The Isle of Wight Steam Railway is celebrating after being named the ‘Railway of the Year 2023′ at this year’s Heritage Railway Association Annual Awards that were sponsored by Hallett Oil and held at the Birmingham Conference and Events Centre last Saturday evening, 11th March.

The awards are dubbed the ‘Oscars’ of the heritage sector and recognise the finest restorations and most innovative projects on the heritage railway scene.

The Isle of Wight Steam Railway was in contention the top honours with Seaton Tramway, the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, and the Dartmouth Steam Railway & River Boat Company

As well as being named ‘Railway of the Year 2023, which recognises the railway’s excellence across visitor experience, business, safety, teamwork, preservation, restoration, and engineering, it was also shortlisted for the Lord Faulkner Award for Young Volunteers and the HRA Award for Marketing and Communications.

In The Lord Faulkner Award for Young Volunteers category, the Isle of Wight Steam Railway was runner-up to the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, East Lancashire Railway Preservation Society, and the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway.

The Isle of Wight Steam Railway was also a runner-up in the HRA Award for Marketing and Communications category, where it was up against the Talyllyn Railway for its work in building a digital audience, Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway for its ‘Journey Through Steam’ presentation.

Steve Backhouse, General Manager at The Isle of Wight Steam Railway, said: “We are delighted to win this prestigious award and be recognised as the UK’s leading heritage railway. I feel very fortunate to be a part of an amazing group of paid staff and volunteers who bring a raft of enthusiasm, skills, experience and teamwork to running the Railway.”

“The team have been very busy at Havenstreet, preparing our visitor attraction for the new season and we open again on Mother’s Day 19th March. I am very proud of all our staff and volunteers and look forward to another successful year ahead.”