Island Line Class 483 Farewell

From left to right 006, 004 and 002 all wearing the rather garish 'Dinosaur' livery stand outside Ryde St Johns depot on 1 August 2007.

009 is seen south of Brading on 1 August 2007.

I have had a connection with the Isle of Wight all of my life, my mum's side of the family having originated there and with my grandparents living in Ryde throughout my childhood and teenage years. This meant wonderful summer holidays on the Island exploring its myriad of tourist attractions, beaches and, of course its railways. 

The house on the Island was a stone's throw from the sandy beach of Ryde, and that also meant it was just a few minutes walk from the railway. Some of the first trains I would have come across in my childhood would have been the ex-1938 tube stock which worked the Island Line, designated class 483. 

002 trails a 4 car formation lead by 006 which is about to plunge into Ryde Tunnel. The train is just at the point where a younger me would be standing on top of the tunnel waving to the driver and hoping for a toot on the whistle in return. The line to the left has been out of use for a number of years leaving just a single track serviceable up the pier. 2nd August 2003. 

In the final months on 18th October 2020, 006 is about to
depart from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin. 

I distinctly remember standing on the top of the tunnel at Ryde waving to the drivers of Network South East liveried tubes as they plunged into the tunnel- more often than not receiving a toot on the whistle from the driver as they did. 

More than any other town on the Island, the railway is an intrinsic part of Ryde. You can see and hear the train rumbling up the 681m pier from the Esplanade to meet the boats and watch the trains from the beach and as you are going about your shopping in Union Street.

008 is Ryde bound as it passes the popular photo spot in Los Altos park, Lake on 1st August 2007.

A smart looking 009 approaches Sandown on
1st August 2007.

Class 483 operation on the Isle of Wight commenced in October 1989, shortly before my 1st birthday. It goes without saying that I do not remember the 1923 'Standard' VEC/TIS stock which preceded it. The trains were formed of driving motor coaches of former London Underground 1938 stock, already 50 years old when it arrived on the Island. It had been refurbished for Network South East and delivered to the Island to run on the 8 1/2 mile line between Ryde Pier Head and Shanklin, the last remaining part of what had once been a sprawling network covering some 55 1/2 route miles serving all four corners of the island. 

006 arrives at Lake station from Shanklin on 3rd November 2020.

006 still wears NSE moquette when it was
photographed internally on 19th Sept 2004.

Despite regularly seeing the trains it was some years before I actually remember being able to ride one, our family holidays always involved driving and taking the car ferry, and thus the train did not feature in our travel plans. It was when I was a little older and allowed out myself that I first remember using the Island Line, by which time all of the trains had been repainted into the, shall we say 'questionable' Dinosaur livery to celebrate the Islands claim as the Jurassic Island after a number of dinosaur fossil finds. It is a regret to this day that I was never able to photograph the trains in their NSE that I remember them wearing so well. 

006 heads towards Brading on 3rd November 2020. I had unusually chosen to drive to the Island on this occasion, in a large part due to expecting just a one train, hourly service due to the other unit 008 being unavailable until the afternoon. Having the car did allow me to take a pole to give just a little extra height.

008 emerges from Ryde Tunnel and approaches the
Esplanade on 1st August 2007. The bridge remains a popular 
spot to watch both trains and the Islands unique hovercraft.

By my mid teens I was no longer relying on persuading Grandma that we should visit somewhere by train as I was allowed out on my own- and by now I had a camera. Much use was made of an Island Day Ranger ticket offering outstanding value (especially on a child fare) for a day out on both the electric trains on the Island Line and the steam trains on the beautifully restored Isle of Wight Steam Railway. 
It was 2003 when a little more interest was sparked- somehow escaping the 'Dinosaur' scheme which had bestowed the rest of the fleet, 007 was outshopped from the works at Ryde St John's Road in a version of its original London Transport red livery, complete with lettering. It looked great and it was probably this unit that persuaded me to get out and record the line with my camera. 

The original London Transport liveried unit, 007 is pictured entering Ryde St Johns Road station looking ex-works during its first summer in traffic in the heritage colours, complete with lettering which was never replicated on further units. 2nd August 2003.

008 is viewed near Brading on 1st August 2007.

Soon after a second unit, 009, was outshopped in red, though it never gained the lettering of 007. This enabled a 4 car formation to be run combining the two units- the regular service pattern at the time requiring three units for traffic providing a two car and four car unit for the 20/40 minute interval service. 

By this time the original fleet of 9 trains (a tenth was provided as a source of spares) had been reduced to 6 working examples; 003 and 005 had been withdrawn and quickly scrapped while 001 spent several more years in the headshunt at Ryde St Johns as a source of spares. 

