The old Island Line trains, which are being replaced by refitted, newer carriages this year, are saying a final goodbye to the Isle of Wight this week.

Loaded onto the back of a lorry yesterday (Tuesday), using a (very strong) winch, the first few were transported off the Island.

They were spotted leaving their Ryde base by Islander Bryn Jones.

More are expected to be moved today, the Isle of Wight County Press has been told.

A £26 million upgrade to the Isle of Wight's network, operated by South Western Railway, between Shanklin and Ryde, is underway.

Replacement buses have been running since Island Line closed to passengers and the old rolling stock was retired, on January 3.

In November, a heritage railway on the mainland told the Isle of Wight County Press of its excitement, as it prepared to welcome, as its newest attraction, what we know better as an Island Line train.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Final goodbye! Photo by Bryn Jones

Epping Ongar Railway, based in an Essex market town north of London, will rehome the outgoing 1938-built Class 483 train.

Epping Ongar manager Dean Walton said: "Given our strong links with the Underground, we're very excited about the possibility of seeing a unit like this run under its own power."

On the Isle of Wight, meanwhile, Covid-19 has delayed the line's reopening.

However, testing of the new rolling stock has been taking place.

Earlier this month, eagle-eyed Islander Rob Peters grabbed his opportunity to get a sneak preview of what is to come - sharing the footage with the County Press.

Earlier this year, we shared drone photos of the ongoing work, taken by Ben Rue.

Scroll through our gallery from December of the old Island Line trains thorough their decades of service.