Isle of Wight 38ts units

I've visited the Isle of Wight for the very first time and on our final afternoon (my wife and I) spent a few hours visiting all the stations on the 8-mile line.

To be absolutely honest the now 72 year old trains are looking tired, however all things considered they are in great shape considering their age. I spoke to some of the staff and they commented that its not the sea air that is the greatest problem, but instead rain that corrodes the plates under the passenger doors and subsequently they need replacement (in comparison the preserved 38ts cars on Alderney were scrapped due to their poor condition as, I understood it, a result of the sea air - they were replaced by 59ts cars).

The ride is extremely bumpy in places (if anyone visits prepare to be bounced around), but instead of the trains being the problem, its the track that seems to be very uneven.

Internally they've lost they're strap handles and the circular lighting bulbs along with the maple flooring (as part of the initial refurbishment when they arrived on the Isle... along with the 3rd rail for power). The fluorescent lighting strips remind me a little of the old R stock lights. Also the passenger doors are also prone to sticking and then slamming open/shut. What keeps them going though is the TLC that the staff give them... although one 2-car unit stabled to Ryde St John's is now a source of spares (has the name 'Raptor' in the destination window, but the unit number is unknown).

I've uploaded the best of the images taken yesterday to my regular LU/TfL Fotopic site HERE.