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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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    At the risk of incurring Ray's wrath with a (hopefully close to) last digression on the subject, I could swear I've seen an old photo of the revived Giant's Causeway line with two ex-BnM 'Barclays' in shot, if not in steam. Thanks for the update on the whereabouts of t'other.

    On IMR speeds, I do recall a statement that the timetabling of certain Ramsey services 'called for some smart running', though how that translates into speed I don't know. Isn't the current view on limits more predicated on not being cruel to aged wooden bodied stock than what the locos might still be capable of?

    I suspect that recent 'comprehensive locomotive rebuilds' lf the IMR fleet have been considerably more 'comprehensive' in nature than any earlier tlc, certainly since WWII. Could anyone comment authoritatively?
     
  2. ghost

    ghost Part of the furniture

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    I don't think Roisin has ever strayed from Stradbally, but would love to be proved wrong!
     
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  3. Mike Buttell

    Mike Buttell Member

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    They used to reckon 30 to 40mph out of and into Ramsey from Sulby (about a 5 mile stretch, all more or less on the straight. I’ve some audio of one of the old railwaymen telling a tale of one train coming into Ramsey a bit too fast, which is entertaining.
     
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  4. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Thanks Mike. I saw a recent clip on the Port Erin line where my guess would be a train moving at closer to 30 than 25mph. Admittedly, any footage taken close by (but at a safe distance) from rail level tends to accentuate perceptions of speed, but it doesn't distort the sound over rail joints. I've no interest in IoM rail speed records, but it'd be good to know how much scope exists here and there for recovering the odd few minutes against the timetable.

    To my eye, the present day IMR enjoys track in better nick than any time in the past 70 years and recent works attention (to locos and stock) looks closer to what I'd classify as 'comprehensive rebuild' rather than 'heavy overhaul'. I'd love to hear, from those who know the line well, if those seem reasonable statements?
     
  5. Mike Buttell

    Mike Buttell Member

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    That seems quite reasonable to me, the past 10 years particularly. There seems to have been quite a rebirth of interest within the local community towards the railways, brought about no doubt by being landlocked by restrictions on travel. Next season could be interesting if the local demand continues and the high volume coach/cruise business returns to previous popularity. The dining train as well has been a huge success, often being sold out during its many runs.
     
  6. Avonside2

    Avonside2 New Member

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    I MENT TO SAY THE OTHER WAY AROUND
     
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2021
  7. Wenlock

    Wenlock Well-Known Member Friend

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    The clue is in the thread title?
     
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  8. Bikermike

    Bikermike Well-Known Member

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    I'm always vaguely surprised how little cross-fertilisation there was between the Manx and Irish systems.

    Nice to see the railway getting some love. Are we allowed to ask about electrified lines on here?
     
  9. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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  10. Bikermike

    Bikermike Well-Known Member

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    Thanks Ray

    I always love a ride on the tram as it is so unusual. Hope it gets shown the love during this period of Manx government interest.
     
  11. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Why so? Beyond a shared gauge, there was next to no commonality between the individual Irish lines. Some were legally 'tramways' (Clougher Valley - until 1894, Castledrg & Victoria Bridge, Bessbrook & Newry, Portstewart, and the Cavan & Leitrim's Ballinamore - Arigna branch). The Giant's Causeway & Bushmills seems to have been unable to decide if it was a railway or a tramway!

    When the Cork, Blackrock & Passage closed and it's four 2-4-2Ts went to the C&L in the 1930s, even the coupling height needed changing. So did the height of the engine shed door at Dromod and one of 'em (unfofficially) tried to. The shed was merely repaired, as was and so it stands to this day. Following an 'incident' on test, where one stuck fast on a curve, they were barred from the Arigna line too.

    An ex-Cork & Muskerry 0-4-4T needed surgery to make it fit on transfer to the Schull & Skibereen. Ditto the Ballycastle's brace of Kitson 4-4-2Ts, brutally hacked to fit the Ballymena & Larne's loading gauge.

    The six VonBorries 2-4-2T 2 cyl compounds (BP/NCC) were the nearest to a standard the Co.Antrim lines ever knew (they shared a common driver diameter with the IMR locos) and of those, two had a foot added to their length to increase coal capacity and one was utterly mutilated, becoming a 2-4-4T with an ex-5'3" gauge boiler .... which looked as awful as it sounds!

    Although their metals met at Letterkenny, the fiercely independent Lough Swilly and the Co.Donegal hated each other with a passion and just to add to the fun, the latter's management committee was split between southern and northern mainline parents. Not best conducive to standardisation.

    When it comes to comparisons with the IMR, BP supplied some very similar locos to the Ballymena and Larne, specifically requested to be copies of the IMR's fleet (virtually identical to Peveril, but a tad less tall).

    The ex-CRJRC railcars, 19&20, spawned virtually identical machines for the CIÉ (West Clare), which served until closure in 1961. A few years ago, Mr.Hendry informed me a serious approach had been made in the early 1960s by the IMR regarding the three WCR diesel locos, but the CIÉ had some strange ideas about the resale value of redundant 3ft gauge kit .... which was probably just as well for the IMR steam fleet!
     
