| Dolphin and Walrus | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Walrus (in red) and Dolphin (in blue), on the Groudle Glen Railway in August 2009 | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
Dolphin and Walrus are diesel locomotives that are operated on the Groudle Glen Railway.
| Dolphin and Walrus | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walrus (in red) and Dolphin (in blue), on the Groudle Glen Railway in August 2009 | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
Dolphin and Walrus are diesel locomotives that are operated on the Groudle Glen Railway.
Three similar locomotives were in 1952 by the Hunslet Engine Company for Robert Hudson (explaining the unusual manufacturers' title which appears prominently, cast into the locomotive's radiator frontage). They were built to run in a sand and gravel pit in Twickenham and did so until closure, after which the three were put up for sale. This pair were purchased by Doddington Park in Chipping Sodbury where a pleasure ground had been established. It was at this time that the locomotives acquired a "steam outline" structure. This consisted of a sheet metal half-cab with oval windows, false dome and chimney. The exhaust from the engine which had previously been directed beneath the frames was re-routed to be shot from this new chimney to give the appearance that the engine was "steaming" along. Walrus was given the name the "Doddington Dragon" at this time and heraldic crests added to the side panels. By 1980 the park was suffering losses and was closed, the locomotives, carriages and all trackwork were put up for sale.
When restoration of the Groudle Glen Railway began in 1982 the locomotives were purchased from the park together with all the rails, sleepers and associated pointwork, arriving on the Isle of Man shortly thereafter. In line with previous naming policy (the original locomotives had been named Sea Lion and Polar Bear as these animals were features of the zoo in the glen) the volunteers of the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association named Dolphin (fleet number "1") and Walrus (fleet number "2"). This was the first time fleet numbers had been given to locomotives on the railway. Both locomotives were given a green livery and wooden nameplates, and until the return of Sea Lion in 1987, provided all the motive power for the line's public operations and permanent way trains. The locomotives are retained today and perform shunting duties and winter works train duties regularly.
Walrus is identifiable from her sister as she retains her false dome (actually half a gas cylinder welded to the cladding), and sports dummy side tanks; other than these visible features she is largely identical to Dolphin in all but livery. Dolphin is fitted with headlights, unlike her shedmate. In 2012 to mark the locomotives' 60th anniversary, they received new brass nameplates to replace the 1980s wooden nameplates which have subsequently been mounted for display in the Sea Lion Rocks Visitor Centre and the Lhen Coan Engine Shed.
Having carried the lighter green livery since arrival in 1983, it was in 1992 that she was re-painted into a darker brunswick green shade, then again in 1998 she received an unusual all-over grey livery (including buffers, side frames, cab interior, etc.) but this was short-lived and by the summer of 2001 a further full repaint saw the locomotive outshopped in a royal blue livery. All maintenance is carried out on site and the engine receives annual attention, alternating with Walrus each year. Although now largely relegated to works duties, it does appear in service occasionally as part of gala events each summer, and occasionally for the Santa Trains. It was this locomotive that was renamed Rudolph each yuletide between 1984 and 1997 at which time new nameplates denoting Blitzen were installed. These have, since 2003, been carried by Walrus instead. In 2012 she was stripped down and fully repainted back into her 1980's green livery to mark the 30th Anniversary of the railway's restoration by volunteers, in this guise she hauled public trains on the Special 30th Anniversary day in May.
Having carried the lighter green livery since arrival in 1983, the locomotive was withdrawn in 1989 and the wheels removed for reprofiling and major engine work. Being surplus to requirements it was several years before this work was carried out and the locomotive lay on blocks in the back of the carriage shed at Lhen Coan for many years. When the line had visiting locomotives in 1998 as part of the Steam 125 event, "Walrus" needed to be stored in the open to accommodate the visitors so the wheels were replaced at this time, and a coat of battleship grey paint applied to smarten her up. War Department transfers were also applied to the false tanks at this time. By 2003 interest had resurfaced (the 50th anniversary of the two the previous year having sparked interest), and over the winter the locomotive was overhauled and repainted into a maroon colour scheme with yellow features. It now operates on gala days and performs works train duties, shared with No.1 "Dolphin". Since returning to service she has been selected for standby duties on Santa Train days, and is renamed annually as "Blitzen" for the occasion.
The Groudle Glen Railway is a 2 ft narrow gauge railway near Onchan in the Isle of Man, on the boundary of Onchan and Lonan, which is owned and operated by a small group of enthusiastic volunteers and operates on summer Sundays; May to September and Wednesday evenings in July and August along with a number of annual special events.
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) A1 Class is an English class of 0-6-0T steam locomotive. Designed by William Stroudley, 50 members of the class were built in 1872 and between 1874 and 1880, all at Brighton Works. The class has received several nicknames, initially being known as "Rooters" by their south London crews. However, the engines were more famously known as "Terriers" on account of the distinctive 'bark' of the exhaust beat. Later in their careers, some engines were known as "Hayling Billy" on account of their work on the Hayling Island branch line. A pub of this name on the island was briefly home to the engine which is now No.W8 Freshwater.
London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 5231 is a preserved British steam locomotive. In preservation, it has carried the names 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment and The Sherwood Forester, though it never carried either of these in service.
