180 youngsters and 18 teachers from Brockenhurst Church of England Primary School have been given the opportunity by the two community rail partnerships, South West Trains and Wightlink to re-enact evacuation in a visit to the Isle of Wight’s Steam Railway on Thursday 17th September. The day starts at Brockenhurst station, where the young people will be waved off by emotional parents on the 9.59 a.m. train to Lymington Pier, where they will then catch the ferry to Yarmouth and on to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway at Havenstreet.
Pupils will then have a 40’s audio visual presentation at the railway from volunteers before travelling the 5 miles up and down the delightfully picturesque line, experiencing the timeless delight of travelling under steam.
Bobby Lock, Rail Development Officer for the two partnerships said
“This educational trip looking back 50 years ago when children had to evacuate will help to show in part what the transport was like then and give a flavor of what it must have been like to leave their families. The two partnerships working together have made this trip possible for the school with the valuable support from our members and stakeholders and we area all delighted to help to give the children a day out to remember”
The website will be updated next week.