The Last Day of Steam: Isle of Wight 31 December 1966

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The Last Day of Steam: Isle of Wight 31 December 1966

This film was originally a standard 8mm Cine Film Digitised with a Winait Film Scanner.

The film shows the last day of Steam on the Isle of Wight on 31 December 1966.

December 31st 1966 saw the end of 104 years continuous operation of the Island's railways by steam locomotive. This film captures the event with plenty of people on platforms, riding in carriages and close ups of the trains.

The opening scenes sees a steam train leading with another W28 at the rear of the 3 carriages leaving and then returning to Ryde Esplanade.
The Carriages are full of people (train spotters) and the platform of this station are also packed with enthusiasts.

The next scene shows 2 steam engines pulling the carriages from the front.

W31 Chale was one Steam Train not preserved, however W24 Calbourne is now in preservation.

There are a lo of people taking cine film of proceedings so there must be other films of the event.

Shanklin is also shown with W27 - Merstone travelling in reverse pulling three carriages. Shanklin Station is very busy with trains and onlookers.

W14 is carrying the "Farewell to IOW Steam" .

W24 and W31 are double-heading the RCTS last day Rail tour .

The famous Artist - David Shepherd (1931-2017) can be seen painting one of the steam trains, and someone else is seen posing in front of W31 at Ryde St John's.

If I have made any mistakes with the locations or locomotives please comment below.