Isle of Wight Steam Railway - Havenstreet Station

I can't recommend visiting here enough. I bought my two children here under 5 and we had the best day out. Staff were absolutely brilliant, some spooky ( Halloween term) and everyone just really helpful and chatty. Cafe was really lovely, we only had a takeaway coffee but it was lovely. They had Free crafts going on which were really fun even for my young ones. The train ride it's self was really good. Long enough the kids don't get bored and you can alway jump off at the stations. We visited the big museum at the top where kids could dress up and telly emerse into the train world! It was fun seeing all the old carriages, carriages being painted & done up. A fantastic place and you can tell so much love and dedication has been put into here ❤️ we can't wait to come back next year! Thank you

Now this is a true treat, for the enthusiast or for just the casual daytripper wanting a fun day out, in friendly company and idyllic surrounds. Turn of the century rolling stock, some of the oldest you will find, transports you back to the halcyon days of steam travel on the island. There is a nice tea room at Haven Street, which is reasonably priced and offers tea, coffee, meals and alcoholic beverages too. A must visit if you're on the island. Easily reached by rail via the adjoining station at Smallbrook Junction.

Wonderful experience in steam railway. Can tavel between stations all day around. Main station Haven street station have plenty of free parking. Nice cafes, museum & gift shop. Train Story is a big exhibition of trians ,just few yards behind the station. Can spend few hours with friends & family. Had Halloween activities also when we visited in mid October. Family ticket is a bargain if travel with kids.

The weather today was frightful! It didn’t matter a bit at this amazing place. We were a three generation group and everyone enjoyed it. The staff were great, catering tasty and reasonable. It’s half term this week and the added magician and activities for the children were superb. And of course…. The trains ! Being able to get inside some of the carriages in the Train Story was great. Next time we visit we’ll go First Class. One end of the line to the other wasn’t enough. Thank you everyone.

It's excellent. The ride is in old carriages that have been beautifully restored, even "third class"!! The exhibition shows how the rail system on the island evolved and how the current steam railway society developed. And, of course, there is a cafe for tea etc, and also a restaurant for a hot lunch.

This is undoubtedly one of the best heritage railway lines in the UK. Lovely location, great trains and facilities. Everything is clean and tidy and there's an interesting exhibition area which is great for both adults and children alike. This is a must do attraction on the Isle of Wight so go along for a great day out and enjoy yourselves 🚂🚂🚂

🚂 Isle of Wight Steam Railway – A Journey Through Time I had an amazing time at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. The train ride itself was a joy—rolling through beautiful countryside with stunning views that made every moment feel special. The vintage carriages and the sound of the steam engine added a nostalgic charm that’s hard to find elsewhere. The highlight for me was the Train Story museum. It was fascinating to walk through the exhibits and learn about the history of trains on the island. From old locomotives to interactive displays, it brought the past to life in such a vivid way. I left with a deeper appreciation for how rail travel shaped the world. Whether you're a history buff, a nature lover, or just looking for a unique day out, this place is a gem. A truly wonderful experience that blends scenic beauty with rich heritage.

This railway is genuinely tremendous The stations are very quaint and picturesque, the buildings are all painted in the proper Southern Railway colours, and the coaches offer a very nice ride compared to the average BR MK1 you get on the mainland. There are one or two flaws, but they're minor Firstly, £3.80 for a single coffee in the Barn Cafe is, in my opinion, rather overpriced. The fact that Ashey Station isn't on the timetable is somewhat frustrating, as you have to somewhat use guess work, judge it by the webcams, or distant whistle of the train. I'd say don't use the toilet at Smallbrook Junction, it's not connected to any water mains due to its isolated location and so is a self-composting toilet, and apparently smells awful in the summer. The staff are all very friendly and helpful, and the driver let me onto the footplate of one of the locomotives in operation on the day I visited

Time to let off some steam at the Isle Of Wight. With this Steam Railway no less. This is a little old steam railway on the Isle of Wight, so if you're making the Isle of Wight your holiday destination, this would be a great part of it. It's one of the many Heritage Railways in the UK and one of the prettiest. I've loved it for a very long time and probably always will. It's actually a good way to get around the island as well, which is funny because it's not really a method of transportation per se, and yet it is because it's such a small island and a lot of people don't bring their cars over here.

I wonder how many people reading this actually travelled by steam train when it was a daily mode of transport rather than a novel journey to remind of how it used to be? I ask because I did. Do I miss it heck, yes - the intoxicating unique smells, the noises, the sounds, especially the thump of huge slabs of heavy metal, hitting heavy metal yet staying unmarked and gold, red and black lacquered steam engines, dozens of yards long, breathing and hissing as if alive. Many's the time I got to be up with the driver and coalman as we chugged along - the intense fiery heat, sulphur smells and coal being fed continuously - real men of steel with hands that could crush you. Here at the Isle of Wight is a beautifully preserved railway with lovingly restored steam engines with comfortable period carriages and charming rural stations. It is charming and worth supporting but I suspect with its location it'll rarely ever draw a crowd. The staff are dressed in traditional Southern Railway uniforms from a different era of time that will never return. All that's left is five miles of Steam Railway and an electrified eight mile main line from Ryde to Shanklin from a railway system which once extended over 55 miles of mostly rural Wight. The first line opened in 1862 between Cowes and Newport and in 1900 a second railway delivered a complete island rail service. It's now a revenant to haunt those of us on what we had and stupidly allowed greedy politics to ruin letting them enrich only themselves - those who know the price of everything and the value of nothing; some things will never change as long as we stay stupid and the evidence is right in front of us from 1O Downing Street to Mar a Lago. The price of our stupid is already intolerable and fast becoming incalculable as we lurch toward fascism which is dictatorship lite.

Based out of Havenstreet and with trains running between Wooton and Smallbrook Junction (for connection with the Island Line) the IOW steam railway is a little bit of preserved history in action. The largely volunteer-run railway has established itself as one of the foremost attractions on the Isle of Wight. Most passengers will join the railway at either Smallbrook having arrived by the islands electrified fleet of trains (mostly ex-Northern line underground trains) or will drive to Havenstreet and pick up the railway at the main station. Either way, no visit to the railway would be complete without a trip on the trains. Havenstreet is kitted out 1940s style. As such, the whole place is a step back in time. Whether it's a tea from the canteen or a look at the toys and games of the time that you are after it'll be in period. If you are lucky then all of the staff you encounter will also be attired correctly.

The railway runs five miles from Wootton to Smallbrook Junction where you can connect with Island Line's electric trains that run from Shanklin to Ryde . Havenstreet is the main station and it has a large car park with disabled parking. There's a great little cafe/snack shop where you can get hot and cold meals, snacks and drinks. There is also a gift shop and a children's play area, and a museum of Island railway history at Havenstreet. All in all a great day out and we do love steam trains.

One of the best steam railways in the UK. Great bunch of people keep this this piece of history alive.

Very wonderful footplate experience for my husband who got to stay inside the locomotive to learn about how to drive a train. Got to ride in First Class while watching gorgeous views of English countryside rolling by outside the window. Extremely informative drivers, and all around very nice crew & staff. Highly recommend for all members of family, even those four-legged furry ones (allowed on train).