FROM MANX STEAM RAILWAY NEWS

ISSUE No. 143- WINTER / SPRING 2007

3rd June 2007 will mark the 40^th Anniversary of the re-opening of the Peel Line under the regime of Lord Ailsa. It is not known what plans the railways management have to mark this significant event at this time. However it is encouraging to note that No.10 G.H. Wood will be repainted into spring green prior to high season; the colour will be more akin to the L.N.E.R. “apple” green upon which the 1967 livery was based, less bright that No.1’s livery when returned to service in 1998 as part of the Steam 125 event. It is to be hoped that an event will be tied in with the enthusiast’s period at the end of July to celebrate this anniversary. Ten years ago, when the railway was more enthusiast-friendly, there was an “Ailsa Day” centred around Douglas Station, with a reunion of former staff, line up of unserviceable locos, etc., and it would be good if even something this simple but effective was staged and properly marketed.

It is now over twelve months since the departure of David Howard and temporary appointment of Mike Ball as acting Director of Public Transport. During this time the Association has had a number of productive meetings with him and his management team consisting of Paul Ogden and Glenn Davis. The Department has been very open with the problems they face as a Government running a preserved railway in today’s world. They have also taken on-board our concerns in various matters which have included a possible reduction in services, the maintenance of buildings and the possible loss of the historic atmosphere of the railway. The challenge for both parties is to work together in the common interest of the railway.

Elsewhere, this year also marked the 25^th Anniversary of the start of restoration work at Groudle by the Association and plans are afoot to mark this occasion, also tying in with the enthusiast’s event in July.

Finally, it has been brought to my attention that there were several layout errors in the last issue; some of these were owing to a typesetting error that resulted in extra spaces between words and paragraphs owing to a particular typeface having been used.