The Great Southern Railways Class 800 steam locomotives were built principally for express passenger work on the Dublin to Cork main line of that company. These locomotives were designed under the supervision of E. C. Bredin with his Chief Draughtsman, H. J. A. Beaumont, preparing the drawings. They were the largest and most powerful engines ever to run in Ireland by quite a large margin, and the only three express passenger locomotives to be built in an independent Ireland.
The Furness Railway company owned many different types of locomotives, built by several locomotive building companies, including Sharp Stewart and Company. Others were built by the Furness' constituent companies - the Whitehaven and Furness Junction Railway, among others.
LNER Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado is a 4-6-2 steam locomotive built by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust. Completed in 2008 at the cost of around £3 million, it is the first newly built main line steam locomotive in the UK since Evening Star in 1960. It is the only example of an LNER Peppercorn Class A1 locomotive in existence, the entirety of the original production batch having been scrapped. 60163 is named after the Panavia Tornado, a combat aircraft flown by the Royal Air Force. In 2017, Tornado became the first steam locomotive to officially reach 100 mph on British tracks for over 50 years.
Alfred and Judy are two four-wheel saddle tank railway steam locomotives. They were built by W.G. Bagnall for use at Par harbour in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The unusually low design was required to cope with extremely tight curves and a very low bridge under the Cornish Main Line. The locomotives are both preserved in operational condition on the nearby Bodmin and Wenford Railway and inspired the Rev. W. Awdry to include them in The Railway Series of children's books as Bill and Ben.
The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Class K1 is a type of 2-6-0 (mogul) steam locomotive designed by Edward Thompson. Thompson preferred a simple two-cylinder design instead of Gresley's three-cylinder one. The seventy K1s were intended to be split between the North Eastern Region of British Railways and the Eastern Region of British Railways.
The Groudle Glen Water Wheel unofficially known by the sobriquet of Little Isabella is a rustic water wheel, situated in Groudle Glen on the Isle of Man, that was originally built in 1893 with the arrival of the Manx Electric Railway to the glen.
Groudle, or Groudle Glen, a glen on the outskirts of Onchan on the Isle of Man, is formed in a valley leading to the sea at the small port of the same name. It is one of the officially-listed Manx National Glens.
Lhen Coan is the only natural canyon on the Isle of Man situated in Groudle Glen on the outskirts of Onchan. This is also the name of the nearby station on the Groudle Glen Railway. In Victorian times the canyon was fitted with many zig-zag rustic pathways, all of which have been removed but the canyon is clearly discernible from the main path, and is crossed by a footbridge at the approach to the railway's main station.
The locomotives of the Isle of Man Railway were provided exclusively by Beyer, Peacock & Company of Manchester, England between 1873 and 1926; other locomotives that appear on this list were inherited as part of the take-over of the Manx Northern Railway and Foxdale Railway in 1905, when the railway also purchased two more locomotives from Beyer, Peacock. All the steam locomotives have or had the 2-4-0T wheel arrangement, apart from No. 15 Caledonia which is an 0-6-0T.
The Year of Railways was a series of special events held on the Isle of Man during 1993 to commemorate the centenary of the opening of the first section of the Manx Electric Railway from Douglas to Groudle in September 1893.
This is a general list of rolling stock and locomotives currently or formerly on the Groudle Glen Railway on the Isle of Man.
Lhen Coan Station is the landward terminus of the Groudle Glen Railway in the Isle of Man. It is reached by visitors from the nearby Groudle Glen railway station on the Manx Electric Railway.
Lime Kiln Halt is the only intermediate station on the narrow gauge Groudle Glen Railway in the Isle of Man; it also serves as the line's temporary terminus on certain occasions. It is situated at the midpoint of the short line, above the nearby beach and car park.
Sea Lion is a steam locomotive built in 1896 to supply the motive power to the Groudle Glen Railway on the Isle of Man and the locomotive still provides the main traction there today. The locomotive was built by W.G. Bagnall & Co., Stafford and delivered to the line in May of that year, providing sole motive power until joined in 1905 by sister locomotive Polar Bear. When delivered to the railway, the locomotive carried an olive green livery with vermilion and yellow lining and the name carried on the side water tank in gold leaf with blue shadowing, with distinctive round "spectacle" cab windows back and front. These were changed over to rectangular windows very early in the engine's career to improve driver visibility however. One distinctive feature was a displacement lubricator mounted atop the highly polished brass dome. The locomotive was fitted with unusual valve gear patented by E.E. Baguley and is one of only four locomotives to remain in existence with this. By the 1920 season the locomotive was deemed too costly for repair and the line purchased two battery electric locomotives that inherited their steam engine names. The modern engines proved to be financially disastrous and within a few years "Sea Lion" had been returned to the works for re-build. It continued to operate the line until closure at the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939.
Annie is a steam locomotive that operates on the Groudle Glen Railway on the Isle of Man.
W11 Newport is a Stroudley A1X Terrier class 0-6-0T steam locomotive which is based at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.
The GWR Rheidol Tanks are a fleet of 2-6-2T steam locomotives of the Great Western Railway design built between 1923 and 1924. They were designed by the railway's Chief Mechanical Engineer, Charles Collett, for working services on the Vale of Rheidol Railway between Aberystwyth and Devil's Bridge.
{{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)