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  12. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    According to Boyd IMR manager Sheard and Donald Shaw visited Ennis in August 1961 to inspect the 3 recently withdrawn ex West Clare 0-4-4-0 diesel mechanical locos along with 4 railcars similar to the CDJR ones and 3 lightweight trailers. The IMR offered 1200 quid for one of the 1955 built locos but this was turned down by CIE. In Octber 1962 the IMR were offered one of the locos for 7,500 but they were being considered for conversion to broad gauge. Nothing came of this and after rotting for several more years they were scrapped at Inchicore IIRC. A West Clare trailer exists at Dromod having been used by Bord Na Mona for many years. I'm no diesel fan but I thought the Walker built locos were quite attractive and the mechanicals were similar to the IMR railcars.
    Ray.
    West Clare diesel.jpg
     
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  13. Wenlock

    Wenlock Well-Known Member Friend

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    I notice that the bogies are pivoted off centre, is that common?

    They do look quite purposeful.
     
  14. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    I think that is a feature shared by the railcars. Yes, they do look purposeful and I can't help feeling that their design could have been used as a basis for a modern IMR diesel rather than the rather 'brutal' appearance of IMR No21.
    Ray.
     
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  15. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I believe the motor bogies were very similar to the railcars. On the Clougher Valley, one 'driving tractor unit' could be used with either passenger or a 'goods trailer', with a body which looked like that of an open backed lorry. Not certain if the WCR kit was that interchangeable.

    And yes, the diesels ended their days at Inchicore. There's a very sad photo of all three, off the rails, rotting quietly to themselves. I don't know when they actually perished.
     
  16. Mike Buttell

    Mike Buttell Member

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    If they (the IMR) had bought them I guess it would have hastened the end of stream ops, so perhaps we should be grateful.
     
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2021
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  17. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    It appears that No11 Maitland is well on the way to completion at Statfold Barn (photo courtesy of Isle of Man Railway Online).
    Ray.
    IMR 11 Statfold Barn 11.21.jpg
     
  18. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I was looking at an image of the loco indoors (on the IOMSRSA FB site). Even to my untrained eye, the extent of just that work which can be seen is obvious. Can't wait to learn how Maitland performs in service ... my guess being it won't have been in such good condition since it first left Gorton, over a century ago. :)
     
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  19. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    As Howard says No11 will probably have had the most comprehensive overhaul of any IMR loco to date. Followers of this thread may remember that long stored locos 5 & 9 had their asbestos removed in Port St.Mary goods shed last summer and, to make this easier, the boilers were lifted from the frames. No9's chassis and tanks were grit blasted and primed at the time but, only recently, has No5's been similarly treated. This was done offsite as the photo courtesy of Fred Quaye below shows. In the meantime volunteers from the IoMSRSA have reclad Mona's boiler and painted the smokebox as part of the loco's ongoing cosmetic restoration. In the workshops MNR No4 Caledonia has been lifted for attention to its axleboxes in preparation for a very busy Christmas season which runs from Dec. 2nd. to Jan 4th.:
    DECEMBER:
    Seasonal Pie and Mash Thurs 2, 9, 16 & 30 December
    Festive Commuter Club Train Fri 3 December
    Silver Dream Turkey and Tinsel Fri 3, Thurs 9, Wed 15, Thur 16 & Mon 20 December
    Christmas Party Trains Sat 4, Fri 17 & Mon 20 December
    Little Festive Shedanigans Sat 4, Sun 5, Sat 18, Sun 19, Mon 20 & Tue 21 December
    Christmas Cracker Lunch Sun 5, Fri 10 & Fri 17 December
    Christmas Curry Club Wed 8 & Wed 22 December
    Christmas Jumper Train Fri 10 & Sat 11 December
    The Santa Express Sat 11, Sun 12, Sat 18 & Sun 19 December
    Jingle Bells Jambalaya Jazz Wed 15 December
    Carnaby Street Special Sat 18 December
    THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride Tue 21 & Wed 22 December
    The Musical Christmas Train Tue 21 December
    TWIXMAS:
    First Noel Fireman’s Brunch Thur 23, Tue 28, Wed 29 December
    The Marrakesh Express Tue 28 December
    Stargazing Starlight Express Wed 29 December
    Seasonal Pie and Mash Thur 30 December
    A New Year's Discovery Fri 31 December
    JANUARY 2022
    First Noel Fireman’s Brunch Mon 3 January
    Prosecco Afternoon Tea Mon 3 January
    New Year Back To Work Commuter Club Tue 4 January
    New Year's Silver Dream Tue 4 January
    Full details can be found at https://www.iombusandrail.im/media/2245/iom-railways-dc-a5-2021-christmas-leaflet-sp_lo.pdf
    Ray.
    IMR No5 after shotblasting at JCK 11.21  F.Quaye.jpg (2).jpg
     
  20. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    Recently restored and privately owned ex Manx Northern Railway Cleminson 6wh. carriage No6 was out on test yesterday as shown in the photo below courtesy of Isle of Man Railway Online.
    Tomorrow sees the start of the Festive trains with a 'Pie n' Mash' to Castletown in the evening followed by a commuter train early Friday morning. The full programme can be found in my previous post.
    Ray.
    MNR No6 on test @ Pt.Soderick 1.12.21 IMR Online.jpg
     
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