Isle of Man Steam Railway

The Isle of Man Steam Railway operates on a commercial basis between Douglas and Port Erin (around 15.5 Miles). The Steam railway is operated by the Isle of Man Government and is still used by commuters, shoppers, day trippers and visiting tourists. The line is a 3ft gauge. It's route is what is left of the once extensive network to Peel, Ramsey and Foxdale. The line dates from 1893 but it's use in the modern day has seen the Government make small concessions to allow try and allow as much disabled diversity as possible. The line has a large amount of plans for the future and at the time of my visit was waiting for a batch of boilers to arrive from the Severn Valley Railway which will allow more steam locomotives to come back into service. There are also big plans to enhance the current coaching stock fleet and return the troublesome General Electric Diesel to service which will assist greatly with the current locomotive availability.

No.8 - Fenella

Beyer Peacock 2-4-0 No.8 'Fenella' is pictured stabled at Port Erin between service trains on the 31st July 2018.

Beyer Peacock 2-4-0 No.8 'Fenella' is pictured coming off the stabling point at Port Erin ready to work the 12:00 Port Erin - Douglas service train on the 31st July 2018.

Beyer Peacock 2-4-0 No.8 'Fenella' stands at Castletown on the 31st Juyl 2018 having arrived with the 12:00 Port Erin - Castletown service.

No.13 - Kissack

Beyer Peacock 2-4-0 No.13 'Kissack' arrives into Castletown with the late running 11:50 Douglas - Port Erin service on the 31st July 2018.

Beyer Peacock 2-4-0 No.13 stands at Castletown on the 31st July 2018 having hauled the 14:00 Port Erin to Douglas service.

Beyer Peacock 2-4-0 No.13 'Kissack' arrives into Castletown station hauling the 14:00 from Port Erin to Douglas on the 31st July 2018.

Beyer Peakcock 2-4-0 No.13 passes Keristal Bay working the 10:00 Port Erin - Douglas on the 1st August 2018.

Beyer Peacock 2-4-0 No.13 'Kissack' arrives into Castletown with the late running 11:50 Douglas - Port Erin service on the 31st July 2018.

Beyer Peacock 2-4-0 No.13 stands at Santon Station on the 1st August 2018 working the 11:50 Douglas - Port Erin service.

Beyer Peacock 2-4-0 No.13 'Kissack' storms away from Castletown through Ronaldsway Halt with the late running 10:00 Port Erin - Douglas service on the 1st August 2018.

In the pouring rain 2-4-0 Tank No.13 'Kissak' rounds the bend into Castletown Station passing the slotted signal post on the 1st August 2018 while working the 14:00 Port Erin - Douglas service.

2-4-0T No.13 'Kissack' stands at Colby Station on the 1st August 2018 while operating the 15:50 Douglas - Port Erin service.

No12 - Hutchinson

Beyer Peacock 2-4-0 No.12 'Hutchinson' passes Blackboards Bridge with the late running 10:00 Douglas - Port Erin steam service on the 1st August 2018.

Beyer Peacock 2-4-0 No.12 'Hutchinson' passes Ronaldsway Halt with the late running 10:00 Douglas - Port Erin steam service on the 1st August 2018.

Isle of Man Steam Locomotive No.12 'Hutchinson' arrives into Ballasalla Station on the 1st August 2018 hauling the 12:00 Port Erin - Douglas service.

2-4-0T No.12 'Hutchinson' arrives into Port St Mary Station on the 1st August 2018 hauling the 13:50 from Douglas to Port Erin.

With a small child waving a Isle of Man flag out of the front window 0-4-0T No.12 'Hutchinson' powers through Ballabeg Station with the 16:00 Port Erin - Douglas service.

2-4-0 No.12 'Hutchinson' rounds the Cruve at Crogger on the 3rd August 2018 working the 14:30 Douglas - Port Erin service.

No.15 'Caledonia'

This unique 0-6-0T locomotive dates from 1885 and is the only engine on the line to have been built by Dübs and Company, of Glasgow; purchased to tackle the steep gradients of the Foxdale Railway she was ideally suited to the job. After the merger in 1905 she was numbered 15 in the Isle of Man Railway fleet (having previously been Manx Northern's No. 4) and only saw sporadic use, most notably on Ramsey Cattle Mart specials and for snow clearing trains. She was reboiler in 1923, receiving the first boiler on the IMR to carry "Ross" pop safety valves. When the Marquess of Ailsa took over operations in 1967 she was repainted into spring green livery and saw service once again until 1968. By 1975 she had been painted into Manx Northern colours and placed in the then new museum at Port Erin where she remained until 1993 when she was returned to Douglas by road for steam feasibility tests. By 1995 she was the star of the show, operating on the 1 in 12 gradients of the Snaefell Mountain Railway as part of the centenary celebrations. This had historical precedent as Caledonia had been leased for construction purposes in 1895. She has since been part of the stable of serviceable locomotives, having been painted into a non-prototypical blue livery in 1999 but reverted to the intricate original paint scheme in 2007. The locomotive was the subject of a major rebuild from 2009 and returned to service in January 2013. It was prematurely withdrawn from service in 2014 with boiler problems. The overhauled boiler was returned in April 2018 and the locomotive was returned to steam in September 2018.

No4 'Caledonia' arrives into Port St Mary on the 29th July 2019 working the 12:00 Port Erin - Douglas service.

No4 'Caledonia' stands at Port St Mary on the 29th July 2019 working the 12:00 Port Erin - Douglas service.

