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Isle Of Man Steam Railway

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by David Bigcheeseplant, Jun 11, 2016.

  1. pmh_74

    pmh_74 Well-Known Member

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    I have a soft spot for this line after having walked a good chunk of it about 18-ish years ago; it was a spectacular route by NG standards with some well engineered and sadly missing viaducts (I had to go down one side and up the other a couple of times), but also pretty inhospitable with the rain driving in off the Atlantic, as I discovered by getting utterly soaked before I gave up and squelched off to the nearest bus stop.

    Accountancy is certainly not my forte but it’s interesting, if not a little surprising, to know it was run profitably, anyway, so thanks for that!


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  2. andrewshimmin

    andrewshimmin Well-Known Member

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    Some of the bridges are being replaced: http://www.iomtoday.co.im/article.c...s in £1.3m job&sectionIs=NEWS&searchyear=2020

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  3. Allan Thomson

    Allan Thomson New Member

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    I guess neither of you are aware that "Pat the Rat" (as I was told by Colin Goldsmith) was the scraper responsible for the demise of No2 and a lot more of the IMR's stock...
     
  4. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Guess again!
     
  5. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    Actually I knew of Pat Carroll as far back as 1974 when the results of the 'Ballasalla Bonfires' were dumped on the Irish Quay in Castletown as scrap for export. I even did business with Manx Metals in the 80's. It is, perhaps, unfair to blame him solely for the destruction of No2 and much of the other derelict stock (which no-one at the time wanted) when he was simply carrying out his normal business. The old IMR Co. made the decision to scrap the stuff in 1974 and 'Jacko' in 1978 so if anyone's to blame....
    In case anyone is wondering how much of No2 was left before scrapping in 1978. The pony truck survives as a pool spare. 08-78-13 IMR No2 Douglas 8.78a.jpg
    Ray.
     
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  6. MuzTrem

    MuzTrem Member

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    Thanks as ever for an informative post Ray. It is a shame that the frames of No. 2 were lost but, realistically, would anybody actually have done anything with them if they had survived? At best, they would probably just be taking up space somewhere, like No. 7's frames at Southwold; at worst, they would have been dumped outdoors somewhere and rusted away to nothing anyway.
     
  7. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    The best news for months! Isle of Man Transport has, today, announced that the IMR will re-open next Thursday (and the MER two days later). The announcement can be read in full here:
    "We are delighted to announce that the Isle of Man Steam Railway and Manx Electric Railway will be re-opening for the Summer season.

    The Isle of Man Steam Railway will open Thursday 23rd July - Sunday 13th September on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and additionally Bank Holiday Monday 31st August

    The Manx Electric Railway will open Saturday 25th July - Sunday 13th September on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays and additionally Bank Holiday Friday 28th August

    Our ever popular Dining Car events will re-commence from Thursday 30th July until Sunday 13th September with a revised schedule. This will be uploaded to our soon and events can be booked by calling 01624 697457 or emailing steamdining@gov.im

    We hope that locals will use this as an opportunity to plan their 'staycation' over the summer period and visit sites and places that they wouldn't normally consider! We also look forward to welcoming our guests from Guernsey on board our unique Heritage Railway services."

    More information will follow over the coming days. Keep up to date on this page or on www.rail.im
    IMR Summer 2020 Timetable.jpg MER Summer 2020 Timetable.jpg
    The Island's borders are still closed except for an 'air corridor' to/from Guernsey (which is also, thankfully, Covid free) so the trains are operating largely for residents' Staycations. As always further updates can be found on the Heritage Railways Volunteers Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/hrviom/ including the upcoming Virtual Heritage Transport Festival.
    Ray.
     
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2020
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  8. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    A group of Heritage Railway Volunteers visited Douglas station this morning to record material for the Virtual Heritage Transport Festival at the end of the month. Locos 8, 13 & 15 are available for the start of services next Thursday and the latter was in steam, today, for test purposes. All 3 will be required as several Ultimate Driving Experiences are booked and the dining trains which start with a Pie and Mash on the 30th are selling well. Port Erin museum will be open on the days trains are running and for the evening dining trains. Photo courtesy of HRV https://www.facebook.com/hrviom/ IMR Nos 8 & 15 being prepared in Douglas running shed 17th July 2020.jpg
    Ray.
     
