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December 2006, a trip to London, and some time just to enjoy by myself—a great combination and a rare opportunity. And so I was on board Air Canada flight 854 from Vancouver on December 7, arriving in London (one of my favourite cities now) mid day December 8th. A fast arrival saw me land at 1125, clear customs, get my luggage and be on board for the quick ride from Heathrow on the Heathrow Express departing 1145!
Arrival at Paddington Station was 1200, then a leisurely ride on the Circle Line of the London Underground got me to the end of Blackfriars Bridge. I chose to walk over the Thames on the infamous Millennium Bridge, and arrived at my hotel around 1330. Check in was quick, and soon I was walking along the Thames towards the centre of the city, which was just a short walk away. I cased out nearby Waterloo Station and decided that a train ride or two would definitely be in the plan.
Saturday, December 9—a totally unplanned and very memorable day was about to unfold. It was a crisp and frosty morning as I walked towards Waterloo Station, wondering where I should go. Checking out the schedules at the station, I decided on Portsmouth—never been there, south to the coast, sounded interesting. Bought my tickets and just caught the 0800 service—a ten car (2 five car) Southwest Trains trainset of 3rd rail Siemens equipment. It was very modern and very nice as we headed off through Watford Junction and then quick running south through Woking, Guildford and other stops.
We arrived Portsmouth right on time at 0932 and I did a quick look outside—a very nice Maritime Museum to explore. But wait a minute—what’s that sign—it says Isle of Wight straight ahead! We have a member on the Isle of Wight, Brian Deegan, who wrote to the Queen Mother about the Royal Hudson (the letter is in our archives), wonder how far it is? And so I follow the platform and find the ferry terminal, a catamaran ferry leaves in just a few minutes. Well, the Maritime Museum won’t go anywhere—let’s see what goes here….
Soon I am aboard the Isle of Wight 1015 FastCat departure, and we cruise to the Ryde Pier Head on the Isle of Wight on a crisp sunny morning. Stepping off the ferry, I expect that’s all I will do—but wait—there are tracks on the pier. Checking them out I discover that there is an electric railway here. Looking at the map it lists SmallBrook Junction as a station stop (noted “when steam railway operating”) - so I decide to go and see. I don’t expect they will be operating as it is December. However, as I board the 50 year old London Underground cars (a rolling museum) I start to think that maybe it is… there are lots of families on board here and I hear the word “train” a few times.
Arriving SmallBrook Junction my heart skips a beat—the steam train is waiting at the platform! An 0-6-0 dark blue locomotive and five vintage green coaches await. The Santa Special is operating this weekend! (photo, page 28)
So, now for a ticket—not so fast here, the ticket seller says “Sorry sir, we are all sold out”. Time to try anything I have in my kit bag, so I tell him that I have come all the way from Vancouver, Canada and—does he know a Brian Deegan? That does the trick, and soon I have a round trip ticket in hand, squeeze into one of the third-class coaches, and off we go. The train runs the entire line through Havenstreet to Wooten, then back to Havenstreet which is the hub of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway and the centre of the Santa activities.
Now that I am here I wonder if by chance Brian would be around—he has no idea I am in the area, of course. So I ask one of the gatekeepers—”Brian, yes I saw him earlier, why don’t you go to the office and ask”. So I proceed to the office, bang on the door, and start the explanation of who I am all over again. Terry (the man in charge today it seems) says yes—Brian was here working on something as few minutes ago. He proceeds to make a few calls—everyone he calls say they saw Brian just a few minutes ago, but none have seen him recently. And so, the two of us set off and in the next 30 minutes do a thorough tour of every nook and cranny of the shops, the work areas, the event areas—great tour, but no Brian. Finally at the gift shop, they say he left the site a few minutes ago. Back to the office again, and we start to make calls to Brian's home to see if he is the. No luck, unfortunately, so I conclude that I will not be able to surprise him and settle for buying some lunch and taking some time photographing the train.
Isle of Wight train departs Havenstreet station, December 9,2006
After lunch I complete my photographs, enjoy the station and exhibits, and make a visit to the gift shop. As I walk in the lady says, “You’re the gentleman from Canada aren’t you”, “Yes”, I reply. “We have Brian on the phone”…..I hustle in and surprise the heck out of Mr. Deegan. “Don’t move, he says, I’ll be there in ten minutes”.
True to his word, he arrives ten minutes later and we meet for the first time in person. It was delightful. After determining that we have time for another train ride, Brian opens a door to one of the First-Class carriages and we settle in for a fine ride and a great chat. No crowd here like the rest of the train! The sounds of steam even take second place to conversation as we ride the line from end to end, Brian occasionally pointing out a sight or two along the way. What a delightful steam railway!
Then, it was time to leave. So I said my good byes, and boarded the train a last time for the 1413 departure to Smallbrook Junction, the electric train to the pier, the 1515 FastCat to Portsmouth, and the 1545 Southwest Train departure back to Waterloo Station.
And that’s the true story of how Saturday, December 9 2006 accidentally became a day this writer will never forget.
Brian Deegan aboard the Isle of Wight Steam Railway first-class carriage, Dec. 9, 2006
At Smallbrook Jct.
PS: Brian visited Canada in April / May 2007, rode our Royal Hudson White Rock trip, did a trip on the Whistler Mountaineer and visited the West Coast Railway Heritage Park in the company of WCRA member Jean Baker—some of our readers may well have met him too!
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