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They have been trundling along the tracks between Ryde Pier Head and Shanklin for over 30 years, but the much-adored Class 483 former London Underground trains have now been retired following completion of the last passenger service tonight (Sunday).
The last train – 006 – arrived at Ryde St John’s Road at 23:21 but there was no fanfare to be seen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, 006 quietly pulled away from the station and into the depot sidings to mark the end of an era.
Within minutes the electricity was isolated and the line officially handed over contractors who took possession at 23:30.
A small number of people gathered for photographs of the retiring Island Line fleet, as they have been doing along the line for several months following the announcement that the Class 483s would finally be replaced.
Earlier on today 007 also ran for the last time, carrying out passenger operations until around 11:00. Both trains have carried a special destination plate entitled “483 Final Day 1989-2021”.
Class 483s at St John’s Depot now awaiting disposal
Readers will know the unmistakable clickity clack of the trains and that distinctive whistle but the line will now fall silent for 3 months as part of a £26million investment in Island Line. Track and platform adjustments will take place in January, February and March to enable the new Class 484 trains to enter service. A 30-minute timetable will come into operation in May thanks to a new passing loop which is to be created at Brading.
In the past few weeks, engineers have been struggling to keep the 80-year-old trains in operation with the service often suspended or down to an hourly service. However, hard work has paid off allowing the last 2 trackworthy trains to run for one final time this weekend. It is estimated that each train has completed over 3million miles over the past 8 decades.
L-R: Maintenance Fitters at Ryde depot Kieran Heatherington, Tony Long and Ian Butcher (Interim Depot Manager)
The trains are now set to be preserved both here on the Island and on the mainland. It has been confirmed, for the first time, that the Isle of Wight Steam Railway is to receive 2 carriages which will be preserved at Havenstreet. The London Transport Traction Group will take custody of another 2. It’s unknown at this time where the other carriages will end up.
Mark Hopwood, Managing Director of South Western Railway, has said:
“Today we’re saying goodbye to a truly iconic train fleet which is held in great affection by people living on the Island and elsewhere.
“These trains had already been carrying passengers for half a century by the time they arrived on the Island in 1989, coincidentally the same year that I started my first job on the railway, but they have served our customers well – even if they have on occasion shown their age. This is in no small part thanks to the exceptional team at Ryde Depot, who have gone above and beyond to keep the trains running.
“While this may be an emotional end to one era, it’s also the start of an exciting new one. The £26 million being invested in new trains and major infrastructure upgrades will help to deliver a railway fit for 2021, with performance and customer experience both set to be transformed”.
The history of the Class 483s
Originally built in 1938, these trains operated London Underground’s Northern Line during the war years and until they were withdrawn in the late 1980s having already completed over 40 years’ service.
In July 1989, the first of the 1938 stock (now the Class 483) arrived on the Isle of Wight to operate the 8.5-mile Island Line from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin. The first carriages to arrive were 10184 and 11184 and they continued to operate until they were scrapped in 2006.
A Class 483 passing between Ryde St John’s and Smallbrook Junction in snowy conditions
When the ex-Underground stock arrived on the Island they were displayed with a ‘toothpaste’ livery, which by the early 2000s changed to a rather unique and brightly coloured Dinosaur livery. By 2007 a more toned down livery was applied – the London Transport red we see today.
Each train, which can travel up to 45mph, is made up of 2 cars with each car measuring 15.94m in length. The trains are powered by a 630v DC 3rd rail system.
The future of Island Line
In September 2019, South Western Railway announced £26m of investment in Island Line that would see the Class 483s replaced by VivaRail’s Class 484 trains, as well as improvements in infrastructure allowing for a trains service at regular 30 minute intervals.
In keeping with Island Line’s tradition of former London Underground trains, the new trains are refurbished former District Line trains but with modern features including WiFi, passenger information screens and dedicated wheelchair spaces.
The first of these new trains arrived on the Island on 19th November 2020. A total of 5x 2-car trains have been ordered and are expected to be in service for decades to come. They are displayed in a dark and light blue livery.
Photograped during a Virgin America flight from SFO to Las Vegas almost two years ago. The First Class cabin was completely empty.
A pair of class 379s, with 379028 leading, at Cambridge South working 1153 Cambridge North to Audley End on 15 January 2022.
British Rail Class 153 'Super Sprinter' 2 car Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) 153374 working the 11:38 (11:38 RT) 2N35 Newark Castle- Nottingham East Midlands Trains service train at Matlock Bath station in Derbyshire (UK).
Photography courtesy of my regular photostream contributor David on his travels and is posted here with very kind permission.
