Isle of Man Railway rolling stock

Last updated

The rolling stock used on the Isle of Man Railway today is entirely original although, from an original total of 75 carriages, the number serviceable dropped as low as 14, but this total is once again increasing as a result of recent rebuilds The 3 ft (914 mm) gauge railway was provided with a variety of stock from different manufacturers over its time, and types of coach were categorised according to a lettering system, with the original four-wheeled coaches being of A, B, C and D types, and so on. The F prefix encompassed all bogie vehicles including conversions from the A-D series. Letters G-M denoted goods stock. N referred to ex-Manx Northern Railway 6 wheel carriages. The types of stock can be summarised as follows:-

Contents

Four-Wheelers (1873-1874)

Surviving four-wheel carriage C.1 on the site of Peel Station where it remains on display. Steam Heritage Trail on the Isle of Man (83) (geograph 2115198).jpg
Surviving four-wheel carriage C.1 on the site of Peel Station where it remains on display.

Four-wheeled carriages supplied for the opening of the line to Peel in 1873; these were close-coupled in pairs from the late 1880s. Each class of carriage had a different internal layout. "A" class carriages were 17 ft 6 in (5.33 m) long and the remainder one foot (305 mm) shorter. Class "A" consisted of twelve first class carriages - eleven three-compartment carriages and one saloon. The "B" class consisted of 24 three-compartment third class carriages open above the seat backs. The "C" class (14 built) had two third class compartments and a brake compartment - one coach was later converted to a saloon. The "D" class consisted of a pair of composites arranged 3/1/3, the first class compartment being wider at the expense of the third class passengers. All these were later converted into bogie carriages by mounting pairs of bodies on bogie underframes supplied by the Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. They became known as the "pairs" coaches and were later renumbered into the F.50-F.75 series, see below. Today only C.1 survives in its original form, albeit only for display purposes.

Key:PairedPreserved
No.YearBuilderConfigurationSeatsStatusPaired
A.1 - A.61873 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co., Ltd. Guard / 3rd / 3rd20See "Pairs" F.50-F.75 Below1909-1926
A.7 - A.111874 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co., Ltd. Guard / 3rd / 3rd20See "Pairs" F.50-F.75 Below1911-1922
A.121873 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co., Ltd. 1st Saloon20Ducal Saloon With C.91926
B.1 - B.101873 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co., Ltd. Guard / 3rd / 3rd20See "Pairs" F.50-F.75 Below1909-1922
B.11 - B.221874 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co., Ltd. 3rd / 3rd / 3rd20See "Pairs" F.50-F.75 Below1911-1925
C.11873 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co., Ltd. Guard / 2nd / 2nd20 Peel Station Displayed1910
C.91873 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co., Ltd. First Saloon18Ducal Saloon With A.121926
C.1 - C.71873 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co., Ltd. 1st / 1st / 3rd20See "Pairs" F.50-F.75 Below1910-1925
C.8 - C.141874 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co., Ltd. 1st / 1st / 3rd20See "Pairs" F.50-F.75 Below1909-1926
D.1 - D.21873 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co., Ltd. 3rd / 3rd / 3rd20See "Pairs" F.50-F.75 Below1909-1926

"Small F" Carriages (1876-1896)

A typical example of a small "F" Carriage, F.18, at the rear of a train passing through Ballabeg Station on the return trip. Isle of Man Steam Railway, Ballabeg - geograph.org.uk - 5359495.jpg
A typical example of a small "F" Carriage, F.18, at the rear of a train passing through Ballabeg Station on the return trip.

The initial batch were supplied by Brown Marshalls and became known as the "Small Fs" as they are noticeably smaller in size than the later vehicles being 35 feet long and 9'6" from rail to roof; all had wooden frames and had the frames concealed by the lower panelling of the carriage bodies, though at various periods where the frames would normally show was indicated with a broad black stripe at the bottom of the lower panels to match later carriages, this feature was reinstated in 2013. Coaches listed with "Guard" in the layout above had a handbrake fitted in a locking housing in one of the end compartments. In addition to the handbrake a lookout window was cut in the end of carriage. This made it possible for a brakeman to ride in this compartment and provide additional braking on heavier trains in the days before continuous vacuum brake. F.19 and F.20 were the first two "half luggage vans" delivered to the railway, half of the carriage being occupied with three third class compartments and the other half by a luggage compartment complete with guard's look-out duckets.

Key:In TrafficStoredScrappedPreservedUndergoing Rebuild
YearBuilderLayout
Type
No.
Seats
Current StatusScrap
Date
F.11876 Brown Marshalls & Co., Ltd. Guard / 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd / 3rd40Destroyed (Controlled Fire) St. John's 1976
F.21876 Brown Marshalls & Co., Ltd. Guard / 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd / 3rd40Destroyed (Controlled Fire) St. John's 1976
F.31876 Brown Marshalls & Co., Ltd. Guard / 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd / 3rd40Sold, Welsh Highland Railway 1975198?
F.41876 Brown Marshalls & Co., Ltd. Guard / 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd / 3rd40Destroyed (Controlled Fire) St. John's 1976
F.51876 Brown Marshalls & Co., Ltd. Guard / 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd / 3rd40Destroyed (Controlled Fire) St. John's 1976
F.61876 Brown Marshalls & Co., Ltd. Guard / 3rd / 1st / 1st / 3rd / 3rd40Sold Rampton Rail Trust (1975)~
F.71881 Ashbury Carriage & Iron Co., Ltd. Guard / 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd / 3rd40Destroyed (Controlled Fire) St. John's 1976
F.81881 Ashbury Carriage & Iron Co., Ltd. Guard / 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd / 3rd40Withdrawn 1965, Destroyed Controlled Fire1970
F.91881 Brown Marshalls & Co., Ltd. Guard / 3rd / 1st / 1st / 3rd / 3rd48Rebuilt 1987-1992~
F.101881 Brown Marshalls & Co., Ltd. 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd48Undergoing Rebuild 2021-2023~
F.111881 Brown Marshalls & Co., Ltd. 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd48Rebuild 2020-2024~
F.121881 Brown Marshalls & Co., Ltd. 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd48To Derby Castle1982
F.131894 Brown Marshalls & Co., Ltd. 3rd / 3rd / 1st / 1st / 3rd 3rd48Destroyed (Controlled Fire) St. John's 1976
F.141894 Brown Marshalls & Co., Ltd. Guard / 3rd 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd40Destroyed, (Controlled Fire) St. John's 1976
F.151894 Brown Marshalls & Co., Ltd. 3rd / 3rd / 1st / 1st / 3rd / Guard40Rebuilt 2019-2021~
F.161894 Brown Marshalls & Co., Ltd. 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd40Destroyed (Controlled Fire) St. John's 1976
F.171894 Brown Marshalls & Co., Ltd. 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd40Destroyed (Controlled Fire) St. John's 1976
F.181894 Brown Marshalls & Co., Ltd. Guard / 3rd 3rd / 3rd / 3rd / 3rd40Roof Replaced 1989-1990~
F.191894 Brown Marshalls & Co., Ltd. Luggage / 3rd / 3rd / 3rd24Destroyed (Controlled Fire) St. John's 1976
F.201896 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. Luggage / 3rd / 3rd / 3rd24Destroyed (Controlled Fire) St. John's 1976
F.211896 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. Guard / 3rd 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd40Stored Port Erin Partially Restored~
F.221896 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd40Destroyed (Controlled Fire) St. John's 1976
F.231896 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd40Frames Scrapped 20111983
F.241896 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd40Destroyed (Controlled Fire) St. John's 1976
F.251896 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd 3rd / Guard40Withdrawn 1998; Stored Port Erin ~
F.261896 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. Guard / 3rd 3rd / 3rd 3rd / 3rd40In Traffic~

The Empress Vans (1897)

Modern replica of F.27 which carries the same number, as part of the dining train at Douglas Station; this carriage is fitted with a kitchen, toilet, generator room at guards' compartment. The dining train carriages at Douglas - geograph.org.uk - 4388138.jpg
Modern replica of F.27 which carries the same number, as part of the dining train at Douglas Station; this carriage is fitted with a kitchen, toilet, generator room at guards' compartment.