The remaining fleet of 002, 004, 006, 007, 008 and 009 would become the trains I would get to know over the next 17 years as I spent time photographing the line and enjoying my days out on the old electrics. In time the 'Dinosaur' units also lost their livery to give a uniform fleet of LT red trains, though no others ever did receive the 'London Transport' decals originally applied to 007. 

006 is about to head up the pier from Ryde Esplanade on 28th May 2006.

Ex-works 006 arrives into Ryde Esplanade on
28th November 2017 bound for Ryde Pier Head.

As time went on my links to the Island reduced as family moved, or passed away and my summer sojourns became far less frequent, not least as I now had my own agenda to follow. I still liked to visit though to travel on the unique railways of the Isle of Wight and relive my wonderful childhood summers. Those visits, along with a few specifically to photograph the 38' stock in its final year have produced many of the pictures I have displayed here spanning 18 years of the class 483's. 

007 + 009 work together on 21st September 2013.

Originally a stand alone franchise upon privatisation in 1996, 'Island Line Trains' was operated by Stagecoach, which was then incorporated into their much larger 'South West Trains' network upon the renewal of the franchise in 2007. The trains and stations were spruced up to reflect their heritages status, but other than that very little changed on the Island Line despite the advancing age of the stock. 

By 2017 when South Western Railway took the reigns of the franchise it was clear that the future of the islands railway had to be discussed- the trains were now 79 years old, the oldest fleet in mainline service in the UK and the infrastructure was in need of repair. 

Seventeen years since the previous picture, 006 passes through Los Altos park bound for Lake on 3rd November 2020. The train has changed colour and the vegetation on the fence has grown up now making the shot difficult without the aid of a pole (which was used here). 

006 emerges from the trees south of Brading on 3rd November 2020.

The consultation into the future of the railway considered several options, some rather unfavorable to continued operations of the line in its present state, including options to convert the route into a tramway, however ultimately the winning one retained a heavy rail service over the Island Line which would be upgraded and receive replacement stock as part of a £26 million investment. Continuing the tradition of recycling ex-London Underground units the line would receive stock from the 'D-Train' family, former sub-surface stock from the District line which would be re-built by VivaRail. Finally the writing was on the wall for the venerable class 483. 

007, under overhaul and 008 in for general maintenance at Ryde St Johns Road depot on 29th May 2019.

A four car formation formed of 006 + 002 is seen departing 
 Smallbrook Junction on 2nd August 2003. Unit 007 can be 
seen in the distance waiting to enter the single line towards 
Brading.

The upgrade couldn't come soon enough- the 38' stock was by now really showing its age and availability was at an all time low with repairs being ever more difficult to execute, in large due to the inability to obtain spare parts. By the beginning of 2020 the fleet was down to just two serviceable examples, 006 and 008 providing all services with 007 on a prolonged overhaul; the three year timescale again due to issues obtaining parts. The days of four car trains had finished several years before and now it was becoming common for services to be reduced to just an hourly service with a single unit if one of the trains required repairs or an exam. By the end of the year the growing struggle of keeping the 483's going was really showing and on more than a few occasions the line was reduced to no service at all with rail replacement buses being provided - fortunately the Coronavirus meant that this did not affect as many passengers as normal. 

Autumn colours are in evidence on 3rd November 2020 as 006 is seen between Lake and Shanklin.

009 leads a 4 car formation into Smallbrook Junction on
28 April 2014 on the occasion of a UK Railtours 'Ticket to 
Ryde' excursion which brought many enthusiasts to the Island. 

The final day of class 483 operation was set for the 3rd January 2021 after which the line would close for 3 months to allow for upgrade works, including the long term goal of reinstating the loop at Brading to allow a regular 30 minute service. 

The service over Christmas had been sporadic, though did feature the highlight of 007 returning freshly overhauled for the final weeks of 38' stock operations. Unfortunately Covid-19 restrictions have made it impossible for the units to receive the send-off that they really deserve and ultimately the service on the final weekend was much reduced.

Having entered traffic just for the afternoon following an exam, 008 is pictured at Ryde St Johns at twilight headed for Sandown on 18th October 2020.

006 approaches Lake on 3rd November 2020.

When the line re-opens in April the class 483's will be no more, replaced by the Vivarail Class 484, derived from ex-District Line D78 stock - itself already more than 40 years of age. Five two car units have been ordered to provide the 30 minute service and will bring a step change in terms of passenger comfort, access and information. 

