Isle Of Wight Steam Fair Gears Up For 50th Anniversary Spectacle

The Isle of Wight Steam Railway is set to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its annual Steam Fair this Bank Holiday weekend – promising the biggest show yet.

Thanks to sponsorship from Wightlink, the four-day event at Havenstreet will run from Friday to Monday (August 22–25), featuring an eclectic mix of steam engines, historic vehicles, tractors, motorcycles and military machines.

Popular fairground rides including James and Anthony Horton’s Galloping Horses carousel and Alan Blyth’s swingboats will return, alongside special exhibits such as Mike Venn’s miniature Burrell traction engine from Yorkshire.

Students from Imperial College London will also be driving their 109-year-old Dennis N fire engine all the way from London to Portsmouth.

Some engines will even make the ferry crossing under steam – including Dave Loader’s Garrett agriculture engine from Bournemouth and Malcolm Rogers’ Sentinel Steam Wagon from Kent.

Show chairman Steve Oates praised the efforts of exhibitors, volunteers and sponsors, saying:

“We are very grateful to our exhibitors, our team and Wightlink for organising the complex logistics of assembling all these vehicles for such a busy weekend.”

Highlights will include the ever-popular traction engine games, real ale and cider tent, and a packed programme of vintage train services.

Steam trains will run between Wootton and Smallbrook Junction via Havenstreet from 10am to 6pm daily, with connections to Island Line and Southern Vectis buses.

Events organiser Liz Tagart said planning for the landmark event began even before last year’s show, adding:

“The team has worked incredibly hard to make the 50th anniversary Steam Fair bigger and better than ever.”