Two of these identical vehicles were supplied to the railway in 1897 and became known as the Empress Vans to acknowledge the fact that the year of delivery was Queen Victoria's jubilee year. These are the same length as the passenger vehicles but are entirely closed with no windows, but they have guard's lookout duckets attached; they were purchased for the railway's Luggage In Advance service on the South Line whereby passengers' luggage was transported to its destination ahead of them and was already at their hotels on arrival, usually Port Erin or Port St. Mary; their busy careers also saw them in use as an ambulance train in conjunction with the T.T. and Manx Grand Prix races held annually on the island until the closure of the Peel and Ramsey lines in 1968. They were stored for a number of years outdoors and were also used by Campamarina at Castletown Station fitted with bunk beds 1979-1986. Despite poor condition both remain on the railway, having last been used in the 1992. The original F.27 was stripped to form the basis of a replica kitchen for the dining train in 2012, only the underframes surviving today. F.28 remains stored while the replica (also F.27) is used regularly on the dining services.

Key:In trafficStored
BuiltBuilderTypeStatus
F.27 (i)1897 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Open Luggage VanBody Scrapped 2012; Stored Douglas Workshops
F.27 (ii)2013 Isle of Man Railway Kitchen Carriage / Generator Room / Guards'In traffic
F.281897 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Open Luggage VanWithdrawn 1992 Stored Douglas Workshops

The Saloons / "Corridors" (1905)


Known as the Cardinal's Saloon, composite F.35 now forms the central part of the railway's dining train with the former third class vestibule given over to the bar area; at the platform at Douglas Station. Railway carriages at Douglas Station - panoramio.jpg
Known as the Cardinal's Saloon, composite F.35 now forms the central part of the railway's dining train with the former third class vestibule given over to the bar area; at the platform at Douglas Station.

The amalgamation of the Manx Northern Railway into the I.M.R. in 1905 led to an urgent need to buy more carriages so that the Manx Northern's cramped six-wheelers could be removed from front line service. Like all of the later carriages of the "F" class, the saloons were supplied by the Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Company (who had absorbed Brown, Marshalls in 1902). The sequence begins with F.29 in 1905. They were the first to be built with wooden bodies on steel underframes, and are 37' 0" long and 10'3" from rail to roof. All survive today; F.35,1 F.31 and F.32 were converted in 1980 to form the Bar Set at which time half the seating was removed from F.35 and a small bar and chemical toilet fitted, also through gangways to the adjoining coaches. Later, as F.31 was withdrawn for major bodywork attention, F.29 was fitted with a corridor and replaced the former vehicle. The saloons have remained unpopular with locomotive crews as they are heavy yet do not carry as many passengers as the standard compartment stock. Sketches survive which show that some consideration was given to building these carriages as Saloons with a large brake-luggage compartment. As of February 2015, all saloons with the exception of F.36 have been fitted with corridor connections to form a full dining train with F.27 (ii) at the rear providing the kitchen facilities and generator. 8

Key:In trafficPreserved
BuilderLayoutCorridorFormer LayoutConvertedNotes
F.29 Metro Cammell Dining (Bay)20133rd / 3rd2015Refitted 1990 / As Dining Train 2013
F.30 Metro Cammell Dining (6-0)20121st / 3rd2012Bus Windows 1972-2011, Overhauled 2012
F.31 Metro Cammell Dining (Bay)19813rd / 3rd2012As Bar Set - To Purple Lake, May 2023
F.32 Metro Cammell Dining (2-2)19811st / 3rd2013As Bar Set
F.35 Metro Cammell Bar / 1st19811st / 3rd1980Bar Fitted 1979 / Refitted 2014
F.36 Metro Cammell 1st / 3rd~~~Royal Saloon Railway Museum Overhauled 2024

The Hurst Nelsons (1899)

These were the first two bogie vehicles built for the Manx Northern Railway; they were the first passenger vehicles on steel underframes to enter service on the island's railway network, as well as the first to have electric lighting. They were purchased to act as through coaches to Douglas. Externally they are not terribly different from the other "Big Fs", together with the Foxdale Coach they were allocated numbers in the "F" class upon take-over in 1905. Remaining stock inherited from the Manx Northern Railway was either given the "N" prefix, or, in the case of non-passenger stock, a small "r" was added to the title, as explained below. Both were sold in 1975 to the Phyllis Rampton Rail Trust but were returned to railway ownership in 2022.

Key:Preserved
M.N.R.I.M.R.BuilderConfigurationSeatsWithdrawn
No.15F.37 Hurst Nelson & Co., Ltd., Motherwell Guard / 3rd / 1st / 1st / 3rd / 3rd401972
No.16F.38 Hurst Nelson & Co., Ltd., Motherwell 3rd / 3rd / 1st / 1st / 3rd / 3rd481969

The Foxdale Coach (1887)

As restored in 1979 in the purple lake livery and carrying the M.N.Ry. No.17 fleet decals in the yard at Douglas Station shortly after restoration to commemorate the Manx Northern Railway centenary that year. Manx Northern Railway Brake-composite coach - geograph.org.uk - 1550743.jpg
As restored in 1979 in the purple lake livery and carrying the M.N.Ry. No.17 fleet decals in the yard at Douglas Station shortly after restoration to commemorate the Manx Northern Railway centenary that year.

Yet another oddity is this carriage originating from the Foxdale Railway. It was built by the Oldbury Railway Carriage and Wagon Co [1] in 1886 for the small branch to Foxdale; this is a true survivor of the system and is still in operation today. It is the smallest bogie carriage on the system being only 30' 0" long, and rides on plate frame bogies. As constructed it had four third class compartments and a small luggage and guard's compartment complete with lookout duckets, which took up a little over a third of the length of the vehicle. One of the compartments was converted into a first class section, which led to the carriage acquiring the nickname Kitto's Coach after the Captain of the Foxdale Mines who had a first class free pass on the Manx Northern. It was converted into a camping coach in 1967 and painted into a non-typical blue and yellow livery. It was painted into original livery and re-numbered No. 15 for a short time in 1979 to mark the centenary of the Manx Northern Railway, before reverting to fleet livery of purple lake and regaining the fleet number F.39. She carried the red and cream livery from 1999 until 2013 when the coach was repainted into the Manx Northern Railway livery and renumbered M.N.Ry. No. 17. The first class compartment was also reinstated at this time reducing the seating capacity by two seats as armrests were provided. It was withdrawn at the end of the 2021 season and the bogies removed for attention, the carriage also underwent a full repaint retaining the purple lake scheme with additional gold/blue lining detail applied to the lower panelling and relocation of fleet detailing.

