County Donegal Railcar & No.4 Loch Isle of Man Steam Railway

Hi All

I have added another batch of photos of IOM steam loco No.4 Loch, the first photo is No.4 Loch alongside one of the County Donegal Railcars
http://www.steamlocomotives.photos.gb.net/p63850655.html
No. 4 Loch & No.11 Maitland?
http://www.steamlocomotives.photos.gb.net/p63850656.html
5 assorted photos of No.4 Loch
http://www.steamlocomotives.photos.gb.net/p63850657.html
http://www.steamlocomotives.photos.gb.net/p63850661.html
http://www.steamlocomotives.photos.gb.net/p63850658.html
http://www.steamlocomotives.photos.gb.net/p63850659.html
http://www.steamlocomotives.photos.gb.net/p63850660.html


Neil

 

What is the latest on the railcars? Are they still in store or has any work re-started on them?

 

Things were starting to look hopeful in the autumn and there was talk of a part government/ part privately funded restoration (if they could find a benefactor!) so they could be used for special events etc. However, since then the IOM has suffered a major decrease to it's income by the UK changing it's VAT sharing agreement with the island and money in Government here is in short supply (and the project has 'gone quiet'). That said, the new head of transport is quoted as saying that he would like to have one of them restored for at least static display in the short/ medium term (funding permitting no doubt).

More discussion here:

http://www.forums.iomsrsa.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1264019207

 

Some piccys of the railcars in Douglas shed taken during the NG visit last November are on http://www.narrow-gauge.co.uk/gallery/63

 

I'm pretty sure that they were working in 1995 shunting at Douglas mainly. Although don't quote me on that.

 

Thanks GHWood for the update, fingers crossed then for work to re-start!