The Isle of Wight has a unique electrified railway running over approximately 8 miles between Ryde Pier Head and the seaside town of Shanklin. Since 1967 this has been the last remnant of what was once an extensive rail network on the island. Over the years the line has been operated by three generations of electric trains, all being refurbished stock that once operated on the London Underground system and maintaining a tradition of using redundant assets from the mainland. Now branded as 'Island Line', the railway provides a useful and strategic transport link between the eastern side of the Isle of Wight and the mainland, as most train services connect with the ferries and hovercraft at Ryde.
Martyn Hilbert examines the background and reasons for using ex-London Underground rolling stock and details the route and history of the line. High-quality images, maps and fleet lists accompany informative text to create a fascinating account of this unusual island railway.