It is understood that several of the remaining class 483's will be preserved; 007 is thought to be heading the short distance to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway while a second unit, expected to be 006 or 008 is expected to head to the Epping Ongar railway in Essex, itself a former London Underground branchline.

006 heads down Ryde Pier on 16th September 2020. The unique spectacle of the railway running along the pier is paramount to its existence, providing the connection to the passenger ferry to Portsmouth.

District D-stock bows out

The last D-stock service, complete with commemorative stickers enters Dagenham East on the last day 21 April, 2017.

On Friday 21st April District line D-stock made it's last public run. Entering service from 1980 the 'D78' tubes replaced pre-war CO/CP and post war R stock. Originally delivered in unpainted aluminium the D stock trains served on the District line (and for a brief period the East London Line) serving destinations from Ealing Broadway, Richmond, Kensington Olympia and Wimbledon through to Upminster (Due to platform lengths C-stock was used on the branch to Edgeware Road). The D-stock will be remembered for being the last of the London Underground fleet to be painted into the corporate white red and blue livery upon its refurbishment from 2005-8. At the same time the trains lost their wooden floors and distinctive hanging grab straps. The trains also became the first on the underground to feature dot-matrix LED destination displays.

Happier times for D-stock with re-furbished and original condition sets
passing at Whitchapel on 14th September 2007.

The mid-life refurbishment could have seen the trains last another 20 years in service, however the decision was taken that all sub-surface stock would be replaced with a uniform fleet of new Bombadier S-stock. Following replacement of A-stock on the Metropolitan and C-stock on the Circle, District (Edgeware Road branch) and Hammersmith & City Lines it was time for the D-stock to take it's turn to bow out of service with withdrawals starting in January 2015. The final run public, the 16:35 from Upminster to Ealing Broadway was well patronised with enthusiasts, locals the press and of course commuters wanting to pay their farewells to this London workhorse. A railtour on 7th May will mark the last use of D78 stock on the London Underground, however some may yet live on as part of the Viva Rail class 230 'D Train' project to create a low cost DMU for branch line service.

Tube deliveries drawing to a close

Running in its usual path as 7X09 heritages liveried 20107 and 20132 lead a new S7 train for the District line past East Goscote (between Melton Mowbray and Leicester). The locos are owned by Harry Needle Railway Company who lease them to GBRf who are operating the S-Stock transfers.

Since late 2009 the delivery runs of new S-Stock trains for London Underground have become a regular feature between Derby, Old Dalby and Neasden depot in London. The S8 and S7 trains which have been built at Bombardiers works in Derby are each moved to the Old Dalby test track for shake down running and mileage accumulation before then continuing their delivery run to Neasden for acceptance by London Underground. The trips have been popular with photographers as due to a weak bridge in the London area the axle weight of the trains has had to be limited- meaning traction has come in the form of veteran class 20's which top and tail the new tube sets along with some former tank wagons converted to barrier vehicles.

20314 and 20096 lead 7X09 after a reversal south of Leicester. The ensemble
are seen here at Castle Gresley on the Freight only Coalville line on 13/04/2016.

The delivery runs are now on their final push with the final sets of tubes for the District Line and those ordered additionally for the Croxley Link now being dispatched from Derby. It is entirely possible that by late spring the last of these interesting trains will have taken it's slow and circuitous route from Derby to London to join its sisters in front line LUL service. The days of the remaining D-Stock on the district line are now very much numbered.
I traveled to the Midlands on 13th April 2016 to catch up with some of the last of the stock movements (something I had been meaning to do since they started running more than half a decade ago!). Due to the slow nature of the train, and the routing to keep it out of the way of faster services, it is possible to reach more than one location on the trains route south. Fortunately after a long drive both the train and weather rewarded me!

Steam back on the Met

Re-capturing scenes from yesteryear L150 hauls the 15:15 Harrow-on-the-Hill
 to Amersham towards Chorleywood on Saturday 25th May 2013

As part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the London Underground steam trains returned to the outer reaches of the Metropolitan line over the May 25-27th Bank Holiday weekend. The last that time steam was seen in these parts was in 2000 when the popular 'Steam on the Met' program ran for the final time. The set up this time round was somewhat different but still resulted in three different steam locomotives seeing action on trains between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Amersham.

The three locomotives in use were:
Metropolitan Railway Locomotive No.1
These E-class tanks were built for the Met lines out of Baker St, this example being built at Neasden in 1898. Unfortunately Met No.1 only worked one passenger train during the weekend due to suffering a 'big end failure'.

