FROM STEAM RAILWAY NEWS

ISSUE No. 65 - WINTER ISSUE 1982

The final month of summer services this year contrasted with the previous quiet month of August, with the operation of special trains and cancellation of services due to weather conditions.

The early part of September is usually quite busy for the railway, as witnessed this season with No. 12 Hutchinson giving banking assistance to the 2.10pm ex-Douglas through to the southern terminus on 6^th, and a week later No. 11 Maitland giving similar assistance on the afternoon service from Douglas. On both occasions, the banking assistance was on the return service at 4.15pm. A party from the Lea Valley Railway visited the island on 17^th, and hired two special trains. At 10.30am No. 4 Loch with four coaches departed for Port Erin, returning from the south at 1.50pm. the party then boarded the railcars for a return trip to Port Soderick, completing their trip back to Douglas at 5.30pm. The evening of Saturday 25^th September, a special train was operated for members of the I.o.M. Transport Social Club. Shortly before 7.30pm a short sharp thunderstorm over Douglas caused a delay in the train’s departure. The scene was one of sudden darkness, a black sky broken with frequent cracks of lightning, thundery rain and an blue locomotive emitting large amounts of black smoke cowering in the shed, with the train’s passengers quite happy in coach F.35 as the bar had opened! The train (No. 12 and three coaches) eventually left at 7.45pm and ran through to the destination of Castletown. For the return trip, lighting in the coaches was provided, which was required in view of the departure time of 11.30pm, arriving back in Douglas at 12.20am. The storm by this time had moved to Northern Ireland and with a backdrop of black sky with flashes of lightening the sound, sight of an on-coming train at Blackboards was one not to be missed.

The rain storms continued for the next couple of days resulting in severe flooding in the south and west parts of the island. By the afternoon of the 27^th September the line had become flooded between Port Erin - Port St. Mary and Castletown - Ballasalla. The 2.10pm ex-Douglas was stopped at Ballasalla where a bus operated the remainder of services for the day between there and Port Erin, the train operating the remainder of the line. The following day the diesel railcars left Douglas at 9.00am to check the line through to Port Erin, arriving back in Douglas at 11.40am. morning services operated as usual, but following a report by the crew of the 11.45am ex-Douglas, of a possible slip occurring at Rifle Range., serviced to Douglas were suspended, with the 12.05pm ex-Port Erin halted at Ballasalla. A bus was provided for the remaining services of the day between Douglas and Ballasalla, with a train service from there to Port Erin. Meanwhile, the diesel railcars worked from Douglas to Rifle Range with a permanent way crew and No. 11 Maitland (on the 12.05pm service from Port Erin) collected a runner loaded with a J.C.B., left Ballasalla bound for the Rifle Range. Following work at the slip No. 11 returned to Ballasalla collected its train and eventually arrived back in Douglas at 7.30pm, followed shortly thereafter by the diesel railcars.

On the final day of summer services, carriage stock on the south train set were changed to F.43, F.47 and F.46 (equipped for steam heating use for use on the winter trains). The railway quickly reverted to its winter role, with the Fridays only Port Erin-Douglas return train; the locomotive in service so far to date being No. 12 Hutchinson. This service will operate each Friday until Easter 1984, except for the 24^th, 31^st December and 1^st April. Due to lack of steam caused by bad coal, the Friday’s [sic] only train on 15^th October and 19^th November were over and hour late leaving Port Erin; the return departure from Douglas was therefore delayed accordingly. Passenger numbers are in line with last winter, 25-30 although on 29^th October there were 57 passengers travelling. Two special Sealink trains were operated in October, the first to Castletown with No. 4 Loch and three coaches, the other to Port Erin, again with No. 4 but on this occasion with four coaches. While at Port Erin the train carried out braking tests at Four Roads crossing where the new M.E.R.-type crossing lights are due to be brought into operation next season. It was not until the first week of November that the carriage stock was moved under cover in the carriage shed.

Since October, permanent way work has been concentrated on ditching and fencing, particularly between Ballasalla and Santon, Port Erin and Port St. Mary and the Ballabeg to Castletown areas. In late October the P.W. staff were noted taking down the wooden chalets at Port Grenaugh, Santon, removing them to the Douglas Carriage Shed. At the present time, there is only one P.W. gang of seven men working in groups. The government’s winter work scheme for the unemployed has only resulted in extra P.W. staff for the M.E.R. Peter Craine, station master at Ballasalla last season, is employed on the railway under a scheme by the Board of Education, supervising young unemployed under the work experience programme, Ballawoods gatehouse, not used since the reported murder incident, is likely to be converted into a permanent way store; the gatekeeper has used a former Highway Board caravan / hut as shelter since the incident. It is understood that track work will commence in the new year, with the section through Ballabeg Station to be ballasted and re-sleepered. Otherwise, it is expected that spot re-sleepering along the rest of the line will be undertaken as usual.