M.N.R.I.M.R.YearBuilderConfigurationSeatsNotes
№17F.391887 Oldbury Carriage & Wagon Co. Guard / 3rd / 1st / 3rd 3rd28Restored 2013

"Large F" Carriages (1905-1926)

A rake of large "F" carriages (F.46-F.49) at Port Erin Station; they commonly are marshalled in this way. Port Erin Station - geograph.org.uk - 1569236.jpg
A rake of large "F" carriages (F.46-F.49) at Port Erin Station; they commonly are marshalled in this way.

Built to the same larger profile as the saloons, those that remain still provide the backbone of the service fleet today in everyday service and have rarely been out of traffic since their arrival on the island. They all now carry the standard red and cream livery and are the best represented type of carriage on the railway today. Generally operated as a set with other carriages added subject to traffic demands, a number remain in storage withdrawn, notably F.43, the earliest surviving example. Other earlier carriages in the series have all had their bodies scrapped, these were all 'half luggage' or sometimes referred to erroneously as 'brake vans' or commonly 'big brakes'. Now scrapped, F.41 had its luggage space converted in 1979 to create what was to date the railway's only dedicated disabled access carriage. This was achieved by glazing the luggage panels and fitting the carriage with longitudinal bench seating and creating glazed bulkhead panels.

Key:In TrafficStoredScrapped
BuiltBuilderTypeSeatsNotesScrap
F.331905 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. 3rd / 3rd / 3rd / Luggage24Frames Remain - See Below1983
F.341905 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. 3rd / 3rd / 3rd / Luggage24Destroyed (Controlled Fire) St. John's 1976
F.401907 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. 3rd / 3rd / 3rd / Luggage24Underframe Retained (Flat Wagon)1977
F.411907 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. 3rd / 3rd / 3rd / Disabled24Withdrawn 1990 - Underframe Scrapped 20192003
F.421907 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. 3rd / 3rd / 3rd / Luggage24Destroyed (Controlled Fire) St. John's 1976
F.431908 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. 3rd / 3rd / 3rd / Luggage24Withdrawn 1983 - Stored Port Erin Station ~
F.441908 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. 3rd / 3rd / 3rd / Luggage24Frames Scrapped 20101983
F.451913 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. 3rd / 3rd / 1st / 1st / 3rd / Guard40Turned 1985 (Guards' Douglas End)~
F.461913 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. Guard / 3rd / 1st / 1st / 3rd / 3rd40Guards' Port Erin End~
F.471923 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. 3rd / 3rd / 3rd / 3rd / 3rd / 3rd48All Thirds & Braked~
F.481923 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. 3rd / 3rd / 3rd / 3rd / 3rd / 3rd48All Thirds & Un-Braked - Through-Piped~
F.491926 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. 3rd / 3rd / 3rd / Luggage24Last Carriage Delivered - Rebuilt 2018-2020~

The "Pairs" (1909-1926)

One of three restored "Pairs" carriages, F.62, in use at Douglas Station shortly after re-entering service for the first time since 1987. This example, and F.54 feature three first class compartments whereas F.63 has a triple open compartment making it popular with larger groups travelling. Isle of Man Steam Railway rolling stock - geograph.org.uk - 5360107.jpg
One of three restored "Pairs" carriages, F.62, in use at Douglas Station shortly after re-entering service for the first time since 1987. This example, and F.54 feature three first class compartments whereas F.63 has a triple open compartment making it popular with larger groups travelling.

To simplify the marshalling of trains and reduce their overall length, the original four-wheeled stock was close coupled in pairs from 1887 onwards. This involved removing the chopper couplers from one end of each vehicle and replacing them with conventional side buffers on one carriage and rubbing plates on the other. A link and pin coupling then joined the inner ends of the carriages, whilst conventional chopper couplings were retained on the outer ends of the each pair. There was a further development of this policy between 1909 and 1926, when the bodies of the four wheel coaches were removed from their original chassis and mounted in pairs onto bogie underframes supplied by Metropolitan. By the late 1950s, relatively few were used in regular service, but two sets were reserved for schools traffic. These were used in regular service on exceptionally busy days, such as Tynwald Day, but otherwise were confined to the school runs. By this time they were painted in a utilitarian all-over brown colour scheme. Oddly, several of the pairs were rehabilitated in the early 1970s, as their steel frames were of relatively recent date. A number had their bodies removed and later scrapped in 1968. The frames were used as runners for the short-lived Mantainor scheme; these were later sold to the Welsh Highland Railway. Surviving unrestored examples (F.66, F.67 and F.74) are in poor condition, as their bodies date from 1873, and they have been surrounded by a certain amount of controversy in recent years, having been removed from the railway for storage. The Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association has campaigned for their retention on the railway. Three have been fully restored and are now in regular traffic. The final example, F.75, is unique in consisting of two saloon bodies known as the Ducal or Governors' Saloon; this is resident in the railway's museum in unrestored condition.

Key:RunnerStoredPreservedScrappedRestored
FrameBuilder (Underframe)Former №sSeatsNotesScrap
F.501925 Metro Cammell B.7 - B.848Frames as runner (1975 as "R.13"), Later Scrapped1974
F.511912 Metro Cammell B.3 - B.548Frames converted 'R' Series (as below) Later Sold1968
F.521912 Metro Cammell A.2 - C.248Frames converted 'R' Series (as below) Later Sold1967
F.531919 Metro Cammell A.5 - B.2148Frames converted 'R' Series (as below) scrapped1968
F.541923 Metro Cammell A.7 - C.1048Restored, rebuilt 1993-1999 In Traffic1972
F.551912 Metro Cammell B.2 - C.648Frames Converted 'R' Series (as below) Later Sold1968
F.561924 Metro Cammell A.8 - C.848Frames converted 'R' Series (as below) Later Sold1968
F.571919 Metro Cammell B.16 - B.2048Frames In Departmental Use (As Flat Wagon)1995
F.581918 Metro Cammell B.18 - C.348Frames Converted 'R' Series (as below) scrapped1968
F.591920 Metro Cammell A.6 - C.448Frames converted 'R' Series (as below) scrapped1968
F.601916 Metro Cammell B.13 - B.2448Frames converted 'R' Series (as below) scrapped1968
F.611910 Metro Cammell A.10 - C.1248Frames converted R.6 (as below) Later Sold1968
F.621926 Metro Cammell A.1 - B.148Withdrawn 1987, Restored 2018-2021 In Traffic~
F.631910 Metro Cammell B.6 - B.1048Withdrawn 1987, Restored 2021-2023 In Traffic~
F.641912 Metro Cammell C.1 - B.1948Frames Extant (C.1 Body Displayed Peel Station)1978
F.651910 Metro Cammell B.22 - C.748Ballast Hopper No.1 (as below) scrapped 20201983
F.661910 Metro Cammell B.11 - B.1548Withdrawn 1999 - Stored Jurby Airfield 2020~
F.671922 Metro Cammell B.23 - C.1448Withdrawn 1999 - Stored Jurby Airfield 2020~
F.681909 Metro Cammell A.9 - C.1348Displayed Vale of Rheidol Railway Aberystwyth~
F.691923 Metro Cammell B.4 - B.1748Frames converted 'R' Series (See Below) scrapped1969
F.701922 Metro Cammell B.9 - B.1448Withdrawn 1987, In Traffic (As Ballast Hopper No.2)2000
F.711911 Metro Cammell B.12 - C.548Withdrawn 1979, Frames extant departmental use1983
F.721926 Metro Cammell A.3 - D.248Frames converted R.8 (as below) Later Sold1967
F.731920 Metro Cammell A.4 - D.148Withdrawn 1979, in departmental use as flatbed1982
F.741921 Metro Cammell A.11 - C.1148Withdrawn 1999 - Stored Jurby Airfield 2020~
F.751926 Metro Cammell A.12 - C.948Withdrawn 1974 Isle of Man Railway Museum ~

