FROM ISSUE No. 57 - JANUARY 1981

Lack of space in the last issue prevented a complete account of the 1980 season and so now we continue.  Unfortunately, problems with No. 11 Maitland were not over as she failed working the 10.50am ex-Douglas, the railcars having to take over the service.  Nos. 11 and 13 worked the 2.10pm ex-Douglas (double-headed, rare these days).  No. 13 Kissack worked the 3.30pm ex-Port Erin but unfortunately No. 11 failed again.  The railcars worked the 4.15pm service with a National Transport bus in assistance because of the numbers travelling back to Douglas.  No. 11 blew a further tuve on 29th August but managed to get back to Douglas with her train.  Two days later No. 13 was de-railed just short of Ballastrang Crossing gates while working the 12.05pm ex-Port Erin.  Arrival in Douglas was at 2.00pm and following a quick turnaround she departed again at 2.20pm.

On 7th September, No. 4 Loch suffered a broken main spring and was taken out of service, being replaced by the railcars on the 4.10pm service from Douglas.  The 10.10am train ex-Douglas on 16th September included recently-altered saloon coach F.35 which was back in use by for guests of Sealink/Manxline.  No. 13 was back in service the next day.  Thus the 1980 season came to a close on Friday 3rd October with locos 11 and 4 in service.  A short time after the close, No. 4 and her set of coaches were returned to Douglas for winter storage.  However, No. 4 was again in service before the end of the year.  On 25th October a special train for the Rushen Round Table was operated by this loco and a set of six coaches.  The train departed from Douglas at 11.00am and ran to Castletown, where it returned at 3.00pm.  The first Sealink Island Magic Holidays trips on the railway took place on 31st October  when No. 4 and three coaches operated a Douglas/Castletown return service.  (Ed. the majority of Sealinks's Island Magic passengers in fact travelled on the M.E.R., the steam railway only used for parties of 40+).  No. 13 has also seen operation, on works trains to Santon, with sleepers and rail.

Reference has been made above to the conversion of F.35 (The Cardinal's Coach).  This work, carried out by the staff of Sealink/Manxline, was to create a "bar coach".  The old reversible lightweight seating in the second class section were removed, carpet has been fitted and a bar installed between the forment first and second class compartments,  The bar counter is not a permanent feature, but two seats from the first class compartment have been removed.  The conversion has been done to a very high standard, with pains being taken to match the new woodwork to the existing style.  The coach remains in the Isle of Man Railways livery but carries on each side a headboard "Sealink/Manxline Boat Train", and is for use on the Island Magic Holiday trains.  It is understood that there is a verbal agreement between the M.E.R. Board and Sealink/Manxline whereby the latter will pay for the refurbishing of two brake van coaches, presently in very derelict condition, to form a two coach buffet set and to accompany the Bar Coach F.35; no work on the two brakevans has yet commenced.

It is pleasing to report that work on the line has commenced far earlier this winter than in previous winters.  Immediately services were finished and staff holidays were over, work began on Santon Station.  From here to Blackboards Bridge, a considerable amount of hedge cutting and tree cutting has taken place.  Ditching has also been carried out.  A large hedge cutter has been built in the Douglas Workshops to assist.  Part of the main line at Santon has been relaid, the old track and sleepers removed and ground drained and ballasted.  The main objective this winter is the clearing of undergrowth on the track, together with ditch clearing and resleepering.  The permanent way staff are now being assisted by about twenty men, employed under the Manx Government's job creation scheme - recently set up to help combat the current high unemployment on the island.  Work on relaying the main line at Port Soderick was also started shortly before Christmas.  At Douglas, contractors have completed the new platform alongside road one and the level of the loco shed access road has been raised accordingly.  Edging stones from the former Port Erin platforms (now demolished) have been utilised in this structure.

At Douglas, the majority of the Port Erin Platform and station goods yard have been levelled, in preparation for the erection of the proposed National Transport bus garage/works.  Details of the depot are expected to be lodged with the planning authorities very soon.  It is understood that mock Victorian architecture is to be used on the proposed building.  This will include the provision of slightly arched windows and the used of red-faced brickwork to match that of the rest of the station.  This will be concentrated on walls facing the station platforms.  In the Douglas workshops considerable work on the rebuild of No. 12 Hutchinson has taken place in the past months.  The majority of the work is now finished, and it is now a matter of assembly including the fitting of new tanks which have been built by the staff.  In the coach shops F.15 is proceeding extremely well with the coach receiving considerable attention to the bodywork.  Three coaches F.31, F.30 and F.49 have now received electric lighting.  F.49 is fitted with a diesel electricity generator for this purpose.  Meanwhile No. 4 Loch has been inspected and is passed as fit for service.  No. 11 Maitland has received attention from the staff with all her tubes now removed inreadiness for further examination and hopefully new brass tubes.

Additional island publicity (and railway publicity too) is this winter being provided by a  new mobile publicity bus.  The former National Transport Leyland National No. 14 (MAN 14A) has been loaned to the Tourist Board and will be visiting town and cities in Ireland and England.  It features a new two-tone colour scheme together with Isle of Man slogans and logos, and contains display facilities.  It has received the highly prized registration number MAN 1OM formerly fitted to another Tourist Board vehicle.  It carries a crew wearing sweat shirts specially produced and should be an excellent crowd-puller.  The 1974 vehicle will certainly provide a far more go-ahead and dynamic image at events than the rather uninspired 1950 vehicle used last year.

Details of the 1981 service trains will be given as soon as possible.  However, we are able to report that the season will begin at Easter and trains will operate from then until October.  The chief executive of the M.E.R. Board has released to the Supporters' Association details of the passenger figures for the 1980 season which are:-

64,741 Ex-Douglas (34% Increase On 1978)

52,149 Ex-Port Erin (52% Increase On 1978)

There are no comparison figures given for the 1979 season as this was exceptionally busy being the Millennium Year with passenger taking having risen accordingly, but nonetheless the increases are encouraging.