2019

Recreating scenes from the past Douglas Shed. No.4 'Caledonia' and No.8 'Fenella' at pictured on shet at Douglas on the 27th July 2019.

No.8 'Fenella' is pictured at Douglas on the 27th July 2019, during an evening photo charter event as part of the Transport Festival week.

No4 'Caledonia' departs from Port St Mary on the 29th July 2019 working the 12:00 Port Erin - Douglas service.

No.12 'Hutchinson' rounds the curve into Port St Mary station on the 29th July 2019 working the 11:50 from Douglas to Port Erin.

No.12 'Hutchinson' departs from Port St Mary station on the 29th July 2019 working the 11:50 from Douglas to Port Erin.

Isle of Man Steam Railway Locomotive No.12 'Hutchinson' arrives into Colby Station on the 29th July 2019 hauling the 14:00 Port Erin - Douglas service.

Isle of Man Steam Railway locomotive No.4 arrives into Colby Station on the 29th July 2019 operating the 13:50 Douglas - Port Erin.

Isle of Man Steam Railway No.13 'Kissack' passes through Ballabeg Station on the 29th July 2019 working the 15:50 Douglas - Port Erin service.

Isle of White Steam Locomotive No.4 'Caledonia' passes through Santon station on the 30th July 2019 working the 09:50 Douglas - Port Erin.

No 13 'Kissack' passes Keristal on the 30th July 2019 working the 10:00 Port Erin - Douglas service.

Isle of White steam railway No.13 'Kissack' passes Keristal on the 30th July 2019 working the 12:00 Douglas - Port Erin service.

Isle of White Steam Railway No,13 'Kissack' arrives into Ballasalla on the 30th July 2019 working the 12:00 Douglas - Port Erin service.

Isle of White Steam Railway No.13 'Kissack' approaches Port St Mary on the 30th July 2019 operating the 12:00 Douglas - Port Erin service.

Isle of Man steam railway locomotive No.13 'Kissack' arrives into Castletown on the 30th July 2019 working the 14:00 Port Erin - Douglas service.

No.4 'Caledonia' arrives into Castletown on the 30th July 2019 working the 13:50 Douglas - Port Erin service.

No13 'Kissack' arrives into Port Soderick station on the 30th July 2019 working the 15:50 Douglas - Port Erin service.

No.4 'Caledonia' passes over the original road bridge at Kewaigue while working the down grade into Douglas on the 30th July 2019 while hauling the 16:00 Port Erin - Dogulas.

Isle of Man Steam Railway Locomotive No.13 'Kissack' stands at Castletown on the 2nd August while working the 11:30 from Port Erin to Douglas while waiting to pass a train heading back to Port Erin.

Isle of Man Steam Locomotive No.4 'Caledonia' arrives into Castletown on the 2nd August 2019 operating the 11:50 Douglas - Port Erin service.

No.13 'Kissack' passes Blackboards Bridge with the 14:30 Douglas - Port Erin service.

2018 - Festival of Transport

Isle of Man Steam Railway - Festival of Transport photo shoot. No.8 'Fenella' stands at Douglas Station on the 28th July 2018.

Isle of Man Steam Railway - Festival of Transport photo shoot. No.13 'Kissack' stands at Douglas Station on the 28th July 2018 ready to depart with its train in preperation for the evening photo shoot.

Isle of Man steam locomtoives No.13 and No.8 depart from Douglas Station with a run past during the 2018 Transport Festival on the 28th July 2018.

Beyer Peacock 2-4-0T No.13 'Kissack' departs from Douglas Station on the 28th July 2018 during the 2018 Festival of Transport.

Isle of Man Steam locomotives No.8 and No.13 stand at Douglas Station during the 2018 Festival of Transport celebrating the closure of the Peel Line which once diverged from Douglas.

Beyer Peacock 2-4-0T No.13 and No.8 proceed forward at Douglas recreating former departures from Douglas between 1873 and 1968 when the Peel line was closed. Taken during the 2018 Festival of Transport.

Steam locomotives pass at Castletown on the 31st July 2018. No.13 'Kissack' waits on the 14:00 Port Erin - Douglas and No.8 'Fenella' arrives with the late running 13:50 Douglas - Port Erin service.

Beyer Peacock 2-4-0 No.13 stands at Santon Station on the 1st August 2018 working the 11:50 Douglas - Port Erin service.

From a Different Viewpoint:

Beyer Peacock 2-4-0 No.13 'Kissack' arrives into Castletown with the late running 11:50 Douglas - Port Erin service on the 31st July 2018.

The Sheds

Wickham Trolly at Santon Station. 1st August 2018

0-6-0 No.4 'Caledonia' stands in trhe shed at Douglas having the final pieces of restoration before a return to service. Pictured here on the 2nd August 2018. Originally built by Dubs & Co in 1885 the loco carries builders number No.2178

2-4-0 Beyer Peacock No.4 'Lock' awaits its new boiler while on shed at the Douglas Workshops. New boilers had been ordered from the Severn Valley Railway workshops with the first one due for delivery before the end of 2018.

2-4-0T No.10 'G H Wood' awaits its new boiler at Douglas Shed on the 2nd August 2018.

Fairmont Jackson Tamper - Douglas Shed - 2nd August 2018

Motive Power Solutions No.21 Diesel Locomotive is pictured in Douglas Shed having the final modifications made to the locomotive before a return to service.

Hunslett 4 Wheels Diesel Locomotive No.18 'Alisa' is pictured on Douglas Shed mid restroation. The locomotive was originally built for the Channel Tunnel and has now had it's heavy side weights removed and is undergoing restoration before a return to service.