Isle of Wight Steam Railway

General information

Equally appealing to adults and families, the sight of powerful majestic steam engines, the charm of quiet rural stations, and the friendliness of traditionally uniformed staff, will leave you with some enduring memories of a special day out.

Trains run throughout the year - Daily from early-June to early October; on most days in late March, April and May; and on many days in October, November and December.

For every visitor, we offer a unique and exciting day out, as you step back to a bygone era when steam power was the order of the day. Settle back in beautifully restored Victorian and Edwardian carriages and enjoy a unique view of some of the Island’s unspoilt countryside ... or hop off at one of our stations and just watch the trains go by!

2011 is the Railway’s 40th Anniversary year, so we are staging a number of special events when the steam trains provide the perfect centrepiece for us to put on something extra – From ‘The 1940s Experience’ to ‘A Day Out With Thomas’, there’s also a Jazz Festival, steam galas, Wine and Real Ale Festivals, and a Steam and Country Show.

We are one of Britain’s leading Heritage Railways and a registered educational charity, and we have often been recognised with local tourism and business awards. The IW Steam Railway has three times been named Independent Railway of the Year, and in 2010 the Railway was recognised nationally, winning the Best Heritage Project in The National Lottery Awards.

Our locomotives and carriages have all been painstakingly restored to pristine condition and are the hallmark of our delightful railway. Our oldest locomotive was built in 1876 and carriages date back to 1864!

To complete your day out, The Isle of Wight Steam Railway offers fully licensed Refreshment Rooms, and you can browse for books, gifts, toys, DVDs and other mementoes from the Gift Shop.

The pleasant rural location of our main station at Havenstreet provides lots of space for the young, and the not-so-young, to let off steam! Our large green open field offers space for picnics, games or just relaxing, and we challenge you to find the entrance to our hidden Woodland Walk!

There are generous discounts available for groups, FREE parking (on tarmac) for coaches, plus FREE entry for the coach driver and a meal for the coach driver!

In essence, the IW Steam Railway offers a unique and exciting journey back in time to an era when everyone travelled by steam train … Even Queen Victoria travelled over our line while visiting her Island residence at Osborne!