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Isle Of Man Steam Railway

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

  1. estwdjhn

    estwdjhn Member

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    SVR boilers are all the same barrel diameter, however the last one will have a shorter and deeper firebox (same as the newly repaired boiler for no4).
     
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  2. pmh_74

    pmh_74 Well-Known Member

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    So which one is that last one destined for? (Wondering if one of the 'long term stored' ones might get a look in!)
     
  3. meeee

    meeee Member

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    As much as we'd all like to see No5 run again. I expect it is more likely a long term replacement for the Hunslet boiler on No4.

    Tim
     
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  4. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    The core fleet is 4,8,10-13 and 15. The previous Director of Transport publicly stated that there was only a need for one small boilered loco which was why the decision was made to only cosmetically restore No1. At the same time he stated that there was a need for a larger loco for the heaviest trains which is why No 16 is to be removed from the museum this winter for assessment for eventual restoration to working order. I suspect that this will be the only one of the long - stored locos to be brought back in to traffic in the foreseeable future and that the boiler referred to above will eventually go on No4.
    Ray.
     
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  5. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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  6. lostlogin

    lostlogin Member

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    I would suggest that stating that the Horse Trams runs for a mile and a half along the prom before putting in a small footnote that at best they will only run as far as Broadway this year is a tad misleading
     
  7. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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  8. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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  9. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    many years ago on a visit a number of us were in a taxi . As we crossed the fairy bridge we said our hello apart from one who said hello duckies . The next few days were a joy on the railway and on the last morning we were treated to the most stunning light . This was in the era of film and much film was exposed

    Unbeknown to our unfortunate individual a frame at the beginning only partially wound on and on processing the slide mounting machine did its very worst, slicing each beautiful image in half . The fairies had cast their spell
     
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  10. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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  11. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    A few weeks ago I referred to the planned removal of IMR No16 'Mannin' (the largest and newest steam loco) from the Port Erin museum for assessment with a view to restoration to working order. Well it's happening..... see https://www.facebook.com/hrviom/
    Enjoy!
    Ray.
     
  12. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    IMR #16 Mannin has been removed from Port Erin museum and is now in temporary storage in Port Erin carriage shed pending assessment. No1 Sutherland has taken No6 Peveril's place in front of the Royal Saloon with No6 behind it. At some time in the near future there will be a re-arrangement of the exhibits. The Heritage Railway Volunteers have posted several photos on their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/hrviom/
    IMR Sutherland in Port Erin Museum.jpg
    Ray.
     
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  13. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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  14. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    When No16 Mannin was withdrawn at the end of the 1964 season with just over 1/2 million miles 'on the clock' it was thoroughly worn out and was the only IMR loco still on its original boiler. It will be interesting to see what its inspection reveals - hopefully not "jack up the whistle and put a new engine underneath". By contrast No4 Loch (1874) already had clocked up over 1 1/2 million miles by the late 50's and a good many more since returning to service in 1968. When No4 returns to traffic this year she will be on her 4th boiler which has just had a very heavy repair at the SVR. The new season starts on Friday 6th March and runs until early November. I've attached a couple of photos of No16, when new in 1926, and yesterday.
    Cheers,
    Ray.
    Mannin new in Douglas yard 1926.jpg IMR No16 Mannin stored in PE carriage shed 12 Feb 2020.jpg
     
  15. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    Final details of the 2020 Heritage Transport Festival (29th July to 2nd August) have just been released https://www.gov.im/media/1368404/20...YczUI_nzeOkiPRa4qbTxlqbPn4QHL42dFFQUxWiM_9BKQ The highlight will be Snaefell 125.
    Many old favourites but a couple of new opportunities are being arranged - Caledonia at Laxey (it was used in the construction of the Snaefell Mountain Rly.) and at Knockaloe where it was used on the internment camp branch which closed 100 years ago. Please have a look through the brochure and see if anything 'tickles your fancy'.
    Caledonia at Knockaloe.jpg
    Cheers,
    Ray.
     
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  16. MuzTrem

    MuzTrem Member

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    At risk of being censured for proposing a WIBN scenario...is there any possibility that we will one day have the chance to actually ride behind steam on the MER again? I think everyone accepts that steam on Snaefell really was a one-off due to the cost of laying a third rail, but why not the MER?

    I am speaking as someone who was, alas, too young to travel to the Island for any of the legendry 1990s events - so if anything would spur me into paying another visit to the island, that would!
     
  17. MuzTrem

    MuzTrem Member

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    It is interesting that the chimney numerals in the 1926 photo are in a different style to the other BP locos. Perhaps they were no longer standard items by the 1920s? :p

    It would certainly be a real treat to see No. 16 again, but I am also mindful of not wanting to see too much of the engine's historic fabric destroyed. If she needs to have the same level of component replacement as Welsh Pony has done, I'd suggest it might be kinder (and probably not much more expensive!) to build a replica...but we can only wait and see.
     
  18. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

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    You mean like this?:- 94-4-15 8 No4 app Laxey copy.jpg
    My one and only visit to the IOM, Easter '94. Riding behind "Loch" on the MER was certainly memorable.

    Peter
     
  19. jma1009

    jma1009 Well-Known Member

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    That is wonderful news that Mannin may be restored! A complete loco not steamed since 1964, and preserved as withdrawn.

    Asbestos removal, a presumably new boiler, and definitely a new smokebox, and wheel tyres?

    Cheers,

    Julian
     
  20. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Given a widely held view (expressed on this thread by our very own @marshall5), the reaction if the whistle turns out not to be fit for further use will be interesting ..... :D

    Nonetheless, it's fantastic - and very surprising - news, not least because of the rationale behind the move i.e. this powerful loco is once again needed.

    With the gradual rehabilitation of pretty much every surviving unrestored bogie carriage underway, one can't but help reflect on the wisdom of the infamous 'bonfire'. Very different times and circumstances, of course ..... isn't hindsight wonderful?

    Enquiry: Are there any surviving (salvageable) carriage underframes, bogies and running gear to hand, to facilitate further resurrections, should increased patronage put pressure on current capacity?
     

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