FROM MANX STEAM RAILWAY NEWS

ISSUE No. 144 - AUTUMN / WINTER 2007

The following report is taken from the hansard of a discussion that took place in the House Of Keys regarding the ongoing saga of the contents of the former bus garage in Upper Douglas and follows previous questions that were asked in the house at the time . . .

QUESTION Steve Rodan, S.H.K.:- In respect of the surplus railway rolling stock currently in storage at Homefield Depot, what progress has been made with heritage bodies and other interested parties to ensure the future conservation and safeguarding of these historic items?

ANSWER Adrian Earnshaw, M.H.K.:- as the honourable members will be aware the lease on the former Homefield Depot expires in March 2009 and the depot will need to be cleared. There is a significant quantity of surplus railway rolling stock, in a semi-derelict condition, which was moved into Homefield when the bus operations relocated to Banks Circus in 2001. Some of that stock is owned by the Department and some of it by third parties. The Department has initiated dialogue with all of the local interest groups, namely:-

Isle of Man Railways & Tramways Preservation Society

Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters’ Association

Laxey & Lonan Heritage Trust

Manx Electric Railway Society

Manx Transport Trust

Some of the items which the Department owns are regarded as being historically significant and/or of potential practical value to the railways and these will be removed to other Department premises pending restoration. Equally these are some items in private ownership which are felt to fit into this category and we are negotiating with the owners to get them back into railways control.

The discussions have elicited a positive response from the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters’ Association, the Isle of Man & Tramways Preservation Society, Laxey & Lonan Heritage Trust and the Manx Transport Group, all of whom are actively discussing restoration projects, some involving practical restoration, others involving funding for commercial restoration.

The Department is also aware of dialogue between various groups and owners of stored equipment which will hopefully resolve issues in relation to these items. At the present time it would appear we will have a positive outcome for all of the Isle of Man Steam Railway items and for the significant items from the Manx Electric Railway.

Whilst my Department’s preference in respect of surplus stock would be its retention on the Island through partnership with the enthusiast groups, it is interesting to note that two U.K. heritage bodies had also expressed an interest. In particular, the National Tramway Museum at Crich in Derbyshire has expressed an interest and certainly a restored MER tram on display at the National Museum would be a good way of promoting our railway heritage.

In conclusion, the whole issue of the surplus stock at Homefield remains under active consideration and discussion with our partners and we remain hopeful that much of the surplus stock can be retained. The Department does, however, find itself in a difficult position because our funding priority is, and must remain, the working museum encompassing our unique set of heritage railways.