Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association

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The Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association Ltd (IoMSRSA) is a railway preservationist group dedicated to ensuring the continued operation of the Isle of Man Railway on the Isle of Man. Since its inception in 1966 the group has provided volunteer workers, acted in a watchdog role and undertaken the restoration of the Groudle Glen Railway on the island, as well as supporting projects on the railway and producing the journal, Manx Steam Railway News.

Contents

History

No. 11 Maitland at St. John's Station in July 1967, the line's penultimate year of full operation. IOMR maitland 1967.jpg
No. 11 Maitland at St. John's Station in July 1967, the line's penultimate year of full operation.

The group merged with the Mannin Railway Group to form one association in 1966 when the future of the Isle of Man Railway hung in the balance; the railway did not operate any services in that year for the first time since the line to Peel was opened in 1873. In 1967 however, the full network (save for the Foxdale Railway which had closed back in 1940) was reopened owing to the intervention of the Marquess of Ailsa who ran services until September 1968; but then the lines to Peel and Ramsey were closed for good. This was a period of concern for the Supporters' Association but the future of the line to Port Erin was assured and trains ran on this line from 1969 onwards. The centenaries in 1973 and 1974 were celebrated by running special trains. In 1975 and 1976 services were curtailed between Port Erin and Castletown, then Port Erin and Ballasalla and the group became politically active in fighting for the retention of the full southern line. Following a major campaign trains returned to Douglas in 1977 and after nationalisation in 1978 the group took on more of a watchdog role, ultimately moving on to restore the Groudle Glen Railway whilst maintaining strong connections with the Isle of Man Railway into the twenty first century. [1]

Volunteering

Volunteers from the Supporters' Association repainting the crossing gates at Port St. Mary Station in July 1973; until the nationalisation of the line in 1978 the Association maintained an active volunteer presence on the railway, both operationally by providing guards and gatekeepers, and peripheral works such as painting and maintenance at the lineside; these efforts were later concentrated on their restoration of the Groudle Glen Railway PSM-Gates.jpg
Volunteers from the Supporters' Association repainting the crossing gates at Port St. Mary Station in July 1973; until the nationalisation of the line in 1978 the Association maintained an active volunteer presence on the railway, both operationally by providing guards and gatekeepers, and peripheral works such as painting and maintenance at the lineside; these efforts were later concentrated on their restoration of the Groudle Glen Railway

In its time the Supporters' Association has undertaken many supportive projects on the railway, from the basic painting and maintenance of level crossing gates (which were controversially replaced with automated barriers in 2001) to more menial matters such as the general tidying up of stations along the line, at one time their input ranged all the way up to providing volunteer operational staff such as station masters and train guards each summer during the 1970s. However, by 1978 when the railway was nationalised the role of the group decreased somewhat with volunteer-based workers causing difficulties within a government-run organisation. An ambitious attempt to fully restore a steam locomotive (No.9 Douglas, built by Beyer, Peacock & Company at its Gorton Foundry in 1896 and withdrawn from traffic in 1953) was aborted and so after much deliberation of other major projects (and having used some the intended funds to re-tube No. 11 Maitland in 1981) in 1982 the association began the ambitious restoration project of the Groudle Glen Railway which, since that time has been re-opened in its entirety and now operates at weekends and certain evenings in the summer months. The railway is owned entirely by the Supporters' Association and operated by volunteer labour. Since this time all the volunteer labour provided by the members of the group is concentrated on the railway at Groudle Glen and activities connected to the Isle of Man Railway have been predominantly fund-raising and/or provision of parts. A number of works have also been undertaken to stations along the line, notably at Castletown, Ballabeg, The Level and Port St. Mary as well as larger projects including cosmetic restoration of out-of-use locomotives.

Projects

The Level following its first restoration in February 2012; this site was revisited in 2021 Level station platform.png
The Level following its first restoration in February 2012; this site was revisited in 2021
No.4 Loch was the subject of the successful Un-Loch Your Cash appeal in 1998 IOMR loch 2004.jpg
No.4 Loch was the subject of the successful Un-Loch Your Cash appeal in 1998
No.5 Mona stored in 2007 prior to cosmetic restoration work commencing. IMR-Loco-5.jpg
No.5 Mona stored in 2007 prior to cosmetic restoration work commencing.
No.13 Kissack fitted with Association-funded injectors at Port Erin Station Isle of Man (2995367753).jpg
No.13 Kissack fitted with Association-funded injectors at Port Erin Station
No.6 Peveril which was cosmetically restored by the Association in 1994 and again in 2021 IMR-Loco-6.jpg
No.6 Peveril which was cosmetically restored by the Association in 1994 and again in 2021
No.11 Maitland 1981 at Douglas Station in 1983 carrying Association-funded boiler tubes The Isle of Man Railway at Douglas in July 1983 (4).jpg
No.11 Maitland 1981 at Douglas Station in 1983 carrying Association-funded boiler tubes


