment of her imagination. It is up to you to decide on these fascinating stories.