"N" Six-Wheel Carriages (1879)

Cleminson carriages were latterly stored in the open at St. John's Station following withdrawal, though several were saved and preserved with one now being restored and in serviceable condition, though in private ownership and extant in the Isle of Man Railway Museum; view dates from September 1971. Abandoned coaching stock at St. John's, Isle of Man - geograph.org.uk - 1410747.jpg
Cleminson carriages were latterly stored in the open at St. John's Station following withdrawal, though several were saved and preserved with one now being restored and in serviceable condition, though in private ownership and extant in the Isle of Man Railway Museum; view dates from September 1971.

For its opening in 1879, the Manx Northern Railway ordered fourteen carriages; these were 30-foot-long (9.1 m), six-wheel carriages built on Cleminson's patent underframes: five feet shorter than the Isle of Man Railway's "small Fs". Cleminson's patent enjoyed a brief vogue in the late 1870s as an alternative to bogie carriages, mainly due to its low tare weight. The Southwold Railway, which opened the same year as the Manx Northern, also used Cleminson's patent underframes for its passenger stock, and also for some high capacity freight wagons. The North Wales Narrow Gauge, and West Donegal Railways also used the system on coaches, and a Cleminson wagon survives on the Ffestiniog. Two of the Manx Northern "N" class carriages were built as firsts; two as composites; and ten as either third class or third-brake carriages. The first class carriages were arranged as three small saloons and seated 42. The third class carriages must have been quite cramped internally as the compartments were only 4'10" (1.47 m) wide: ten inches less than the IMR bogie carriages. Both of the composites and about half of the third class carriages were built with handbrake wheel in an end compartment that could be locked away when not in use and the compartment used for passengers. Two of the third class carriages were damaged in minor collisions, or suffered underframe failure before the Manx Northern was taken over by the Isle of Man Railway. Twelve of the class passed to the IMR's ownership in 1905. J.I.C. Boyd (The Isle of Man Railway Oakwood Press, 1967) states that the original intention was to number them into the "F" series, hence the numbers 40 to 51, but as they were six-wheelers they were given the prefix "N" – the next available letter in the IMR's coding system – to distinguish them from the bogie carriages. Photographs suggest that at least some of the "N" series carriages remained in service in the 1920s and 30s. It is not clear when they fell into disuse. For many years they were stored in a siding behind St. John's station carriage shed. The body of one of the "N" class carriages survives on the line today as the mess hut at Douglas station. This body came from N.41 and was placed in front of the locomotive shed in 1964, replacing another former six wheeler. Between 1999 and 2013 it was stored on a runner behind the carriage shed at Douglas, but it has now returned to its former position, has been partly restored, and is used as an oil store. Another – composite carriage N.42 – was kept at the Port Erin museum until it was rebuilt in 1998, when it was placed in store. It was not returned to the completed museum but, despite being owned privately, it remained on the railway until finally removed (in the face of much objection) to Southwold in 2013. A third is in private preservation in the north of the island together with a Beyer Peacock locomotive, No. 14 Thornhill (Ex-Manx Northern). Of the other ten carriages, one was withdrawn in 1903, a second in 1905, and a third in the 1920s. This was used as a Mess Room at Douglas Station and was later replaced by the body of N.41; the other eight were scrapped, some after being damaged in a fire in 1975 which also destroyed most of the 1876 batch of wooden bogie carriages.

Key:ScrappedPreservedSold
M.N.R.I.M.R.BuilderLayoutSeatsNotesScrap
№1N.40 Swansea Carriage & Wagon All 1st Class24Sold Off-Island 1975 Rampton Railway Trust
№2N.41 Swansea Carriage & Wagon 3rd & 1st Class Saloons24Frames Scrap, - Body "Bothy" (Butchers' Coach)1964
№3N.42 Swansea Carriage & Wagon Guard / 3rd 3rd / 3rd48Sold 1975 - Extant Weetings Farm, Suffolk
№4N.43 Swansea Carriage & Wagon Guard / 3rd Class32Withdrawn 1944, Fire Damaged - St. John's Shed Fire 1975
№5N.44 Swansea Carriage & Wagon Guard / 3rd Class24Withdrawn 1944, Fire Damaged - St. John's Shed Fire 1975
№6N.45 Swansea Carriage & Wagon Guard / 3rd Classes24Sold 1975; privately restored 1978-2020
№7N.46 Swansea Carriage & Wagon Guard / 3rd Class24Withdrawn 1944, Fire Damaged - St. John's Shed Fire 1975
№8N.47 Swansea Carriage & Wagon Open 3rds / Open 3rds32Withdrawn 1944, Fire Damaged - St. John's Shed Fire 1975
№9N.48 Swansea Carriage & Wagon Open 3rds / Open 3rds32Stored Latterly Douglas Station 1967-19721972
№11N.49 Swansea Carriage & Wagon Open 3rds / Open 3rds32Withdrawn 1944, Fire Damaged - St. John's Shed Fire 1975
№13N.50 Swansea Carriage & Wagon Open 3rds / Open 3rds32Withdrawn 1944, Fire Damaged - St. John's Shed Fire 1975
№14N.51 Swansea Carriage & Wagon Open 3rds / Open 3rds32Sold Off-Island 1975 Rampton Railway Trust
№10 Swansea Carriage & Wagon 3rd Class Compartments32Scrapped Early - Never Allocted I.M.R. Fleet Number19??
№12 Swansea Carriage & Wagon Open 3rds / Open 3rds32Original Bothy - Douglas Station - Replaced by N.411964

"E" Class Brake Vans (1873-1895)

G.19 (on the far right) which was built as brake Van E.3 and later converted; now in the Isle of Man Railway Museum displayed with other rolling stock. Port erin railway museum 1 2018-06-28.jpg
G.19 (on the far right) which was built as brake Van E.3 and later converted; now in the Isle of Man Railway Museum displayed with other rolling stock.

