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Isle Of Man Steam Railway

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

  1. Michael B

    Michael B Member

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    In May 1966 there was a real possibility most everything would be scrapped - as so much railway was being at the Douglas WS Mona Motion 27.5.66.jpg time - hence some detail shots with a brand new 35mm slide camera. This is Mona in Douglas Shed, looking as if it could go out and haul a train, which I think it did a year later, after Lord Ailsa had taken on the Railway, even if briefly because of it's deteriorated boiler, and of course painted green.
     
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2023
  2. Michael B

    Michael B Member

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    And another. Douglas WS Mona 1 27.5.66 .jpg
     
  3. Michael B

    Michael B Member

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  4. Michael B

    Michael B Member

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  5. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    Great photos and thanks for posting them. Much appreciated as there are very few good colour views of this period in IMR history.
    Cheers,
    Ray.
     
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  6. Michael B

    Michael B Member

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    I arrived to find the suspension notice here, glued inside a window at Douglas Station, but with no trains running. The answer to a knock at a door said the suspension was now full closure, but I produced my letter of introduction from Mr Lambden and someone else took me down to the engine shed and hovered while I took some photographs of what seemed likely to all be scrapped, except maybe an engine or two in a museum. My camera was a fixed lens Japanese one so wide-angle shots were impossible, but it was a superb revelation from the old cameras taking black and white we had had up to then which made you very selective because they only took 8 or 12 on a film, always with the possibility for forgetting to wind on, so you got two shots on one exposure. This new camera forced you not to do that. At that time there would have been no prospect of any carriages or vans being saved - they were 3ft gauge, and wouldn't have been any use to a preserved railway (as they were called then), so I went out and bought more film and walked the line for the whole holiday using the bus system to get to starting points. Staff still at Port Erin and elsewhere let me in.
    Suspension of trains.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2023
  7. Michael B

    Michael B Member

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    IOMR ltr May 66 2.jpg
     
  8. Mike Buttell

    Mike Buttell Member

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    The 2023 timetable for the steam railway has now been published. A few less trains in low season, the commuter club runs during TT only. This timetable will be added to by the dining services which will be released in due course.
    go to rail.im for further details including the Electric Railway, Snaefell and the Horse Trams.
    43496922-0A4E-4DDE-BA02-8566B0DD7ACE.jpeg
     
  9. Mike Buttell

    Mike Buttell Member

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    Easter on IOM Railways is a change from previous years for 2023.
    Both the MER volunteers and ourselves will be leading workshop tours at Derby Castle (MER) and Douglas Station. There will also be MER Motorman taster sessions. To book (8th and 9th April)
    https://iomrailways.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows?i=1
    Hopefully the events for the main celebratory occasions will be made public soon.
     
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  10. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    Some good news on the IMR carriage front. This week 'Pairs' carriage F63 has returned to the railway following a full restoration at Stanegate Restorations. 'Small F' F26 and Metropolitan F46 have been turned out after full repaints in our own paintshop. Foxdale brake F39 has also had a full repaint in 'plum & split milk' but is currently on accommodation bogies as its own are under overhaul at the VoR. Services recommence on 10th March.
    Ray.
    IMR F63 Douglas 2.23.jpg F26 recently repainted Douglas 2.23.jpg IMR F46 recently repainted 2.23.jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2023
  11. Mike Buttell

    Mike Buttell Member

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    At Port Erin, stock is being moved in and out of the museum following a track relay in the exhibition hall. Royal Saloon F36 and Manx Northern Cleminson No6 pictured also goods vehicles M78 and Manx Northern van 15 (IMR Gr12)
    Thanks to Graeme Easton for the pictures
    F5C329F1-FA71-440C-8604-4EF9339B76FD.jpeg B80BAE62-05EC-4FB9-A19A-DB3731F9D8B7.jpeg
     
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  12. Mike Buttell

    Mike Buttell Member

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    DRIVER JOHN ELKIN


    We are sad to report that legendary Isle of Man Railway Driver John Elkin has passed away after a short illness.