Association-built replica wagon H.1 (with F.36)in the Isle of Man Railway Museum at Port Erin. Port erin railway museum 2 2018-06-28.jpg
Association-built replica wagon H.1 (with F.36)in the Isle of Man Railway Museum at Port Erin.
the goods shedatr Castletown Station which sees use as a base for Association volunteers in harmony with the Friends Of... group there Castletown Station Goods Shed, Victoria Road, Isle of Man Railway - geograph.org.uk - 6285402.jpg
the goods shedatr Castletown Station which sees use as a base for Association volunteers in harmony with the Friends Of... group there

Past projects

Since the organisation's inception it has had a pro-active role on the railway; prior to the nationalisation in 1978 they undertook tasks on the line such as the re-painting of station buildings, tending to flower beds at the stations, upkeep of the level crossing gates, etc. After the government took ownership the association took on more of watchdog role and ultimately took on their own major project in the resurrection of the Groudle Glen Railway in 1982; but projects on the railway have included:-

Ongoing Projects

An active presence has been re-established on the railway in recent years with a good number of hands-on projects always ongoing, some on a small, others a larger scale. As at May 2024 there are a number of these in hand:-

The association has also been vocal in its support of the completion of the rebuild of the diesel railcars which (as at April 2024) are in store uncompleted at Douglas Station. Representatives of the association attend regular meetings with the relevant government department. In 2003 a preservation policy was put in place, thereby securing the future of the line in a way sympathetic to its origins, ensuring that they are consulted when any major projects are considered by the railway's management. Potential projects are discussed at board level on a regular basis, ensuring the group's continued commitment to the preservation of the railway and its historical stations and stock, reflected in the proposed items on the list above.

Groudle Glen Railway

Lhen Coan Station on the Groudle Glen Railway with original locomotive Sea Lion in 2009; this railway was restored and owned by the Association between 1982 and 2009 when it became an independent organisation. Lhen Coan Locos.jpg
Lhen Coan Station on the Groudle Glen Railway with original locomotive Sea Lion in 2009; this railway was restored and owned by the Association between 1982 and 2009 when it became an independent organisation.

Since the nationalisation of the Groudle Glen Railway secured its future, the main thrust of the group has been the restoration of the railway, commencing in 1982, and the line continues today. The line had been reduced to a footpath, but the line was relaid to its full length for the first time since 1939, and it was officially opened in 1992. The original steam locomotive Sea Lion returned to service in 1987. Various replica station buildings were built, starting with the station canopy in 1993, and the improvement of the line as one of the island's tourist attractions has continued; this has included the added attraction of visiting steam locomotives, gala days in conjunction with Isle of Man Heritage Railways and popular off-season events such as Santa Trains at Christmas and Bunny Trains each Easter weekend. In more recent times there have also been Jester Express days and promotions in connection with Father's Day. Operations on New Year's Day were introduced in 2011. Additionally, Driver Experience Days are also offered: members of the public can pay to spend the day on the footplate of a steam locomotive and drive trains. The railway is now a stand-alone charity and operates seasonally, whilst the volunteers of the Supporters' Association continue to maintain strong ties with the Isle of Man Railway albeit in a watchdog role, and provision of project items.[ clarification needed ] The group maintains a strong working relationship with the management and attends regular meetings to ensure the development.[ clarification needed ]

Area Groups

Restored drop-side wagon M.78 in a siding at Douglas Station; this was restored by the Association Mainland Group in 1998 and remains in regular use on photographic charters and mixed trains during events, when not displayed in the Isle of Man Railway Museum IMR-M78-Wagon.jpg
Restored drop-side wagon M.78 in a siding at Douglas Station; this was restored by the Association Mainland Group in 1998 and remains in regular use on photographic charters and mixed trains during events, when not displayed in the Isle of Man Railway Museum
Replica three-plank wagon H.1 at Douglas Station; this was built in 2000 by the Association's Mainland Group utilising a small number of remaining components. When not used it is displayed in the Isle of Man Railway Museum with several other examples of historical rolling stock. IMR-H1-Wagon.jpg
Replica three-plank wagon H.1 at Douglas Station; this was built in 2000 by the Association's Mainland Group utilising a small number of remaining components. When not used it is displayed in the Isle of Man Railway Museum with several other examples of historical rolling stock.

