Gerry Beale
Western Thunderer
FWIW my late father was born on 'the Island' in 1927 and as his father - my grandfather of course - was in the Royal Navy and was away at sea for most of my fathers childhood, he lived with his mother at Ashey, quite close to the railway. My grandmother was from an Island family - Mould - and was related to the Sweetman family. One one the relatives was Bob Sweetman who in the 1930s was Works Mananger at Ryde St Johns Works. As my father grew up and showed great interest in railways and locomotives, he was lucky enough to have been taken round the works a number of times. He always said that he was so pleased to have seen and known the IOW O2s in all their pre-war Maunsell finery.
Fast forward to the 1960s and in October 1966 my father and myself made a trip to 'the Island' to see the O2s for one last time before the end came in December 1966. No finery this time as everything was being run down but we did a round trip from Ryde Esplanade - Ryde Pier Head being closed for reconstruction at the time. I recall that I had my head out of the window of the first compartment of the coach immediately behind the engine for the entire journey. When we returned we left the train at Ryde St Johns but there were railway enthusiasts everywhere and notices proclaimed that the locomotive shed and the works were strictly out of bounds to visitors. But my father spoke to the gateman and mentioned he was related to Bob Sweetman and we were in! I still recall walking between the two lines of O2s in the running shed - with those at the further end not in steam - and also the piles of ash everywhere. We were we given a quick tour of the works but it was a weekend and I cant now recall much about the Works. But we were certainly privilaged to make our farewell to Island steam in such a memorable way.
Gerry
Bob Sweetman - later Manager of Ryde Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Works photgrphed sometime in the 1920s.
Fast forward to the 1960s and in October 1966 my father and myself made a trip to 'the Island' to see the O2s for one last time before the end came in December 1966. No finery this time as everything was being run down but we did a round trip from Ryde Esplanade - Ryde Pier Head being closed for reconstruction at the time. I recall that I had my head out of the window of the first compartment of the coach immediately behind the engine for the entire journey. When we returned we left the train at Ryde St Johns but there were railway enthusiasts everywhere and notices proclaimed that the locomotive shed and the works were strictly out of bounds to visitors. But my father spoke to the gateman and mentioned he was related to Bob Sweetman and we were in! I still recall walking between the two lines of O2s in the running shed - with those at the further end not in steam - and also the piles of ash everywhere. We were we given a quick tour of the works but it was a weekend and I cant now recall much about the Works. But we were certainly privilaged to make our farewell to Island steam in such a memorable way.
Gerry
Bob Sweetman - later Manager of Ryde Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Works photgrphed sometime in the 1920s.