These were four-wheeled brake and luggage vans fitted with lookout duckets, but otherwise entirely sealed with only two drop-sash windows at the guard's door. Originally, these vans were intended to be capable of carrying ten passengers in a single compartment, according to Metropolitan's original drawings (conjecturally shown adjacent), but this was never carried out. None of these vans survive today, and they were effectively made redundant when later passenger coaches had their own braking systems. The primary purpose of the "E" van was to provide luggage accommodation and braking for the original "A" - "D" class most of which did not have their own brakes when supplied in 1873/4. One surviving member of the class sat at the end of the Port Erin arrival platform at Douglas for many years and retained its pre-war two-tone brown livery. The Manx Northern Railway owned a pair of similar vans for use with the "N" class carriages, but these seem to have been replaced in the 1890s and then used for goods traffic until they were scrapped in the 1920s. [2] The possibility of the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association recreating one of these vehicles has been mooted in the past but never reached fruition.

Key:ScrappedPreserved
No.BuiltBuilderStatusScrap
E.1 (i)1873 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. Destroyed (Collision), Frames To G.71893
E.1 (ii)1894 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. Renumbered E.4 (ii) "Ballasalla Bonfire" 1974
E.21873 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. Body To Santon Station Grounded Store1975
E.31873 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. Frames Converted G.19 (1921) Extant Isle of Man Railway Museum ~
E.41873 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. Frames Converted Fish Wagon No.3 & Body Scrapped1923
E.51876 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. Mobile Store Douglas Station Until 19631974
E.61876 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. Body To Peel Road Grounded Store1975
E.7
1895 Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd. Body To Sulby Bridge Grounded Store; Frames To K.5 (ii)1937
Er.81895 Manx Northern Railway Co., Ltd. Ex-M.N.R. No.16 - Body To Colby Station Grounded Store1972
Er.91895 Manx Northern Railway Co., Ltd. Ex-M.N.Ry. No.19 - Renumbered E.1 (iii); "Ballasalla Bonfire" 1974
Er.101879 Swansea Carriage & Wagon Co. Ex-M.N.R. No.16 - Later E.4 (ii) - Used With Crane "Ballasalla Bonfire" 1974
1879 Swansea Carriage & Wagon Co. M.N.R. No.15 - I.M.R. Number Not Allocated1974

"G" Closed Vans (1873-1921)

Gr.12 which was built as M.N.Ry. No.15 in the yard at Douglas Station in 2019 with original fleet detailing. Restored freight van from Manx Northern Railway - geograph.org.uk - 5662419.jpg
Gr.12 which was built as M.N.Ry. No.15 in the yard at Douglas Station in 2019 with original fleet detailing.

These were four-wheeled closed vans, quite often these were attached to the rear of a passenger train to transport goods to the rural communities that the railway served for many years. Upon amalgamation with the Manx Northern Railway in 1905 five were inherited. Today, there remain three in existence, all of which remain on the railway, these are G.1, of the original 1873 batch, Gr.12, (the small "r" prefix denoting that it is ex-Manx Northern stock) and G.19 which saw use for many years by the permanent way crews, distinctive for being fitted with clambour boards for tree felling, and having a small wood stove installed, these were removed for its display in the museum during 2013. Nine of the class were sold for scrap in the infamous Ballasalla Bonfire of 1974 together with many other items of redundant non-passenger stock. In 2017 the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association announced plans to fully restore the sole surviving 1873 vehicle G.1 to service. All were painted in a variety of shades of grey with white lettering and tare loadings, often with black drop-shadow.

Key:RestoredScrappedPreserved
No.BuiltBuilderNotesWithdrawScrap
G.11873 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. Restored I.o.M.S.R.S.A. 2019-20231990~
G.21873 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. No Details19591964
G.31873 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. "Ballasalla Bonfire" 19651975
G.41873 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. "Ballasalla Bonfire" 19621974
G.51877 Ashbury Carriage & Iron Co., Ltd. Vacuum-Piped Fitted (Between Railcars) 196219651974
G.61877 Ashbury Carriage & Iron Co., Ltd. "Ballasalla Bonfire" 19601974
G.71879 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. "Ballasalla Bonfire" 19601974
G.81879 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. "Ballasalla Bonfire" 19641975
G.91879 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. "Ballasalla Bonfire" 19631975
Gr.101879 Swansea Carriage & Wagon Co. Ex-M.N.Ry. No.13, "Ballasalla Bonfire" 19??1975
Gr.111879 Swansea Carriage & Wagon Co. Ex-M.N.Ry. No.14 Destroyed (Arson)19651973
Gr.121879 Swansea Carriage & Wagon Co. Ex-M.N.Ry. No.15, Rebuilt 1998-19992021~
Gr.131879 Swansea Carriage & Wagon Co. Ex-M.N.Ry. No.16, Disposal Detail Not Recorded19??19??
Gr.141897 Manx Northern Railway Co., Ltd. Ex-M.N.Ry. No.32, Scrapped "Ballasalla Bonfire" 19??1974
G.151915 Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd. Frames Ex Four-Wheeler B.19 - "Ballasalla Bonfire" 19641974
G.161915 Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd. Frames Ex Four-Wheeler C.11 - "Ballasalla Bonfire" 19??1974
G.171916 Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd. Frames Ex-Bolster L.5 - "Ballasalla Bonfire" 19671975
G.181918 Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd. Frames Ex-Bolster L.6, Destroyed (Arson)19651972
G.191921 Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd. Frames Ex-Van E.3 Railway Museum 1991~

"H" Three-Plank Wagons (1873-1925)

H.27, one of the three-plank wagons, built As M.N.Ry. No.1, note the central dropping door and timber brake blocks. Imr-h-wagon.png
H.27, one of the three-plank wagons, built As M.N.Ry. No.1, note the central dropping door and timber brake blocks.

Twenty of these 6-ton three-plank, centre door, open wagons were built for the opening of the Peel and Port Erin lines in 1873 and 1874. A dozen similar vehicles were delivered to the Manx Northern Railway when it opened in 1879, and further small batches brought the total to 46 by 1926. One of these wagons was used (with suitable side rails attached) to carry the military band to Peel on opening day in 1873. The Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association built one of these from scratch in 2000. It has been given the number H.1, and has been through piped for vacuum brakes to meet with current safety regulations. This was the second project undertaken by the supporters, the first being the re-building of a ballast wagon M.78. All carried a variety of shades of grey on timberwork with black metalwork as standard and fleet numbering on the sides in white, sometimes with black drop-shadow.

Key:RestoredScrapped
BuiltBuilderScrapNotes
H.1-H.201873 Metropolitan Carriage & Wago 1928-1960H.1 Rebuilt As Below
H.21-H.261877 Ashbury Carriage & Wagon Co. 1921-1962Only Batch With Coil Springs Fitted
Hr.27-Hr.381879 Ashbury Carriage & Wagon Co. 1944-1963Ex-Manx Northern Railway No.1 - No.12
Hr.39-Hr.451900 Swansea Carriage & Wagon Co. 1957-1962Ex-Manx Northern Railway No.13, No.37 - No.42
Hr.461918 Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd. 1953-1961Using Frames Ex-Cattle Van K.15 (Above)
H.41 (ii)1925 Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd. 1962Replacement - Original Damaged & Scrapped
H.1 (ii)1998 I.o.M.S.R.S.A. ~Rebuild - Extant Isle of Man Railway Museum

"K" Cattle Vans (1873-1926)

Unroofed K.6, built as the Manx Northern Railway's No.9 in 1879 and scrapped in 1963. Imr-k-wagon.png
Unroofed K.6, built as the Manx Northern Railway's No.9 in 1879 and scrapped in 1963.

