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Isle Of Man Steam Railway

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

  1. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Lovely images. Many thanks for sharing. (They do say it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission!) :)
     
  2. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    Although the discussion of CDJR and other Irish locos is most interesting could I ask that contributors open a new thread for this. Thanks for your understanding.
    Cheers,
    Ray.
     
  3. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Done. Now about those railcars ............

    (Sorry Ray, couldn't resist! ;))
     
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  4. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    These railcars?????
    Ray.
    26 Railcars at Castletown 1988 a.jpg
     
  5. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Thems the ones. Saw a clip of Douglas Station (still with its inpressive roofs), back in the day. I was wondering which loco was obscured by stock in the centre platform and had it's blower on. The answer came when the railcars - in classic back to back formation, moved into view from the bufferstops on the southernmost platform, with a spectacular display of clagging which would've left a 'whizzo' in the shade!

    The upbeat reports coming from the IMR, over the past several months, have been great to read and I'm glad the railway has had (and siezed) the opportunity to reconnect so well with its home market which seemed for years to have largely ignored the jewel on their own doorstep. Every cloud .... and all that. Long may that market continue to develop.

    Let's hope too that more cruise ship specials become a regular feature. Double heading for the sake of double heading is jolly good fun for gricers, but it's a sight more satisfying when seen at the head of the longest (well laden) trains the platforms can handle. That amazing "cruise ship special" before lockdown was reminiscent of the Tynwald Day specials of yore and a reminder of the almost incredible number of people the railway can shift on one train!

    What with so much effort now directed at carriage restorations, I wonder if anyone's begun tentatively eyeing up the condition of those ex-F series 'flat runners' yet? :)
     
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  6. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    The Island is closed to cruise ships until next year but we are busy particularly with U.K. coach tours. As regards the runners some are decked for PW duties etc. The others are in various states of repair (or disrepair) and some have been scrapped over the years as beyond economic repair. F40's underframe (ex Half Brake) was, last year, used to carry F49's body whilst its underframe was repaired. There is one more Half Brake F43 which could be restored as well as 'Pairs' F66/7/74 sans bogies in store at Jurby. When F27 (ii), the service car for the dining train, was built it was on one of a pair of galvanized frames built for us by the F.R. F27 (ii) contains the generator, kitchen and toilet but it is at one end of the 6 car set and the servers have a long walk to the front carriage. It has been suggested that the spare frame could be used for another, fully accessible, service car for the other end as demand for the dining train continues to increase. At the moment the dining set is often out 4 days/week - sometimes twice a day. The DoI minister who was responsible for the railway lost his seat in yesterday's House Of Keys election so it will be interesting to see who replaces him. Let's hope he/she realises how important the railways are to the Island's economy and heritage.
    Cheers,
    Ray.
     
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  7. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    "I spy with my little eye something beginning with T"
    John Fowler works 9.21.jpg
    Ray.
     
  8. Chrisw77

    Chrisw77 New Member

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    Thanks Allan, I do actually have book, just didn’t remember the picture
     
  9. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Tynwald? No? :D Nice rich old livery on "the loco numbered between 12A & 15". I'll resist temptation and await whatever updates enter the public domain.

    BTW Ray, great roundup in your post [#566]. Nice that things now seem to be at a point where asking about the potential for more stock isn't complete cloud cuckoo land any more. Roll on the return of those cruise ships.
     
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  10. Allan Thomson

    Allan Thomson New Member

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    It's on the back page if you missed it?
     
  11. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    Today was the first of the 2021 Manx National Heritage Open Days and one of the free events was a 'behind the scenes' look around Douglas Station and the Steam Railway workshops organized by Isle of Man Railways and the Heritage Railway Volunteers. These events are aimed at the general public rather than enthusiasts. After a look around the station (once described as "The finest narrow gauge railway station in the British Isles") and recently restored clock tower in the pouring rain the group took sanctuary in the warmth of the workshops. Loco No12 Hutchinson has just had its new SVR built boiler trial fitted in the frames and can be seen under the 'mandraulic' crane in the first photo below. Unfortunately the boiler will need from some slight adjustments to the position of the washout plug bosses before it can be finally fitted. The Saturday service now only requires 2 locos in steam so No4 was in the running shed along with No8 which came out of traffic at the end of last season for its '10-yearly' and, of course, the disgraced No 21. The tour concluded with a visit to the signal box which was a bit 'cosy' but, as the frame is disconnected, several folks were able to have a go at pulling the levers! By the time MNR No4 Caledonia coupled on to the 13.50 the sun was out and it was also photographed a few minutes later just cresting the summit at Keristal. We're all looking forward to our first Winter Heritage Transport Festival at the end of the month.
    TTFN.
    Ray.
    IMG_2206a.JPG IMG_2209a.JPG IMG_2211a.JPG IMG_2214 (2).JPG
     
  12. Allan Thomson

    Allan Thomson New Member

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    I keep hoping with all the ongoing investments they might reappear on the restoration radar....having a number of memories of having travelled on them in my childhood. They have had enough of a running life on Island to make them an important part of our railway history.
     