4-9-2004 Barton Lane level crossing, Attenborough
158955 heads towards Beeston on a service to Nottingham
time 11:34
755338 accelerates past Welney Road Crossing near Manea, with the 2L81 1750 Peterborough to Ipswich Greater Anglia service - 01/06/2020. By this point of the day, a rather large gathering had descended on what is normally a quiet spot, for the impending appearance of 20205 & 20007. More on that to come!
Class 35 - Hymek
Roughing out some ideas for the nose - the sloped bricks are probably too long but there are variants around this.
GBRF Class 69, 69011 approaches Abbotswood Junction working the 5Q90 0617 Eastleigh Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot to Long Marston MOD running 57 minutes late towing South Western Railways Class 701, 701003 a 10 car 'Aventra' electric unit bound for storage at the Long Marston Facility.
BREL (York) Class 508/2 (refurbished from Merseyrail 508/1) Standard Mk.II 750v dc 3rd rail 3-car emu No.508 210 (ex-508 129) freshly painted in South Eastern livery (which had actually been the new Connex South Eastern livery shortly before Connex lost their franchise) at London Bridge 02/08 on a Redhill and Tonbridge service, shortly before this service was transferred from SE to Southern, so the newly painted livery became inappropriate for this unit almost immediately!
LNER Class 91 91114 'Durham Cathedral' (DVT 82211 on the rear) rests at York after working 1N87, the 15:06 from London King's Cross.
The train that took me here :)
A busy few minutes underground in Liverpool at James Street as 507 016 stops with 2W54 2101 West Kirby to West Kirby whilst 508 143 and 508 131 pass in Platform 2 with 5H13 2116 Kirkdale Carriage Sidings to Hooton ECS. 507 016 will leave first followed by the ECS. Both classes of Merseyrail EMU fleet are represented here and as the previous picture mentions will be replaced by 2020 with a new fleet of trains.
Direct rail services (DRS) 37608 and 37605 arrive into Cambridge, working the 1Q05 1916 Cambridge T.&R.S.M.D. to Cambridge T.&R.S.M.D.
Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company, Class 104, M53421 & M53529 at Sheffield on the 08:36hrs from Sheffield to Lincoln with a class 144 Pacer at 08:30hrs on the 21st of March 1988
The 2nd class passenger deck of the ferry from Aswan, Egypt, to Wadi Halfa, Sudan, offers benches on which to relax.
Abellio ScotRail Class 170's, 170406 departing Gartcosh railway station working 2J75 Falkirk Grahamston - Glasgow Queen Street as 170471 working 2J76 heading to Falkirk on the 8th of October 2018
At the December 2018 timetable changes these services are to be extended from Falkirk through to Edinburgh Waverley and be operated by the new Class 385
The displaced diesels off these services are to be used to strengthen other services round Scotland with others being sent to Arriva Northern
May 25th, 1985
Heaton Lodge Junction, Mirfield
Class 47 47192 (CD) heads a tanker train to the west - it will take the Huddersfield line after passing the camera. The engine, originally D1842, was an early casualty, withdrawal coming during 1988 but somehow survived into preservation and is now (2011) back in two-tone green
Ref 07-02
Links: Mirfield / Class 47 / Collections
BR (York) Class 455/7 (2nd Srs.) Standard Mk.III 750 v dc 3rd rail 4-car emu No.(45)5708 of South Western Railway in SWR-branded South West Trains inner-suburban livery at Vauxhall on a Guildford - Cobham - Waterloo service, 31 May 2022.
Bombardier (Derby) Class 720/5 'Aventra' 25k v ac overhead 5-car emu No.720 536 at Stratford on a service to Liverpool Street, 4 October 2021.
The Marauder-class corvette was a 195-meter-long light capital ship introduced prior to the Clone Wars.
Suggested figure would be a custom for the rebel leader Bria Tharen.
P class Bluebell doing a bit of shunting at Horsted Keynes on the Bluebell Railway, c1998.
davebowles.smugmug.com/Railways/Southern-Region/SECR-P-Class
Five of these things were built for the Stansted Express in 1990. Since then they have been all over the place. This one was running on the Southminster branch for Greater Anglia. Or at least it was in the morning - later it was replaced by a class 321.
This is Wickford, with a London Train seen opposite.
31-3-2000 Hagg lane level crossing Gascoigne Wood
158762 heads towards Leeds on a passenger service
time 15:58
Class 40 40015 runs off the 09:46 Crewe Plymouth relief and will go onto Bath Road depot , and later go north with 10:06 Penzance to Birmingham New Street relief talking over from Class 46 46010. 28/12/1978.
image Kevin Connolly - All rights reserved so please do no use this without my explicit permission
Earlier this year I received a number of Auscision's latest diesel-electric locomotive models, the 600 class as you can see. By far my favourite is the version in the original South Australian Railways red & silver. So you have to put up with several photos of these units.