    Many will remember John, who was ever present on the footplate during the final years of the old Railway Company, through the Lord Ailsa tenure and into Government ownership.


    John not only drove on the Douglas to Port Erin line, but also took the very final steam trains over the closed Peel and Ramsey routes, and was part of the work crew that made the last ever journey along the Foxdale line.


    Always genial and with a wicked sense of humour, John will have featured on thousands of holiday and enthusiast photographs over the years.


    John drove locomotive number 13 “Kissack” for the Queen Elizabeth 2 Royal Train in 1972, and was on standby duty as fireman of locomotive number 10 “G H Wood” for the 1963 Royal Visit of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. The King of Norway was another of John Elkins regal passengers.


    We extend our sincere condolences to the family at this sad time. CB58D7DA-E128-4A1E-B2E1-4F0467A62254.jpeg C9D6EF8B-5167-4DCC-B909-F49501672831.jpeg AF5C635E-F54C-4A23-AB5C-16074E19BAFC.jpeg
     
  13. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    The 1905 built IMR 'Saloons' were designed with large windows so that passengers could enjoy the views along the coastal section of the recently absorbed Manx Northern Railway. Unfortunately, being of 'open' configuration they didn't carry as many passengers as the compartment stock and the large fixed windows also tended to make the vehicles uncomfortably hot at times. As a result they weren't used as much as some of the other stock until they were converted, first into 'The Bar Set' and now the 'Diner'. Whilst, in recent years, some carriage rebuilds have been contracted out our own joiners carry out some quite extensive rebuilds 'in house'. The photo below shows saloon F31 undergoing extensive repairs including new panelling and a new roof. At Easter the Heritage Railway Volunteers will be escorting groups of visitors around the workshops and these tours can be booked at https://iomrailways.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows
    Ray.
    IMR F31 repairs inc. new roof Douglas 29.1.23.jpg
     
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  14. StoneRoad

    StoneRoad Member

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    Dat's only a light rebuild or plain repairs compared to the state of F62 & F63 when received at Haltwhistle !


    However, all power to their elbows - the railway needs the stock.
     
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  15. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    To be fair the bodies of F62/3 were a good deal older and had been oou for a long time. Thanks for all your hard work and hope the next candidate for your attention is in better 'nick'.
    Cheers,
    Ray.
     
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  16. MuzTrem

    MuzTrem Member

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    Just out of interest, does the dining train operate as a 'fixed' set or are the saloons sometimes 'borrowed' for use in ordinary service trains?

    Sent from my SM-A125F using Tapatalk
     
  17. Mike Buttell

    Mike Buttell Member

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    Very occasionally the some of the saloons may operate as part of a charter or photo special, but mostly the set is left permanently coupled and wired up.
    CCD5716A-F08A-4080-9C6A-AA58D1A0D353.jpeg
     
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  18. GHWood

    GHWood Member

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    Having seen and ridden in F62 since she returned home, I have to say that IMHO the restoration work that Stanegate carried out is superb! Are you able to give us a bit of an insight into the work carried out? How much of the original carriage could be restored and how much new material went in?
     
  19. StoneRoad

    StoneRoad Member

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    a) Thank You - glad to have our [hard] work appreciated ...
    b) I will double check that the images of "work in progress" make some degree of sense and then put up a link or two.
    c) Quite a lot of original material was retained as these two [A1 & B1] are the production prototypes for the First & Second Class 4-wheelers. As they were going to be used as service vehicles the safety / strength aspect had to take priority over maximum retention of original material. But having said that, we did repair rather than replace a lot of the structure, which was well-seasoned Oak. The bodywork is largely replacement material as most of the original mahogany had been ripped off before F62 came to us - the exception being the two "inner" ends - which is why we had put the "vision" panels in over the gap, so they could be seen !
    F63 was actually in poorer structural condition in some respects, so rather more had to be replaced rather than "simply" repaired, despite the availability of and strength of modern glues.
     
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  20. Mike Buttell

    Mike Buttell Member

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