These were cattle carrying wagons, and were ostensibly similar to the "G" class as above but rather than being completely sealed, the top quarter of them was ventilated and featured horizontal rails where the "G" vans had only ventilated slots. The first batch were delivered for the opening of the Peel Line in 1873, with some early versions being delivered roofless. K.10, K.11 and K.12 were built for the Manx Mining Company and were converted in 1916 from 'M' series (M.45, M.43 and M.44 respectively). None survive today but it has been mooted, for historical purposes, that the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association may take on the reconstruction of one of these, so that the railway ultimately has an example of each type of stock in their possession. Standard livery was pale grey, later a deeper shade, with black metalwork and fleet detailing in white, shadowed.

No.BuiltBuildersScrapNotes
K.1 - K.21873 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon 1921Both Remained Unroofed, K.1 Chassis to H.41
K.3 - K.41877 Ashbury Railway Carriage & Iron 1965K.3 Roofed 1924 / K.4 Remained Unroofed & Scrapped 1946
Kr.5 - Kr.71879 Swansea Carriage & Wagon Co. 1963Ex-M.N.Ry. No.7-No.9 / Kr.6 Roofed 1916, Kr.5 Scrapped 1924
K.5 (ii)1899 Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd. 1961Chassis Ex-Brake Van E.7 - Replacement
K.8 - K.91899 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon 1960Roofed 1916 & 1927 Respectively
K.10 - K.121908 Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd. 1961All Roofed 1916 - K.10 Scrapped 1947, K.11 in 1946
K.13 - K.141912 Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd. 1927Ex-B.12 & C.5, Became K.13A in 1924 & K.14A in 1925
K.15 - K.161912 Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd. 1947Chassis Ex-B.5 & B.16
K.17 - K.181914 Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd. 19??No Portholes, Chassis Ex-B.2 & C.6
K.19 - K.201920 Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd. 1965Chassis Ex-B.20 & B.21, K.19 Scrapped 1960
K.21 - K.231921 Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd. 1962Chassis Ex-B.11, B.15, B.4
K.24 - K.261923 Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd. 1964Chassis Ex-B.17, B.13, B.24
K.13-K.14 (ii)1924 Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd. 1964Chassis Ex B.12 & C.5 - Replacements, K.13 Scrapped 1949
K.1-K.2 (ii)1926 Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd. 1962Chassis Ex-C.11 & B.6 - Replacements

"L" Bolster Wagons (1874-1910)

Bolster wagon L.4 dated from the opening of the south line in 1874 and was one of four identical vehicles initially delivered. Imr-l-wagon.png
Bolster wagon L.4 dated from the opening of the south line in 1874 and was one of four identical vehicles initially delivered.

The railway had six of these four-wheel vehicles which saw use carrying long loads commonly being used in pairs; each had manual parking brakes and they survived until the final years of the railway largely out of use latterly. All had a grey livery on woodwork and black metal and frames, they were numbered along their edges.

No.BuiltBuilderNotesScrap
L.1 - L.21874 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. 1975
L.3 - L.41874 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co. 1959
L.5 - L.61910 Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd. Rebuilt, G.17 & G.18~

"M" Two-Plank Wagons (1877-1926)

M.43, one of the two-plank drop-side wagons from the 1911 batch of twelve identical vehicles, all scrapped between 1955 and 1969. Imr-m-wagon.png
M.43, one of the two-plank drop-side wagons from the 1911 batch of twelve identical vehicles, all scrapped between 1955 and 1969.

Two plank, drop sided wagons, broadly similar to the "H" class. They were intended as Ballast Wagons but their ease of loading and unloading made them useful for many types of goods traffic, eventually totalling 78 of these wagons on the line. Three were leased as private owner wagons to the Mona Chemical Company in Peel. Other private owner wagons possibly existed. At least six were still serviceable in 1975, and a couple survived into nationalisation. M.70 was resident on the old goods siding at Santon Station for many years. M.78 also survived and it was this vehicle that inspired the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association to restore it in 1998. The "rebuilt" wagon is now part of the railway's historic fleet of vehicles and bears plaques denoting its origins. It is coupled to H.1 as the Troublesome Trucks each September for the Friends of Thomas event. All carried a variety of shades of grey with black metalwork and fleet detailing on the sides in white, shadowed in black though this was later dropped.

Key:RestoredScrapped
No.BuiltBuildersNotesScrapped
M.1 - M.41877 Ashbury Carriage & Wagon Withdrawn 1955-19621960 - 1965
M.5 - M.71884 Ashbury Carriage & Wagon Withdrawn 1960 - 19651959 - 1964
M.8 - M.191888 Ashbury Carriage & Wagon Withdrawn 1955 - 19651944 - 1965
M.20 - M.271889 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Withdrawn 1954 - 19671952 - 1965
Mr.28 - Mr.351884 Matthew Baird & Co., Ltd. Manx Northern Railway No.22 - No.291958 - 1966
Mr.36 - Mr.421898 Manx Northern Railway Co. Manx Northern Railway No.30 - No.361955 - 1964
M.43 - M.541911 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Withdrawn 1955 - 19661955-1969
M.55 - M.601911 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Withdrawn 1958 - 19651955 - 1969
M.61 - M.671925 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon M.55 Converted Oil Tanker 19671960 - 1975
M.68 - M.721926 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Withdrawn 1952 - 1960 (Parts M.70 Remain)1966 - 1978
M.73 - M.771925 Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Withdrawn 1949 - 19711962 - 1999
M.781925 I.o.M.S.R.S.A. Rebuilt 1996 - 1998 - In Traffic~

Breakdown Cranes

Crane No.2 on display on the site of Union Mills Station since 1992 and seen here in 2003. Union mills station may 2003.jpg
Crane No.2 on display on the site of Union Mills Station since 1992 and seen here in 2003.

The railway possessed a total of three cranes, the first being delivered in readiness for the opening of the Peel Line in 1873; a third crane was converted for use on the railway and later became self-propelled but was generally only used for demonstration purposes before being sold privately. This carried a red and vermilion scheme, the other two were predominantly red oxide in colour, though No.2 spent a period in burgundy when displayed at Ballasalla and Castletown. Today all lifting on the railway is done by hired road cranes, notably when locomotives are turned as part of the annual event galas.

No.BuiltBuilderNotesWithdrawnScrap
№11873Thomas Kiss & Co.Delivered for opening of Peel Line19??1969
№21893Richard C. Gibbins & Co.Extant, Union Mills Railway Station 19??~
№31902Taylor & HubbardSold privately off-island in 20012000~

"R" Bogie Runners

Bogie well No.3 stored at Douglas Station in the summer of 2018, the only vehicle of its kind. Tractor on a train - geograph.org.uk - 4373616.jpg
Bogie well No.3 stored at Douglas Station in the summer of 2018, the only vehicle of its kind.

