Isle of Wight Steam Railway - 'Spring Gala' | 100 years of the Southern Railway 24/06/2023

The arrival of 2023 marks the 100th anniversary since the formation of the 'Big Four' railway companies during the grouping of 1923. Formed as a result of the 1921 Railways Act, the grouping came into effect on the 1st of January 1923, which saw the formation of the Southern Railway through the amalgamation of existing railway companies across the south inlcuding the LSWR (London and South Western Railway), SE&CR (South Eastern & Chatham Railway), and the LB&SCR (London, Brighton & South Coast Railway).
On the Isle of Wight, the grouping saw the Southern Railway take over the Wight's railway system and the three companies who operated it; the Isle of Wight Railway, Isle of Wight Central Railway, and eventually the Freshwater, Yarmouth & Newport Railway. This began a golden era for holiday traffic to the Island, with the Southern Railway began a strong campaign promoting the Island as an ideal holiday destination, and therefore began investment into the Island's infrastructure including newer locomotives and rolling stock, and providing a rail linked ferry service.
A century later, the Isle of Wight Steam Railway celebrated this historic landmark during their 'Spring Gala', held over the weekend of June 23rd-25th, running with the theme of "100 years of the Southern Railway". The home-fleet pair of Wight stalwarts, W11 "Newport" (name not carried) and W24 "Calbourne" would be in service, resplendant in their respective SR liveries. Joining them, 72 "Fenchurch" would venture across the Solent from its home at the Bluebell Railway for the event.
The event featured a very intensive timetable over the weekend. On the Saturday, W24 was in charge of a set of bogie coaches; the locomotive adorned by a coat of Bulleid malachite green with sunshine lettering, and the coach rake suitably matching. W11 split its duties over the day, starting off with a demonstration freight set, before taking on the Ventnor West Push-Pull set, and finally appearing in a double-header with "Fenchurch"; which had been allocated the 4-wheeler set for the day. In the mid-afternoon, the three locomotives would appear in a line-up at Havenstreet.
Locomotives:
Ex-LB&SCR A1X 'Terrier' Class - W11
Ex-LSWR O2 Class - W24 "Calbourne"
LB&SCR A1X 'Terrier' Class - 72 "Fenchurch"
All footage filmed on Saturday the 24th of June 2023.