We’ve featured Ryde Pier Tramway 2 on these pages but when it was static and on display at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, but on Sunday 19th May it came out of its usual display area and was used on special shuttles giving a rare chance to ride on this vehicle which dates from 1927.
The Ryde Pier Tramway ran along the central section of the Pier between 1864 and 1969 (the railway, which still runs today using repurposed former London Underground stock, is on the east of the Pier with the western section used for road and passenger traffic). It ran with a variety of power – starting off with horse before steam, electricity, petrol and then diesel all took over. The line was a pioneer for electric operation with this starting in 1886 – although curiously in the end petrol and diesel became king on the line.
No. 2 was built in 1927 and ran with a petrol engine until 1959 when it was replaced by a diesel engine. It remained in service until 1968 and was saved for preservation at that time. It was originally purchased by the Island Vintage Transport Group who eventually moved it to Newport (IOW). After a period of outside storage it fell into disuse with the Isle of Wight Steam Railway (now moved to their current site) found other projects to concentrate on.
It was 2011 that a project was formulated for its restoration which saw external partners contracted to help being the vehicle back to its former glory. Alan Keef Ltd assembled a new running chassis while Perkins Engines donated a 40D diesel engine (more powerful than the type it had when operating on the Pier) and AJ Lowther & Sons Ltd were also involved.
2 arrived back from Alan Keef Ltd in 2021 and is now operational once more on special occasions. In due course it will be joined by a replica trailer (hoped to be finished next year) which will allow both to be used more regularly as currently the limited capacity of 2 (20 passengers) leads to many disappointed visitors.
On 19th May, 2 was used on shuttles between Wootton-Havenstreet-Ashey.