In 1967 as part of a short-lived experiment to use the railway to carry shipping container traffic, under the title of "Man-Tainor" (alternatively Isle of Man Ferry Express), a new "R" series was created as below using former 'Pairs' carriages' underframes, the bodies of which were removed and dumped in the goods yards at St. John's Station (with F.69 similarly treated at Castletown Station; no stock carries this prefix today, the frames having been sold off in 1974 to the scrap dealer Manx Metals, the experiment having ceased in 1968. The series letter and numbering were entirely unofficial, having been applied by a party of visiting enthusiasts. [3] The numbers were applied in the order they found the vehicles, not in order of their former "F" numbers. The exact correspondence between "R" and "" numbers in not known. R.3 was converted to a rather unsatisfactory well wagon and was cut up by Manx Metals, but the remaining ten were purchased from MM by the Festiniog Railway [4] where six have been used under new coaches and two as wagons. The final of the batch was converted experimentally into a bogie well wagon by crudely dropping the solebar sides though this was not successful and later scrapped.

No.WasBuiltBuilderNotesSold ToSale
R.1F.531919 Metro Cammell Stored, Ffestiniog RailwayManx Metals, Onward Festiniog Railway 1974
R.2F.601916 Metro Cammell Now F.R. Waggon No.57Manx Metals, Onward Festiniog Railway 1974
R.3F.551912 Metro Cammell Man-Tainor TrafficManx Metals, Scrapped Upon Sale1975
R.4F.521912 Metro Cammell Now F.R. Wagon No.56Manx Metals, Onward Festiniog Railway 1974
R.5F.581918 Metro Cammell Now F.R. Carriage No.111Manx Metals, Onward Festiniog Railway 1974
R.6F.611910 Metro Cammell Now F.R. Carriage No.118Manx Metals, Onward Festiniog Railway 1974
R.7F.561924 Metro Cammell F.R. Carriage No.121 (Scrapped)Manx Metals, Onward Festiniog Railway 1974
R.8F.721926 Metro Cammell Now F.R. Carriage No.117Manx Metals, Onward Festiniog Railway 1974
R.9F.691923 Metro Cammell Stored, Ffestiniog RailwayManx Metals, Onward Festiniog Railway 1974
R.10F.591920 Metro Cammell Now F.R. Carriage No.119Manx Metals, Onward Festiniog Railway 1975
R.11F.511912 Metro Cammell Now F.R. Carriage No.120Manx Metals, Onward Festiniog Railway 1974
R.13F.501925 Metro Cammell Bogie Well WagonManx Metals, Onward Festiniog Railway 1974

Permanent Way

Runner F.71 stored at Douglas Station in 2012; it remains in departmental use today. Rolling stock at Douglas Station - panoramio.jpg
Runner F.71 stored at Douglas Station in 2012; it remains in departmental use today.

The railway still has a number of runners and these are based on the underframes of former bogie carriages and are stored mostly on the siding outside Douglas Station on the former Peel Line which now acts as a stock siding. Today, these still carry their "F" class fleet number either painted on, or in some cases just in chalk. In 1975 F.65 and F.50 underframes were seen briefly numbered as part of another series, becoming R.12 and R.13, but they later reverted to their "F" numbers, the former when converted to become the first dual ballast hopper. The majority of these surviving examples use frames from the "pairs" series (F.50-F.75) with the exception of F.33 which was a bogie luggage van. All carry a plain black livery with white lettering on the solebars, some examples see occasional use during the Manx Heritage Transport Festival each summer as part of demonstration works' trains.


Key:ScrappedDismantledIn Service
BuiltBuilderTypeNotesStatus
F.231896 Brown, Marshall & Co Bogie RunnerTimber Framed, Condemned 2009Scrapped 2011
F.331905 Metro Cammell Bogie RunnerExtant Douglas Works Departmental Useage
F.441908 Metro Cammell Bogie RunnerCondemned 2010Scrapped 2013
F.571919 Metro Cammell Bogie RunnerExtant "Peel East" Siding Carries New Underframe
F.641912 Metro Cammell Bogie RunnerExtant Douglas Works Components' Storage
F.651910 Metro Cammell Bogie Ballast HoppersReplaced (By F.70 Below)Scrapped 2020
F.701922 Metro Cammell Bogie Ballast HoppersExtant Douglas Works In Service
F.711920 Metro Cammell Bogie RunnerExtant Douglas Works In Service
F.731920 Metro Cammell Bogie RunnerExtant Douglas Works In Service
B.A.T.12009 Isle of Man Railway Accommodation TruckExtant Douglas Works Dismantled 2015
W.W.11936 Isle of Man Railway Four-Wheel Well WagonReplaced (Parts To W.W. No.2)Dismantled, Scrapped 1998
W.W.21998 Isle of Man Railway Four-Wheel Well WagonExtant Port Erin Station In Service
W.W.32012 Isle of Man Railway Bogie Well WagonExtant "Peel East" Siding In Service

Fish Wagons (1909-1914)

Fish Wagon which was constructed using four-wheel carraige C.13's underframes while the bodies were later scrapped. Imr-fish.png
Fish Wagon which was constructed using four-wheel carraige C.13's underframes while the bodies were later scrapped.

Five low-sided wagons were built on four-wheeled underframes released from coaches which had been put on bogie underframes ("pairs" ). They were numbered in a separate sequence with no letter prefix. They did not survive into the nationalisation era although some excellent photographs of them appear in the many books dedicated to the railway's history and rolling stock. They were labelled "Fish Wagon" at the left-hand side and carried their nominal fleet numbers to the right. All were painted deep grey with black metalwork.

BuiltBuilderFramesScrap
№11909 Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd., Douglas Works Ex-A.91974
№21909 Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd., Douglas Works Ex-C.131965
№31910 Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd., Douglas Works Ex-E.41951
№41914 Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd., Douglas Works Ex-A.21960
№51914 Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd., Douglas Works Ex-X.??1960

Carriage Liveries


M.N.Ry. No.17 (the Foxdale Coach, later numbered as F.39) at Douglas Station in September 1979 Manx Northern Railway Brake-composite coach - geograph.org.uk - 1550743.jpg
M.N.Ry. No.17 (the Foxdale Coach, later numbered as F.39) at Douglas Station in September 1979
C.1 painted all-over brown on the site of Peel Station as part of a diorama display in July 2010 Steam Heritage Trail on the Isle of Man (83) (geograph 2115198).jpg
C.1 painted all-over brown on the site of Peel Station as part of a diorama display in July 2010
F.45, F.39, F.11 and F.26 in the then-standard purple lake scheme at Port Soderick Station with No.4 Loch in August 1995 Isle of Man Railway, Port Soderick - geograph.org.uk - 785484.jpg
F.45, F.39, F.11 and F.26 in the then-standard purple lake scheme at Port Soderick Station with No.4 Loch in August 1995
All-thirds carriage F.11 in red and cream at Douglas Station being marshalled onto a busy train in June 2006 Reversing at Douglas 2006.jpg
All-thirds carriage F.11 in red and cream at Douglas Station being marshalled onto a busy train in June 2006
A typical rake consisting of F.18, F.26 and F.54 in red and cream at Douglas Station in May 2017 Closing the doors at the end of the day (42715214285).jpg
A typical rake consisting of F.18, F.26 and F.54 in red and cream at Douglas Station in May 2017

1873-1885 Initial New Stock

Series "A" carried off-white upper panels: green lower panels and yellow lining with the exception of A.12, the Ducal Saloon which had gilt lining, and according to some sources was painted green. Series "B"-"E" were chocolate brown with yellow lining and from 1881 new Bogie Stock chocolate brown lower panels and off-white upper panels, lettering, etc. gold shaded blue. A sole surviving door from one of the "E" series brake vans is extant in the works at Douglas and carries a faded and cracked brown/purple scheme with white droplight surrounds and vermilion/yellow beading detail. This was replicated in 2023 on saloon F.31.