At the time the group was formed there was much support for the retention of the railway both on and off the island and area groups quickly sprouted up across the country, with members of the island committee regularly travelling to meetings on the mainland to provide updates, slide shows, film shows and get-togethers. Groups existed in Greater London, Manchester, Liverpool/Merseyside, Northern Ireland and the Midlands at one time or another but latterly, there was just one, the "Mainland Area Group". It was this group that were responsible for the building of two wagons for the railway. The "M" class of wagon numbered nearly 80 and were part of the Isle of Man Railway's stock of goods vehicles; by the time of nationalisation of the line in 1978 when the Isle of Man Government took responsibility, there were very few examples left in existence; one (numbered M.70) had been left to rot for many years and was resident in a siding at Santon station for many years. It was this vehicle that was used as a template for a project undertaken by the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association in 1997, resulting in the presentation to the railway of M.78. This wagon is now part of the railway's historic fleet of vehicles and bears plaques denoting its origins. Together with H.1 (the next project by the group) these two wagons now form the Troublesome Trucks for the Friends of Thomas weekend that takes place on the railway annually.

The "H" class of wagon were part of the goods fleet of the Isle of Man Railway and consisted of a four-wheel two-plank construction; these had all been scrapped by the time the railway was nationalised in 1978 but in 1999 the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association took on the ambitious task of building one of these vehicles from scratch. Through a fund-raising campaign this was achieved and the wagon is now part of the rolling stock of the railing and has been numbered "H.1", being the re-used number of the first vehicle of the class, long since destroyed. This was the second project undertaken by the supporters, the first being the building of a similar vehicle M.78. By the year 2000 the area groups had dwindled down to a few members, too far scattered in location to warrant regular meetings and was disbanded.

The possibility of reforming one of the area groups has been mooted in the past, primarily so a group of enthusiasts may take a more hands-on approach on the railway to further make advantage of the good working relationship that the group now has with the railway's management; a number of possible ideas have been floated and it is hoped that a group of volunteers may one day be allowed to have an active role on the railway once again, as it did in the early years of the association's existence. 2010 saw a return to volunteering when, as part of the railway's Rush Hour event over the May Holiday Weekend, members staffed the signal box at Douglas and provided guides for tours of the railway's workshops and running sheds for the first time in a number of years.

Manx Steam Railway News

Since its inception in 1966, the Supporters' Association has produced a members' newsletter, initially a foolscap sheet, later expanded into the journal Steam Railway News which contains news, views, historical articles and photographs. Initially this was produced on a small scale to limited circulation and took the form of a foolscap-sized newsletter but the format was changed to an A5 sized booklet early on which is the format it maintains today. The prefix "Manx" was added in 1985 after a national magazine adopted the magazine's original title. Apart from a spell in the 1980s and 1990s when it was produced and edited on the mainland, the magazine is produced entirely on the island and reaches a membership of approximately 1,000 usually four times a year but the fact that it is entirely prepared by volunteers can mean that the number of issues per annum fluctuates. Members and non-members alike may contribute articles and photographic material for reproduction within the pages of the journal.

In 1992 the magazine celebrated its one-hundredth issue with a colour cover, something which had only been seen three times previously, one of those being for the centenary of the railway in 1973. Since 2002 the outer covers of the magazine have been in full colour for each issue whilst internal photographs and images remain in black and white. The advent of the Supporters' Association official website in late 2008 has meant that news can be more readily distributed but as a great number of members do not have internet access, the news is primarily still delivered via the journal, with more general articles appearing on the website, and announcements. The website also serves as an online archive for historical documents from the railway's history and is expanded at regular intervals to include newly discovered documents as well as photographs and contemporary articles on its subject matter. From 2009 the quality of production of Manx Steam Railway News was improved with a greater number of colour photographs and images in each issue, and the upgrading of paper quality which also enhances photographic reproduction.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manx Electric Railway</span> Tramway between Isle of Man towns

The Manx Electric Railway is an electric interurban tramway connecting Douglas, Laxey and Ramsey in the Isle of Man. It connects with the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway at its southern terminus at Derby Castle at the northern end of the promenade in Douglas, and with the Snaefell Mountain Railway at Laxey. Many visitors take an excursion on the trams. It is the oldest electric tram line in the world whose original rolling stock is still in service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isle of Man Railway</span> Steam-operated railway in the Isle of Man

The Isle of Man Railway (IMR) is a narrow gauge steam-operated railway connecting Douglas with Castletown and Port Erin in the Isle of Man. The line is 3 ft narrow gauge and 15+1⁄2 miles long. It is the remainder of what was a much larger network that also served the western town of Peel, the northern town of Ramsey and the mining village of Foxdale. Now in government ownership, it uses original rolling stock and locomotives and there are few concessions to modernity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Groudle Glen Railway</span> Narrow gauge railway in the Isle of Man

