Isle Of Man Steam Railway

Hi Ray,

You do a grand job publicizing the Isle of Man Steam Railway! And what a lovely pic!

Do you know anything about the injectors fitted to the IMR locos? 'Fennela' seems to have above tanks lifting injectors - do you know their vintage and who made them please?

Cheers,

Julian

 

All the IMR locos have lifting injectors. I'd have to check on the maker (possibly Greshams). Several of the stored/museum locos still have the original Giffards on them and there are a number of these still on the racks in the workshops .... and can be viewed on our workshop tours over Easter (shameful plug!)
Cheers,
Ray.

 

I'm relieved to see that the islands government finally seems to be giving thought to the future of the railway with an investment plan and works

 

This question is MER related, but this seems to be the most relevant thread:
Since the demise of the IMRS, their three steam locos (Fenella and the asbestos twins) and few carriages have been returned to the railway co.
The IMRS used to operate a MER museum at Ramsey, now long gone: what happened to the exhibits?

 

Still in store on the MER as far as I am aware, probably in Laxey car shed. The IMRS through various name changes is/was the '3' gauge society' or some such after Mr Hendry threw his toys out of the pram and took the Cleminson and No7's frames to Southwold. After a spell in a field on the Norfolk/Suffolk border the carriage returned to Southwold but I presume the loco frames are still there. No carriages were "returned to the railway", only the locos. Sad to see Ramsey MER now, goods shed museum gone, car shed demolished, and tracks in the station disused. The trams terminate at a "temporary station" across the road. Hope this helps.
Ray.

 

Front cover of heritage railways "mannin to steam". Exciting times!

 

HR was a bit late with this news as Ian Longworth announced this during his presentation on the last day of last year's Heritage Transport Festival. To be fair I haven't read the article yet but, whilst it was originally hoped to extricate Mannin from the Port Erin Museum this winter nothing is, now, likely to happen until after the railway shuts down in November. Loco No6 and the Royal saloon (and anything else on that road) will have to be pulled out through the engine shed first and No16 jacked across to where No6 was as that is the only connected track. No1 is being cosmetically restored for display in the Museum and it was hoped the he/she might be ready for this year's HTF at the end of July. The attached photos show Mannin in his current position in the museum and Sutherland under restoration in Douglas running shed. The recent work has almost exclusively been carried out by one 17 yr old. Who says that it is only us 'old gits' who get involved!
Ray.

 

The 2019 Heritage Transport Festival officially kicks off today and runs until Sunday as shown in the programme here https://www.gov.im/media/1364585/transport-festival-24-28-july-2019.pdf
Having said that it has already been a busy week with several extra trains. Yesterday's 9.50 from Douglas was load 11 including the 6 car dining set running as ECS for a cruise ship party departing Port Erin @ 1.00. Double headed by No15 Caledonia and No13 Kissack it was the longest train on the IMR for many years. Some video of the event can be viewed on the Heritage Railways Volunteers page https://www.facebook.com/hrviom/
Ray.

 

Today's was also double headed and load, 12, a very enjoyable journey for my first visit to the railway.

 

I was wondering whether No.16's proposed restoration reflected any necessity or merely an indulgence. Looking at the welcome news in the last two posts, methinks we might have the answer!

 

From last Friday : -


After my journey behind the double header on Wednesday returned to Friday for solo runs behind 12,13 and 15 (before heading for the MER including the evenening photography of the Tunnel cars), again Saturday including the evening photography with 8 and 15, and finally Sunday for nr 8 only.

 

Nr 15 on the remains of the Peel line.

 

Thanks for posting those photos Paul and hope you enjoyed yourself. I was the HRV steward in front and below you in the last photo.
Cheers,
Ray.

 

I had a very enjoyable first vist to the Island and am documenting my visit in this thread - https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/manx-heritage-transport-festival-2019.1416670/.

Keep up the good work of promoting the railway.

 

After many months of hard work the cosmetic restoration of IMR no 1 Sutherland (BP 1873) is now just about complete and the loco has been towed to Port Erin in preparation for a move into the railway museum where it will take the place of No 16 Mannin (BP1926).
Photo courtesy of Isle of Man Heritage Railways Volunteers.
The dates for the two main special events for 2020 have been announced:
Rush Hour on the Railways April 10 -13
Manx Heritage Transport Festival July 29 - Aug 2
These events will feature both old favourites and new attractions. As always happenings on the IMR can be followed on https://www.facebook.com/hrviom/
Cheers,
Ray.

 

Looks Great, Am I right in thinking that she is technically still a runner? as she borrowed a good boiler a while back and ran?
John

 

Very nice job indeed, my congratulations to all involved. Is that superb turnout a recreation of the original livery?

No.1 certainly ran with No.8's new boiler, some time ago .... but that's back on No.8 now.

 

I believe that it is an accurate rendition of the original livery. No8's boiler wasn't actually "new" but heavily rebuilt by the SVR before being 'lent' to No1. No8 was the only Beyer in service still with a copper box. For those that missed it No4's heavily rebuilt boiler (now complete with Salter safety valves as carried until the 1969 rebuild) has returned from the SVR and will, hopefully, allow Loch (BP 1874) to re-enter service next year. No 11's chassis remains at Alan Keef's and will receive one of the 5 new boilers being built by the SVR.
Ray.

 

Cheers for that, Ray. Of the 5 new boilers, what with No.4's being repaired .... are they all to the same dimensions? No prizes for guessing I'm wondering "16"!

 

Nos 1-9 and 14 (ex MNR No3) were built with 2'10" dia boilers. No 8 still carries hers and is the only 'small boilered' loco currently in service. Nos 10 - 13 were built with 3'3" dia boilers and a longer coupled wheelbase. Many years ago, to cope with heavier train loads Nos 4-6 were rebuilt with 3'3" dia boilers so No4's boiler, although the same dia is not interchangeable with the other locos so bits of it's 1969 Hunslet boiler were used in the recent 'rebuild'. When No16's turn in the rebuild queue comes it will require a new 3'6" boiler as she currently still carries her original worn out (and unique) 1926 Beyer boiler. I'd have to check if one of the new ones ordered from the SVR is actually 3'6". Hope this helps.
Ray.