In the Douglas Workshops, No. 11 Maitland is undergoing a major overhaul of its motion, the wheels turned, cylinders re-bored with attention to the valve faces. The locomotive is presently lifted, with its wheels, motion and pony truck removed. The water tanks will be patched, and a new back bunker fitted as the existing one is rotten. Finally, it is expected that the locomotive will return in a new livery. On the carriage stock, pairs coach No. 1 (formerly F.66) has been repainted both inside and out, and F.67 and F.70 are receiving similar treatment, as will two other pairs coaches in due time. This work is being carried out with the assistance of the young unemployed mentioned earlier. Coach F.35 has been repainted and reupholstered an F.49 is to receive bodywork repairs and hopefully a repaint. Locomotive No. 12 Hutchinson remains in service for the Friday trains, as does No. 4 Loch, now in Douglas for any Sealink or other special trains. No. 13 Kissack is expected to receive workshop attention in the new year. Coach F.12, removed to the M.E.R. yard at Derby Castle some years ago, as a P.W. store has been broken up. On the matter of radios, it is understood that each P.W. vehicle has now been fitted with such a radio, and that the frequency presently used will be altered next summer to allow better communications.

A big drive is being mounted to focus the attention of mainland transport enthusiasts on the unique road and railway systems on the island. The M.E.R. Board have appointed a public relations officer, Mr. John Kermode, formerly a bus driver with National Transport. This has coincided with the 90^th anniversary of the opening of the Douglas-Groudle section of the M.E.R., which will be celebrated in the form of another vintage transport weekend 28^th-30^th May. The weekend will focus attention on the steam railway as well as the M.E.R., Snaefell Mountain Railway and on the island’s bus services, with the Douglas Corporation Tramway also featuring in someway. A single-decker bus will be dispatched around the mainland early in the new year to promote the Transport Weekend as well as promote the systems. Further details can be obtained from the public relations officer at Terminus Buildings.

The two juveniles who threw stones at passing trains in Nunnery Cutting (referred to in the last issue) appeared before the Juvenile Court again on 29^th September and admitted causing wilful damage. It was stated in court that following the incident and the train’s arrival at Douglas, the train’s guard drove to the Douglas Golf Club and in the nunnery area saw the two children, and detained them. The two boy’s [sic] aged ten and eleven years, admitted smashing a window in a guards’ carriage to the value of £20. They were each granted conditional discharges of one year. Neither boy had any previous convictions.

The 1983 timetable has been settled, with operations at Easter, the 3^rd and 4^th April, and then Sundays to Fridays 9^th May to 30^th September. Train times will be similar to past years, with one extra train, Sundays to Thursdays in July and August. There will, however, be a fare increase of 10%, with a return fare Douglas / Port Erin of £2.20. The usual concessionary fares will also be available.

When the government purchased the railway from the Isle of Man Railway Co., on Friday 13^th January 1978, the freehold property was transferred to the Government Property Trustees for the sum of £250,000.00. by a further conveyance dated 2^nd February 1981 the trustees conveyed to the Manx Electric Railway Board for the sum of £215,000.00 the major portion of land and buildings at Douglas Station (with the exception of the Railway Company’s offices, now Customs House) and the land and station buildings between Douglas and Port Erin. Since then the M.E.R. Board have entered into 21-year leases from 2^nd October 1981 with Camparmerina Limited [sic]; Port Soderick station building at an annual rental of £250.00; Castletown station building and goods shed at an annual rental of £300.00; Port St. Mary station buildings and goods shed at a rental of £450.00 per annum (each lease containing a rental review after the first seven years of tenancy). In the Isle Of Man Examiner dated 15^th October the M.E.R. Board advertised that they had available at Douglas Station a leasehold site of approximately 4,500 square metres. The planning application submitted by National Transport for permission in principle to convert one of the Quiggin’s timber storage sheds into ten bus inspection pits has been approved. However, due to the government financial restraints, it is unlikely that the necessary funds will be available, thus the future of the Douglas Carriage Shed appears to be secure for the time being.

The engine and three coaches on the Friday train arrived in Douglas Station on 10^th December was replaced by a single diesel railcar on the return trip as both engine and stock were required to work a Santa Special to Port Erin the following day. This special left Douglas at 10.00am (fare £1.80 adult 90p child return) returning from the south terminus at 2.45pm. The train returned to Port Erin on Monday. The Friday train on the 17^th December was cancelled, due to the locomotive (No.12) being unable to steam.