| Posted by JerryE on March 19, 2014 | |
A Short History: London underground tube stock was used on the isolated (self contained) Isle of Wight railway system because most tunnels and bridges have a lower than standard loading gauge meaning that standard stock could not be used, when steam traction was being phased out during the 1960s, these LU trains were modified to run on the surface (such as the fitting of windscreen wipers!) whilst a third rail electric traction system was installed and the trackbed raised in station areas to accommodate the much lower doors. At the same time most of the islands railway system was shut-down except for the line between Ryde pier head (connecting with one of the passenger ferryboat routes with mainland UK) to Shanklin, this being retained by the then British Rail, as this route enjoyed considerable patronage during the tourist season each year. Another section of system survives, as the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, centred on Havenstreet railway station.
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