Isle Of Man Steam Railway

Why limit it to a Castle?
GW They all look the same don't they?

 

Back on track….
The railway was host to another cruise ship special today, in addition to the usual timetable. Guests enjoyed a dinner on board the dining set and on board commentary, with No13 Kissack loco in charge
Pictures courtesy Cruise Isle Of Man fb page

 

If a Castle is available as well then I would exchange it for a T&D Hunslet 2-6-0t. We could then relay Garrynadur to Lispole and recreate a double headed cattle train. Rides could be sold to roller coaster enthusiasts

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That is going on my to do list

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Another busy weekend with a Cruise Ship special on Saturday, although it’s just as well the sunshine didn’t come with a guarantee, and an Ultimate Drivers Experience out on Sunday. The weekend started with the monthly commuter club train, with the 07:45 from Port Erin heavily loaded.

 

Details of the Winter Festival events are also now confirmed at https://www.iombusandrail.im/media/2583/2022-winter-transport-festival.pdf
Including one event in particular that I’m very pleased to see

 

Ever read the description of one of those late double-headed cattle specials skating down the 1:29 towards the viaduct, with smoke billowing from brakes and one of the locos' driving wheels spinning uselessly in reverse?

Apparently, after the goods service petered out in 1947, the monthly cattle turn, with very tired locos pulling near derelict stock over barely maintained track, wasn't best popular with mainline crews unfamiliar with the sinuous switchback out to Dingle ..... can't think why!

 

Yes I have read the descriptions. My uncle gave me a copy of "On The Narrow Gauge" more than 50 years ago and I have been fascinated ever since. There is a picture of a double headed special actually on Lispole Viaduct as you describe it. I think it is in the Bradford Barton book on the T&D.



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Certainly in David Rowlands' (photo album). One of my most prized books is a small hardback volume (around seventy years old) on the T&D by Pat Whitehouse, complete with dust jacket, whose font looks like an old Olivetti typeface! It does NOT live on the bookshelves with the rest ....

 

Back on topic
No4 Loch brings in the 13:50 ex Douglas train to Port Erin today (Wednesday) whilst No13 Kissack stands on the Bay platform with an Drivers Experience special. The Advanced session means that the Drivers paying for the experience get a complete train to handle , rather than just one carriage for beginners of a carriage and goods wagon for intermediate. In this instance the rake used consisted of four of the 1905 Saloon coaches from the Dining set

 

Another Drivers Experience today (Monday) with No13 Kissack rostered to the run once again.
No4 Loch and No11 Maitland are working the service trains. MNR4 Caledonia is expected out on test later this week as work on it continues

 

Busy times at Port Erin this morning (13/9/22)
Maitland on the main platform awaiting arrival of special

Special arrives on to the Bay Platform for Ffestiniog Travel group No13 Kissack in charge

Maitland leaves with the 10:00 service
No4 Loch arrives with the 09:50 ex Douglas
The Ffestiniog Travel special leaves for Castletown

 

Discussion continued from Snowdon Mountain Railway thread:

Many thanks Ray.. The obvious question then has to be what is the prognosis for No.21? From here, the options would appear to be as either as (a) a serviceable loco or (b) a salutary lesson and/or donor of numberplate to some future working loco. Is there any feel for how close (if at all) the IMR is to a working 'mainline' diesel?

I'd imagine, at this stage, naming it for the officer presiding over the department or committee whose wisdom precluded the IMR sourcing from some preferred supplier could be regarded as being in poor taste?

On the upside, some brilliant recent shots. I spent ages wondering which of the loco liveries currently displayed sits best with the stock. Conclusion? Depends on which photo I'm looking at at the time. Love all three and haven't actually managed reach any conclusion, though will say that No.11's post-rebuild coat of Ailsa Green is particularly stunning in full sunlight.

Looking at the superbly presented stock and buildings, tidy platforms, and manicured permanent way, it did occur that you have to go back a long old way in the photo archive to see the line looking as good as it does today. It's a real credit to staff, management and supporters.

 

I think the intention, at the moment, is to continue trying to make No.21 a useful item of motive power. The faulty motors went away for repair some time ago and may have returned by now - I forgot to ask when I was in the workshops yesterday playing tour guide for the Ffestiniog Travel group mentioned above. As regards naming the loco. I have seen the nameplates made for it many years ago but I should think that the esteemed engineer concerned would turn in his grave.......
I'm sure that the permanent staff would be very pleased to hear that their efforts are appreciated.
Cheers,
Ray.

 

Thanks Ray. I very much hope that the problems with 21 can be ironed out. I know she's never been a popular loco, and not without reason. But I can't help feeling that there must be something salvageable in that loco, even if only the main frames and bodyshell! Having spent so much money on it, it would be a shame to give up and send the whole lot for scrap now.

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I wonder if it would be possible to re gauge one of the Zillertalbahn diesel hydraulics since the railway has plans for either electrification or use of hydrogen power and these engines might just come up for disposal.

 

..... or find out if there's a financial advantage to be had by adding to the ZB's own order for hydrogen locos?

 

Crossing trains at Santon 17/08/22
MNR No4 Caledonia on the Dining set with No13 Kissack on the 11:50 ex Douglas

 

What is the significance of the yellow flag (at 0:59)?
Do I see the point blades being operated by the train passing over them at 1:58?
I know that is normal in some countries and presumably it's OK on the Isle of Man. But in Britain they have to be not only set before the train comes but locked as well if facing for a passenger train. What makes the difference?

 

Yellow flag is because the service train is running through the station and not stopping, standard procedure. The special runs through the unlocked points on the spring movement of the blades. The station master on duty locks the points immediately afterwards as the station is being closed down as far as I’m aware. Normal staff arrangements follow as soon as the special (running on a ticket I presume ) arrives back in Douglas. It’s a while since I’ve been involved but I recall that being standard procedure in this scenario, don’t take that as gospel though