1879-1905 M.N.Ry. Only

The Cleminson six-wheel carriages were described as being "Polished Teak."; this is the appearance that restored carriage No.6 appears in today, commonly on display in the railway's museum at Port Erin. From 1899 bogie stock on the Manx Northern (e.g. the Hurst Nelsons and the Foxdale Coach) had "Chocolate lower and creamy white upper panels." prior to the amalgamation with the Railway Company. The teak finish was found to not weather very well and was replaced with paint relatively early.

1886-1934 Mixed Schemes

All passenger stock now in bogie carriage livery (as above); from 1917, Light brown upper window panels replace off-white. The dark brown and tan livery now resembles that of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway. Certain stock in these colours lasted until the mid 1930s. From 1931 secondary carriage stock were painted in a utilitarian dark brown. New stock delivered during this period had white upper panels and lake lower panels. Lining was vermilion and yellow.

1935-1945 Utility Liveries

Most stock had off-white upper window and purple lake lower panels, similar to London and North Western Railway colours. Remainder was in Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway colours. From 1940 any repainting done was in dark brown; some photographic images from the time appear to show a two-tone brown scheme though records do not indicate whether or not this was the case; images exist of some saloons and "pairs" which appear to clearly show varying shades of brown in the mid-sections, in a similar position to the post-war cream scheme.

1946-1971 Post World War Two

Firstly all-over deep red. Latterly deep red with off-white window panels. Older stock that had not been repainted was still all brown. Since 1968 all service carriages had cream (off-white) upper panels and red lower panels. One notable exception was the Foxdale Coach which, in 1968, was painted into a bright blue and yellow scheme for use as Lord Ailsa's personal camping coach.

1972-1978 Latter Railway Co.

The post war scheme was retained, with the exception of five of the saloons which, in 1972, were fitted with bus-style windows and an all-over bright red scheme (F.36 was not so treated but was repainted for the Royal Train that same year). The Foxdale Coach was painted into the standard red and cream scheme in 1978 and later restored.

1979-1999 Post-Nationalisation

Upon nationalisation much of the carriages were gradually returned to the purple lake livery, ending with F.45 in 1991, although the "pairs" were outshopped in an all-over maroon scheme (with the notable exception of F.66), the last of these were withdrawn in this condition in 1987. The bar set of saloons (F.31, F.35 and F.32 in that order) received a red and white scheme in 1982 making them unique, this was changed to purple lake in 2001.

2000-2024 Standardisation

Since 2000 all passenger stock has carried the post-war red and cream scheme though with a notably brighter shade of red, as standard; in 2013 the Foxdale Coach (F.39) was restored to its 1887 condition in purple lake and off-white panelling, and gold/blue lining and lettering detail. In 2022 saloon F.31 reverted to this scheme, but with red/gold lining to emulate its original appearance, this will be followed by all other carriages in the dining train to a uniform appearance. The other exception is the privately owned six-wheeler M.N.Ry. No.6 which is varnished teak with gold/blue letter and shadow detail, all other carriages are red and cream as standard.

See also

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This page details the rolling stock on the Manx Electric Railway on the Isle of Man, which is unique insofar as the railway still operates with its original tramcars and trailers, all of which are over one hundred years old, the latest dating from 1906. Save for a fire in 1930 in which several cars and trailers were lost, all of the line's original rolling stock remains extant, though many items have been out of use for a number of years, largely due to the decrease in tourism on the island over the last thirty years. Despite this, members of each class are still represented on site today, though not all are in original form or in regular use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Groudle Glen Railway rolling stock</span>

This is a general list of rolling stock and locomotives currently or formerly on the Groudle Glen Railway on the Isle of Man.

As the Victorian Railways' fleet of Z vans began to age, the railways decided to invest in bogie designs for vans. Some van designs were included in a class of new passenger vehicles. Many other vans, for both freight and passenger work, were built separately from any other rolling stock developments, and these are the ones that feature here in detail.

The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) inherited several styles of coaching stock from its constituents. Sir Nigel Gresley continued the styles that he had established pre-grouping at the Great Northern Railway (GNR) and for the East Coast Joint Stock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coaches of the Great Western Railway</span>

The passenger coaches of the Great Western Railway (GWR) were many and varied, ranging from four and six-wheeled vehicles for the original broad gauge line of 1838, through to bogie coaches up to 70 feet (21 m) long which were in service through to 1947. Vacuum brakes, bogies and through-corridors all came into use during the nineteenth century, and in 1900 the first electrically lit coaches were put into service. The 1920s saw some vehicles fitted with automatic couplings and steel bodies.

The Kent & East Sussex Railway has hosted a variety of heritage rolling stock since the line was closed by British Railways in 1961.

The Bluebell Railway is a heritage line West Sussex and East Sussex in England.

The first passenger carriages of the Victorian Railways (VR) were fixed-wheel, with a mixture of first- and second-class bodies on either four- or six-wheeled underframes. They were built to the British side-loading, swing-door, cross bench compartment (non-corridor) style; later a saloon style was used to a limited extent, featuring fewer doors per side and perimeter seating - which increased total capacity by allowing more standing passengers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SR Maunsell carriage</span>

The Southern Railway Maunsell carriage was the first design family of railway carriages built by Richard Maunsell for the Southern Railway (SR) in the United Kingdom. Following grouping in 1923, SR had continued to build carriages to the designs of the previous three main companies, and the Maunsell carriage was intended to be the standard carriage design for use across the Southern Railway lines, incorporating the best features of each of the former companies' designs.

This page outlines the history and evolution of Victorian Railways (Australia) bogie passenger carriages, constructed with steel underframes and timber bodies up to 59 ft 9 in (18.21 m) long, as well as a few other carriages from the era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victorian Railways E type carriage</span> Class of passenger railway car in Australia

The E type carriages were wooden express passenger carriage used on the railways of Victoria, Australia. Originally introduced by Victorian Railways Chairman of Commissioners Thomas James Tait for the interstate service between Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, these Canadian-inspired carriages remained in regular service for 85 years over the entire Victorian network.

This article outlines the history and types of passenger rolling stock and guards vans on the narrow-gauge lines of the Victorian Railways in Australia. The types were constructed in parallel with very similar designs.

References

  1. Boyd, J.I.C., The Isle of Man Railway vol 3 (Oakwood Press, 1996)p257
  2. Hendry and Hendry - "The Manx Northern Railway" - David and Charles, 1979
  3. Railway Bylines Vol 7 No 7, June 2002, p346 (Irwell Press)
  4. Boyd, J.I.C., The Isle of Man Railway vol 2 (Oakwood Press, 1994) p191.