Once over on the island we had a short wait at Ryde Pier Head for the first train to arrive. The service utilises ex London Underground trains. Here the two car unit arrives at the Pier Head at the end of Ryde's pier. Although the track remains in place only the r/h track was in use from Ryde Esplanade.

After taking a break in Ryde during which we spotted the actress Celia Imrie it was back to Ryde Esplanade station to catch the train to Smallbrook junction. This was scheduled in the timetable to connect with the steam train on the service through Havenstreet to Wootton. However our electric train went sailing through Smallbrook Junction station without stopping. We questioned the conductor/guard who examined his timetable and then spoke to the driver via the intercom. All he could do was shrug his shoulders. We decided to continue to Shanklin and abandoned plans to take a steam train ride.

On arrival at Shanklin the conductor/guard went to the front and I heard the driver saying 'it's no use telling me after the train has gone through the station' Well my question is 'Who's responsibility is it? The driver or the guard?' The driver appeared quite amused by it all. I wasn't!. On leaving the station there was a mini cab standing by. So we hopped in and asked the driver to drive to Havenstreet and don't spare the horses....£14.40 later we reached Havenstreet

On arrival at Havenstreet. A £5 ticket each enabled us to travel on the last train back to Smallbrook Junction.

D2554 was on display at Havenstreet. British Railways Class 05 No D2554. Initially allocated to Parkeston Quay in 1956, this locomotive remained on the Eastern Region of British Railways until 1966 when transfer to the Southern Region was followed by modifications to the cab height to enable it to be accommodated by the restricted loading gauge of the Isle of Wight railways. Arriving at Ryde Shed on 7 June 1966 she was intended to power engineering trains in connection with the electrification of the Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin line and for maintenance trains thereafter. The locomotive was christened 'Nuclear Fred' by the Islands railway staff, a name that has followed to the Steam Railway to which it was transferred on 23 August 1984. 'Nuclear Fred' is in full working order although lack of train air brake equipment confines it to works train and demonstration goods train duties.

My last visit to the railway was over 20 years ago and I recall being rather frustrated that time about not being able to take clean photos of the locos. Its a shame that the works building is out of bounds. I would have liked to have seen and photographed the Ivatt tank locos in the shed. Tucked away alongside the carriage shed in a very non-photogenic location was ex WD saddletank loco no 92 Waggoner

Inside the carriage works was W24 Calbourne which is midway through major overhaul. The boiler has been refurbished at Crewe at a cost, so several members of staff said, of over £350,000.

ex WD Long Marston 0-6-0 saddletank no 198 Royal Engineer arrives at Havenstreet with the to Smallbrook Junction

Built for the Ministry of Defence in 1953, WD198 did not enter service until 1956 at the General Stores Sub-Depot at Steventon, moving to Central Ordnance Depot, Bicester in 1958 and finally to HQ Engineer Resources at Long Marston in 1961. Following a long period in store she was restored to working order and given the name 'Royal Engineer' in 1971. A further overhaul followed in 1987/88 and, when withdrawn from service in 1991, she was the last operational steam locomotive owned by the Army. 'Royal Engineer' was part of a collection of railway items acquired by the Royal Corps of Transport Museum Trust for eventual display at a new museum under development at Chatham. As an interim measure 'Royal Engineer' was placed on loan to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway and, following the fitting of Westinghouse air brake equipment, was put to work on passenger services. In 2001 direct responsibility for the care of the locomotive passed to the National Army Museum who confirmed the loan agreement. WD198 can be seen at Havenstreet alongside sister engine Army No.92 'Waggoner', which arrived on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway in February 2005. In May 2008 the National Army Museum transferred the ownership of both Army locomotives to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.

The loco takes water at Havenstreet.

Two other locos were cold outside the works. 0-6-0 side tank loco Ajax and 0-4-0 saddletank Invincible

A feature of the railway is the excellent condition of its wooden bodied carriages.

The main station and museum building at Havenstreet used to be the gasworks!

Ex WD no 198 Royal Engineer awaits the signals to continue towards Smallbrook Junction from Havenstreet.

Next task after watering was topping up the air pump with oil.

Ajax stands at Havenstreet

This looks very much like a tender from an Ivatt 2-6-0. In fact on further research it is the tender from 46447 that arrived on the island along with two Ivatt tank locos in August 2006. The boiler is in poor condition so will only be restored cosmetically after the two Ivatt tank locos are completed.

198 Royal Engineer runs around at Smallbrook Junction

Th adjacent electric railway can be seen in this view as 198 continues its run around.

Ex WD no 198 Royal Engineer couples up to the stock at Smallbrook Junction to form the 16.19 to Wootton

The last steam train of the day departs Smallbrook Junction towards Havenstreet and Wootton

On arrival at Ryde Pier Head and we walked straight onto the Fast cat boat back to Portsmouth. Journey time 18 minutes.