  9. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    Some further photos from yesterday's visit. The present stone built structure was erected in the mid 1890's and extended ten years later when the IMR absorbed the Manx Northern Railway. The single road workshops adjoin the 2 road running shed and are on the north side of the running line at the station throat. Traditionally the works carried out almost all its own repairs including reboilering using the hand-operated gantry crane which can be seen attached to No4's boiler in the first photo below. Some of the older machines such as the wheel lathe are still belt driven from line shafting, now powered by an electric motor but previously by the stationary steam engine as shown in pics 2 & 3.
    Photo 4 shows the recently rebuilt 'small F' carriage F15 (1894) which had been oou for many years. The running shed currently houses loco No12 which is stored awaiting rebuild after No10 (for which a new boiler is already on site) and the running trio of 8,13 & 15 (MNR 4). No13 Kissack is keeping recently repainted carriage F10 (1881) company in photo 5. No15 Caledonia was in steam for test purposes alongside No8 Fenella which will probably 'go south' as the Port Erin based loco over the next few days. IMR No4 Loch under repair 17 July 2020.JPG IMR Douglas workshops wheel lathe 17th July 2020.JPG IMR Douglas Workshops stationary steam engine 17th July 2020.JPG IMR rebuilt F15 Douglas paint shop 17th July 2020.JPG IMR No13 and F10  Douglas running shed 17th July 2020.JPG IMR No15 in steam Douglas running shed 17th July 2020.JPG
    Cheers,
    Ray.
     
  10. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    The privately owned and restored ex Manx Northern Cleminson 6 wheeler N45 returned to IMR metals this afternoon. This is the only complete vehicle of its type on the Island although the body of another is sited outside Douglas workshops having been used as a mess and now as a store. Its painstaking restoration has taken many years and the owner is to be congratulated for his efforts. A series of photos can be found on the Heritage Railways Volunteers Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/hrviom/
    ...... but here's one as a 'taster':
    IMR 6w Cleminson Bk 3rd N45 unloading at Douglas 20th July2020.jpg
    Ray.
     
  11. paullad1984

    paullad1984 Member

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    Would the owner be the same chap that owns Thornhill?
     
  12. Rob Reynolds

    Rob Reynolds New Member

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    Fantastic stuff, it’s a really interesting time on the railway. It will be nice to see the carriage with ex-MNR loco Caledonia.
     
  13. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    Correct.
    Ray.
     
  14. paullad1984

    paullad1984 Member

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    Without going into too much speculation I wonder what his plans are for Thornhill.
     
  15. Llwyngwern

    Llwyngwern Member

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    Will the carriage be a runner or is it intended for display?
     
  16. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    I don't know what the owner's plans are but I'm sure all will be revealed in due course. Keep an eye on https://www.facebook.com/hrviom/
    Thanks for your interest.
    Ray.
     
  17. MuzTrem

    MuzTrem Member

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    I must admit I had completely forgotten this carriage exisited! It is a lovely surprise to see it back on IMR metals - something to lift the spirits during these difficult times! :)
     
  18. Llwyngwern

    Llwyngwern Member

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    Will do and thanks for the reply.
     
  19. Allan Thomson

    Allan Thomson New Member

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    That's not all that was left of 2 actually or 7, there were drivers, cabs, tanks everything pretty much in store except for any bits borrowed for other locos and the boilers had been fitted to 1 & 3.

    Then along comes Jacko and has it all cut up except for where other parties were able to salvage. Indeed there was even talk of stripping down and disposing of other locos to increase the rarity of what was left..

    Fortunately the excesses got stopped so at least something was left.

    Didn't suggest Pat was doing anything other than business. I hold Jackson responsible.
     
  20. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    Whilst Bill Jackson had a lot to answer for including the scrapping of No2's frames in 1978 he had nothing to do with the disposal of the tanks cabs etc of Nos 2 & 7 which went during the Nov. 1974 'clear out' under the old IMR Co. 'Jacko' wasn't appointed Chief Exec. of the MER board until Oct. 1976 which, in turn, took over operation of the IMR on 13/1/78.
    Ray.
     
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