Isle Of Man Steam Railway

Another busy day on the IMR. Being the first Friday of the month there was a 'commuter train' ex Port Erin at 07.45 using MNR No4 Caledonia and the dining set (fireman''s breakfast is served en-route) which had worked out ECS. The return working is 17.45 ex Douglas on which after work drinks are served.
I travelled on the 11.50 ex Douglas headed by No13 Kissack on 5 well-filled bogies. With a more or less on time departure the loco made a spirited run up the bank arriving at the first booked stop, Port Soderick, 2 mins. up. Unfortunately we were held outside Castletown waiting for a late running up train and then further delayed by a prolonged station stop at Port St.Mary while a lady passenger inspected the station plumbing - only the dining train has a toilet! In case anyone is unfamiliar IMR service trains are timed at 65 mins for the 15 3/4 miles including 5 compulsory station stops and 4 request halts so they don't 'hang about'.
The first photo shows No13 coming 'off shed' (newly rebuilt No4 can be glimpsed just inside) and the second shows the 11.50 just before departure. The third photo shows MNR No4 (IMR No15) entering the passing loop at Castletown on the 13.50 ex Douglas. The basic 2 train service to timetable R runs Th - Su this week and next.
Elsewhere on the railway No21 has finally moved under its own power but has not yet re-entered service. No 12 has moved into the workshop and work has started to prepare it for overhaul.
Ray.

 

Those following the IoMSRSA and IMR Online Facebook pages or who went to the recent Statfold Barn open day may have seen this but for those who haven't......

Photo by Tom Clarke courtesy Isle of Man Railway Online
We're all looking forward to No 11's return later in the summer.
Ray.

 

Will she have to quarantine for fourteen days when she returns? Or will she be given the all-clear if she gets a negative test result?

 

Zooming in on that (rather superb) image, I get the distinct impression that the work done on No.11 must be the most comprehensive in very many moons, if not since the loco was first built. Out of interest, is the current work being classed as an overhaul, or a rebuild? Whatever, I'm positively salivating in anticipation of seeing the finished article.

Query: is that rather oddly shaped component where one would expect to see a smokebox handrail actually a smokebox handle?

 

I think that is the smokebox handrail-it's just sitting at an odd angle awaiting fixing in place

 

I think it is the smokebox handrail - it is secured at the top, but swung out of the way, presumably until the handrails along the side of the boiler are in place and it can all be slotted together.

Tom

 

Oh ..... how dull. What with the island's celebrated Viking heritage, there was me hoping it was a mount for a pair of aurochs' horns which was temporarily on backwards. The notion of Maitland going "full Loki" breasting Nunnery with the 'loud' pedal hard down is quite appealing .... or is that just me?

 

A peek inside Douglas workshops - photos from IoMSRSA. Earlier this week recently restored, privately owned Manx Northern Cleminson N45 was having a few odd jobs done.
IMR No12 Hutchinson has been in the workshops for the last couple of weeks being stripped for overhaul. It has now been moved up the shop to have the boiler lifted. The 'mandraulic' overhead crane is visible over the loco. I'm guessing that one of the first pair of SVR built boilers, currently stored in Castletown goods shed, may be used on it.
This week timetable R is SaO & SuO but the dining train was out last night and will also run tonight and Saturday with a Sunday lunch train out.
The IoM Gov. has stuck to its 28th June date for lifting some border restrictions. AIUI from this date people from the U.K. who have had both vaccinations more than 14 days previously will be allowed to enter without testing or isolating - but I suggest checking on the Gov's website for any 'small print'.
Cheers,
Ray.

 

Does anyone know when the frame of No11 moved from Alan Keef's to Statfold Barn please?

 

Any news on No. 14, is that off island having work done or have I got that wrong

 

I'm hoping that there'll be some further easing before August - as it stands my Wife and I, being fully vaccinated by then, will be able to come on our booked holiday, but we'll have to leave the children at home (as they are not in the approved categories for test & isolate)!

My hopes for this holiday have been raised and dashed so many times over the last year I can't count...

John

 

I seem to recall being told that it was moved at the end of last year to Statfold but I stand to be corrected.

 

Good to see No. 11 making progress and looks like set to appear in Ailsa Green. Here she is in 1968, unfortunately she will not be seen again at this location on the Ramsey Line.

 

Seems vanishingly unlikely, doesn't it, but recall Boyd's caption, in 'The Festiniog Railway Vol.2" accompanying a photo of Merddin Emrys, mingling with 1930s traffic, just west of Britannia Bridge, confidently asserting that it was " ..... a sight Portmadoc (sic) will not see again ..... ". One can but dream.

 

I may have been the guilty OP regarding the supposed move of No. 14 to the mainland. I got the information from a genuine source and I hoped that by posting on here I would get some clarification one way or the other on its current status and I apologise if I have given some duff info!

It seems like everything regarding Thornhill, it is shrouded in mystery and information purdah!

One day, hopefully all will be revealed.

 

Where is this mainland? I wasn't aware Thornhill was on the Calf Of Mann.

In other news Isle Of Man Railways have today announced the Timetables until September. They can be viewed here.

And for any fully vaccinated intending tourists, please note Ronaldsway Halt is not in operation for the duration of the published timetable.

 

I don't think your link is working but here it is:

As always updates on the Heritage Railway Volunteers Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/hrviom/
Ray.

 

As the weather forecast promised that the heavy overcast was going to break up during the afternoon I decided to do a bit of 'gricing' on the IMR. The first photo below shows the driver of No13 on the 14.00 ex Port Erin exchanging tokens with the driver of No15 arriving at Castletown on the 13.50 ex Douglas. The next two show No13 Kissack leaving Castletown on the returning 15.50 ex Douglas which had been strengthened to 6+4 with the addition of the dining set for a private party. This necessitated being banked by newly rebuilt No4 Loch of 1874 but was running late due to an unscheduled stop for water at Santon. The fourth shows the recently arrived 10 coach train blocking the public footpath which bisects the platform at Port Erin with No4 out of sight at the rear. Having returned the service stock (the last 4 carriages) to the carriage shed Loch ran light to the shed to take water and rest before taking the dining set back to Douglas this evening. In addition to the service trains shown in the timetable there are numerous scheduled and chartered dining trains. For example next Thursday, even though there are no service trains, there is a lunchtime diner and an evening 'pie & mash'. Hope the photos are of interest.
Ray.

 

Another busy day on the IMR! Being the first Friday of the month the Commuter Train (07.45 ex Port Erin/17.45 ex Douglas) ran in addition to the regular 2 train operation. From today timetable R runs 5 days/week (Tue/Wed excepted). On Wednesday last week loco No12 Hutchinson had its boiler lifted at the commencement of its overhaul. The overhauls of Nos 10 & 11 continue at Keef's and Statfold respectively. Also appearing outside was 'pairs' carriage F62 recently returned from restoration at Stanegate. This vehicle is comprised of ex 4 wheeler bodies A1 (1st class) and B1 (2nd class) of 1873 which were placed on a bogie underframe in 1926 - one of the last to be done. The filler piece between the two former bodies can still be seen on this 'pair' unlike in traffic F54 which had a completely new body. Photos courtesy of Heritage Railway Volunteers and IoMSRSA.
Ray.

 

See: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2249353424/permalink/10158473162938425/
Ray.