Isle Of Man Steam Railway

Without knowing exactly the dates of when the Manx locos have been overhauled- there's definitely some sense in having some additional capacity/resilience in the fleet.

Having extra locos 'in ticket' allows for more spare capacity for periodic maintenance, hopefully reducing the burden at the point where a boiler lift is required.

It's a fine balance, too many is an excessive expense- too few and those that are available end up with excessive wear and maintenance being postponed, meaning at the '10 year' point the work is far more extensive.

Chris

 

Assuming there's no surprises, Caledonia should be in ticket until 2028 and the next Beyer Peacock due out of traffic should be Kissack in the next couple of years.

For the record, Loch and Maitland returned to traffic in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

 

Thanks for the update and great to hear that Caledonia should be in ticket until that date.

 

I don't know why but for some reason I was thinking that GH Wood would be back this year, I must have misread something somewhere. Looking forward to hearing any news re Thornhill and Mannin, would love to see them in steam, sadly I have missed Caledonia out myself so glad to hear I should see her this year

 

Full report now available, will post a link to the actual document below.
https://gef.im/news/transport/well-run-and-a-positive-contribution-44519/

 

Full report.
Let’s see what our politicians do next.
https://www.gov.im/media/1381802/isle-of-man-heritage-railway-review-final-report_compressed.pdf

 

I have just finished my first reading of the full report, I would say that I'll now inwardly digest the contents and form some opinions.
However, I might risk getting indigestion !
I'll reserve comment until I've had another read through.

 

Work continues on the relay outside Douglas workshops. A new pair of points between roads 0 and 1 has been laid and also a new turnout for the shed throat. As can be seen from the photo below a lot of work remains to be done, not just trackwork but also associated drainage and water pipe renewal. Loco No.11 is having maintenance work done in the workshop with No.12 for company as it awaits re-assembly.
The 2024 timetable has just been released and can be downloaded from the Heritage Railways website https://www.iombusandrail.im/heritage/routes-timetables-and-fares/timetables/ Services re-commence on 15th March.
Ray.

 

Recycled plastic sleepers? Good move. Can see more lines going down that route in times to come.

 

Somebody’s removed it from the gov’s website - hopefully it’s accidental and nothing sinister. Is it available anywhere else?

 

I downloaded the full document, all 95 pages of it. I've sent you a copy via 'conversation'.
I sincerely hope that I'm wrong in this case but it is not unknown for our Gov't to spend long thousands on reviews or independent inspectors and then ignore the findings when they didn't come up with the desired result.
Cheers,
Ray.
p.s. If anyone else wants to read it I've attached a copy.

 

Thanks, Ray ...

Hope that "removal" is very temporary.
Being somewhat cautious by nature, I also downloaded a copy [so I could study it when offline].

Ignoring "inconvenient" reports / reviews / inspections seems to be a standard operating procedure for politicians !

 

Hope you don't mind Ray but I've cross-posted this onto the MER thread, as I put the original report link there as a FYI ...

 

Thanks Ray

 

A couple of photos of the ex MNR Cleminson coach at the Southwold Railway ‘Steam Works’ site in Southwold last Saturday. It is outside but seems in reasonable condition.
https://flic.kr/p/2pv1w8T
https://flic.kr/p/2puZJ66

 

Good write up for the Systra report in "Steam Railway" ...

 

The first train of the Port Erin Line’s 150th anniversary operated today, Tuesday 7th February, appropriately hauled by No.4 Loch also in her 150th year. The train, for over fifty travel writers from the British Guild of Travel Writers travelled between Port Erin and Castletown return, transporting its passengers south departing at 4.35pm with three carriages, F.45, F.63 and F.46. The season proper will commence on Friday 15th March.
Ray

(courtesy IoMSRSA).

 

The 2024 season on the IMR opened this morning with the 10.00 from Port Erin to Castletown headed by loco No.4 Loch which celebrates its 150 birthday this year. As one can see from the photo below the Douglas relay was still some way from being completed on Tuesday afternoon. So that final inspection and 'signing off' of the relay can be completed no trains ran from Douglas this morning but the 13.50 and 15.50 are expected to operate normally. The 2024 timetable and programme of events for all the Heritage Railways can be found at https://www.iombusandrail.im/heritage/
Ray.

 

The Vale of Rheidol Railway facebook page today shows a photo of restored IOM “Pairs” coach F.68 on display in their new museum building.

Until today this coach was out of sight for 50 years in “Collection X”. Congratulations to the late Peter Rampton for saving and restoring it, and best wishes to VoR on their museum opening day.

 

I believe Peter Rampton was particularly fond of this carriage having done most of the restoration himself which is why it wasn't offered back to the IMR when the others were. I look forward to seeing it at Aber during TT. From the photos it looks like F68 is on 2'g. bogies and is air brake piped.
Back on the Island the trackwork at Douglas station throat was sufficiently complete for services to recommence last Friday. The first couple of photos below show how much progress has been made in the last fortnight. I'm not quite sure why we seem to have gone for so much 'slab track'. The others show loco No.13 Kissack, one of the youngest in the fleet at a mere 114 yrs. old leaving on the 13,50 to Port Erin. The oldest currently in service No.4 Loch of 1874 was working out of Port Erin as it has done for the last 150 years. MNR loco No.4 Caledonia also returned to service yesterday.
Ray.