GWR Pannier tank No.9466
Some 54 years younger than it's Metropolitan companion. Locomotives of this type saw use on London Underground engineering trains in their latter days and 9466 has visited the Metropolitan line on numerous previous occasions.



GWR Prairie No.5521
While having no genuine LU pedigree the GWR Prarie has been painted out in lined Metropolitan colours and re-numbered as Met 150 to commemorate the occasion.

The morning locomotive movement from Ruislip to Amersham passes
 Eastcote with 20227, 20142 the pannier tank and Met No.1

Three steam hauled passenger trains ran each day from Harrow to Amersham which a class 20 diesel (two of these were also specially painted for the 150 celebrations) working the return 'downhill' train. The trains also included vintage Metropolitan Railway electric locomotive No.12 'Sarah Siddons' and were formed of a former BR 4-TC set supplemented by the beautifully restored 4 wheel first class coach No.353. Combined the trains composed of eight vehicles and were powered by Steam, Electric and Diesel simultaneously! 

The empty stock passes Eastcote with 20189 leading.
L150 was on the rear of the train.

 Most trains boarded and alighted only from Amersham, which was the centre of the events activities with stalls on the station as well as views of the locomotives being shunted between the trains.

20189 has it's '150' headcode reflected in the mirror at
Amersham. Any excuse to spread the 150 spirit!

Two trains of stock ran each day to and from Ruislip depot providing an additional opportunity for photographers.

Once again London Underground and the London Transport Museum must be commended for putting on such a good event (and writing a very good guide to accompany tickets). Lets hope it doesn't take another 12 years before we see steam on the Met once more!

London Underground 150- A celebration with Steam!

It feels like barely a year goes by without some sort of 'Big' anniversary. Many of the older diesel locomotives have recently celebrated their 50th birthdays, and there was of course the GWR 175 celebrations not so long ago in 2010. Some of these celebrations are marked with big events, others less so. It is pleasing therefore that a very worth landmark this year is being celebrated in style- 2013 marks 150 years since the opening of the Metropolitan Railway. 150 years ago on 9th January 1863 the first underground journey in the world was made between Paddington and Farringdon. The London Underground was ultimately born, and things have never quite been the same since. Today the system carries millions of passengers every day and the idea of an underground railway has been duplicated the world over.

To celebrate the occasion London Underground in partnership with the London Transport Museum have organised a number of events across the year. Surely the most spectacular will be the first- Steam is to return to the original underground tunnels of the Met on a passenger train with a locomotive and coaches which would have worked the service 100 years ago!
The event has been some time in the planning- the locomotive 'Met No.1', built in 1898 has been overhauled for the event and an original 4 wheel 1st class coach has also been extensively restored. Four further original Metropolitan coaches- the 'Chesham' set have been moved from the Bluebell Railway to London and work has also been carried out on original electric locomotive No.12 'Sarah Siddons' which will assist the train. Behind the scenes there have been tests and mountains of paperwork to enable this ancient train of wooden-bodied coaches to once again steam under London's streets.
The final test run took place in the early hours of 10th January with the full train consisting of Met No.1, a milk van (in use as a support coach), 5 coaches and 'Sarah Siddons' running from Lillie Bridge depot to Kensington Olympia, from where a full trip was undertaken to Moorgate.
The train departed from Lillie bridge shortly after 1am and continued to Olympia for an 1:30am departure, picking up invited guests at Earls Court en route.
Eager to avoid the expected crowds gathering for photographs on the advertised runs I made a trip out to Kensington Olympia to record the events. The train looks absolutely stunning and it is a credit to all parties that this incredible event is running. All now appears to be on course for the public to witness the return of steam to the London Underground.

Special heritage steam trains will on London's sub surface lines on 13th and 20th January 2013.

Special Delivery- London Underground S-Stock

One of the more unusual trains running in the UK at the moment is the delivery of new S-Stock for London Underground. The trains which will ultimately replace all A, C and D stock on the Metropolitan, Circle, Hammersmith & City and District lines represent the largest ever order for the underground. The stock is being built at Bombadier's Litchurch Lane works in Derby, and following testing at the Ashfordby test track it is then transfered to Neasden Depot in London by rail.

Due to a weight restriction entering the LUL network, ageing class 20's are used for the delivery trains adding even more interest to the working. In the early hours of 12th January 2012 I travelled to Aylesbury to witness the train, worked on this occasion by 20142, 20227, 20901 and 20905 reversing for the final leg of it's journey to London. The nocturnal nature of the train in London is due to pathing constraints which dictate that it just wait untill the final service trains have finished before proceeding on to the LUL network.