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ballasalla</span> Human settlement in the United Kingdom

Ballasalla is a village in the parish of Malew in the south-east of the Isle of Man. The village is situated close to the Isle of Man Airport and 2 miles (3 km) north-east of the town of Castletown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Laxey Mine Railway</span> Narrow gauge heritage railway in the Isle of Man

The Great Laxey Mine Railway was originally constructed to serve the Isle of Man's Great Laxey Mine, a lead mine located in Laxey. The 19 in gauge railway runs from the old mine entrance to the washing floors along a right of way that passes through the Isle of Man's only remaining railway tunnel under the 3 ft gauge Victorian Manx Electric Railway and the main A2 Douglas to Ramsey coast road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castletown railway station</span> Station on the Isle of Man

Castletown Railway Station is an intermediate station on the Isle of Man Railway on the Isle of Man forming part of sole remaining section of the once extensive network that operated across the island. The station is the busiest of the railway's intermediate stations, being the closest to a number of local visitor attractions. In peak season service trains often pass here, making the station one of the railway's more active stopping places. The station occupies a site within walking distance of the main town and is in close proximity to the local playing fields.

The Manx Northern Railway (MNR) was the second common carrier railway built in the Isle of Man. It was a steam railway between St John's and Ramsey. It operated as an independent concern only from 1879 to 1905.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isle of Man Railway Museum</span> Railway Museum in Rushen, Isle of Man

The Isle of Man Railway Museum in the village of Port Erin in the Isle of Man is a small museum of the history of the Isle of Man Railway from its founding in 1873 to the present, including the now-closed lines that served Peel, Ramsey and Foxdale, and the remaining open line between Douglas and Port Erin.

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 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:-

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steam 125</span>

Steam 125 was a series of events held in 1998 to mark the 125th anniversary of the Isle of Man Railway opening its first route from Douglas to Peel the railway ran a large number of special events. Most notable was the return to service of the original steam locomotive No. 1 "Sutherland" which hauled special services all year, including excursions on the Manx Electric Railway; other highlights included night trains, arranged photography sessions, slide and film shows, unusual tram trips, and visiting locomotives on the Groudle Glen Railway and many more. This was the last of the "big" railway events on the island, which had begun with the "Year of Railways" in 1993 to mark the centenary of the Manx Electric Railway. Although there are still annual events periods on the island these are now a very half-hearted affair and do not bring the enthusiasts as they once did.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peel railway station</span> Former railway station in Isle of Man

Peel Railway Station was a terminus on the Isle of Man Railway; it served the town of Peel in the Isle of Man and was the final stopping place on a line that ran between the city of Douglas and the town. It was part of the Island's first railway line.

One of the characteristics of the Isle of Man Railway is the numerous level crossings and farm crossings along the various routes; many smaller crossing places are marked only by gates that criss-cross farm land and provide access to private roads connecting the farms to the main roads. Being largely rural in nature the railway has many of these scattered along the existing South Line, and there were many more on the closed sections of the railway. These can be summarised as follows, along with other points of interest along the line not covered in the Isle of Man Railway stations section:-

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lhen Coan railway station</span> Railway station in Isle of Man, the UK

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sea Lion (steam locomotive)</span>

Sea Lion is a narrow-gauge steam locomotive built in 1896 for the Groudle Glen Railway on the Isle of Man.

<i>Annie</i> (locomotive)

Annie is a steam locomotive that operates on the Groudle Glen Railway on the Isle of Man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dolphin and Walrus (locomotives)</span>

Dolphin and Walrus are diesel locomotives that are operated on the Groudle Glen Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parracombe (locomotive)</span>

Parracombe was the name of a steam outline Baguley diesel locomotive that currently resides on the Groudle Glen Railway on the Isle of Man in private ownership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polar Bear (battery-electric locomotive)</span>

Polar Bear was a 2 ft gauge battery-electric locomotive built by Wingrove & Rogers in 1921 as works no. 314 for the Groudle Glen Railway on the Isle of Man. Together with its sister, Sea Lion, they were intended to replace two Bagnall steam locos of the same names. The locos were not a success, and despite Polar Bear being rebuilt with bogies and a battery truck, the steam locos were reboilered and returned to traffic. Polar Bear was eventually scrapped in 1926.

Silverdale Glen is a National Glen, and recreational area. It is situated near the village of Ballasalla, in the parish of Malew, on the Isle of Man. The recreation site consists of a small boating lake, café, playing fields, and a playground with a Victorian water-powered carousel.

References

  1. ↑ Brown, Jonathan (30 June 2017). "7. Great Little Trains". The Railway Preservation Revolution: A History of Britain's Heritage Railways. Casemate Publishers. ISBN   978-1-4738-9119-7.
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