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  13. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I'd have thought they'd be useful for 'shoulder' periods, or ringing the changes at short notice. Maybe the odd charter, given only nearly everyone is bothered whether there's a steam loco up front, or not.
     
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  14. Allan Thomson

    Allan Thomson New Member

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    I'd say they have more than enough history to make them interesting to enthusiasts as well as those who aren't bothered whether there's a steam loco up front...

    Maybe the Port Erin rebuilt should have included a turn table?...
     
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  15. Chrisw77

    Chrisw77 New Member

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    Hi guys, any news on the return of Maitland, gone a bit quiet of late.

    Good to see work is moving also on Mona, would love to see a her cosmetically restored
     
  16. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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  17. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    The wind and rain didn't seem to dampen the enthusiasm of the participants on this afternoon's photo special. The train consisted of IMR No4 Loch, MNR Van Gr12 and a small F representing the type of train which operated on the long closed Foxdale branch. The group were able to photograph the empty stock depart and then board a chasing bus for run pasts at Oakhill, Keristal and Port Soderick. At Santon the loco ran round its train for a spirited run back to Douglas dropping the group off at 'Peel East' (actually the truncated remnant of the former Peel line at Hills Meadow) for a final shot of a 'Peel bound' train. On arrival back in Douglas station everyone retired to the Ticket Hall for the included 2 course meal which, according to one participant, was worth the 25 quid alone!
    Ray.
    IMG_2226a.JPG IMG_2227a.JPG IMG_2229a.JPG
     
  18. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    Today was the final day of our first Winter Heritage Transport Festival with an intensive tram service on the MER and a closed line bus tour which included a steam hauled special train on the 7 1/4"g. Orchid Line at the Wildlife Park. Despite some inclement weather everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and the Director of Transport certainly felt that the event had been an unqualified success. Today was also the last day of the running season but the locos only get a short rest before the festive diner trains commence on 2nd of December. These will run multiple times per week (sometimes twice a day) until 4th Jan and many are already fully booked. Santa trains will also operate on the weekends of 11-12 and 18-19 Dec. (details www,rail.im). The 2022 running season commences on Fri. 4th March with our usual 'Rush Hour on the Railways' over Easter (15-18/4) and 'Manx Heritage Transport Festival (27-31/7). As always news of upcoming events can be found at https://www.facebook.com/hrviom/
    The photos below, taken on Saturday during the workshop/signal box tours, show IMR N0.4 Loch taking coal outside Douglas running shed and awaiting departure with the 3.50 to Port Erin. The third photo is taken from the steps of our unique Dutton 'box which is complete but no longer connected. The points are now hand worked and the F.R. made signals are electrically worked from the cabin at the end of the platform. The final photo (courtesy of Graeme Easton/HRV) shows today's group having a run behind my Hunslet 'Alice' in the pouring rain!
    Ray.
    IMG_2233a.JPG IMG_2236a.JPG IMG_2238a.JPG 251875974_2383754975093122_3756996292698026745_n.jpg
     
  19. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    Well the cat is really out of the bag now re- No14 Thornhill.

    IMR 14 article from RM.jpeg
    Image courtesy of the Railway Magazine
    Re the long awaited return of No11 Maitland from Statfold Barn. According to one of the crews it should be later this month with the intention of some gentle running in on the Santa trains. However, a recent photo of the loco showed that it had been partially dismantled and the boiler lifted again..... Time will tell.
    Ray.
     
  20. Chrisw77

    Chrisw77 New Member

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    wow, after all the mystery and now it’s right out there, great news though, so is it a real possibility that numbers 10 to 16 could be all running locos at some point, or am i jumping the gun a bit

    4 - in service
    10 - under rebuild
    11 - due to return soon
    12 - under rebuild
    13 - in service
    14 - as per article
    15 - in service
    16 - undergoing assesment?

    please correct if i’m wrong on any of the above, but that list is a pretty exciting propect

    also great to hear an update on Maitland, hopefull we’ll see her on the Santa trains, fingers crossed
     
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