1977 News
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The Season
Returning to full-line operation following two years of experimental short line workings, the season operated from 15th May until 23rd September with no scheduled services operating on Saturdays.
This was to be the final year that the Railway Company operated services, albeit with a grant from the Tourist Board; it saw trains return to Douglas following two years of short line workings, the first of which (1975) saw Castletown used as temporary terminus.
Two locomotives were withdrawn from operation during the year; No.10 G.H.Wood had been in poor condition and not been used latterly owing to reduced boiler pressure; No.12 Hutchinson also last operated in this year, later emerging in 1981 in a new guise with larger boiler and blue livery.
Locomotives
No.4 Loch was a regular performer, maintaining services largely based at Port Erin, while No.11 Maitland was also in regular operation; No.10 G.H. Wood was withdrawn this year with a weakened boiler and only saw limited use, as did No.12 Hutchinson which was also taken out of service, returning in modified form four years later. No.13 Kissack was also in use, as were the diesel railcars No.19 and No.20.
No.1 Sutherland had taken up residence in the museum at Port Erin two years previously, joined by No.15 Caledonia and No.16 Mannin, while the other withdrawn locomotives were all stored in the carriage shed at this time; these were No.5 Mona, No.6 Peveril, No.8 Fenella, No.9 Douglas (which was the subject of a feasibility study for return to steam by the Supporters' Association at this time), No.14 Thornhill and much redundant rolling stock. The frames of No.2 Derby and No.7 Tynwald were also in storage in the yard at the main terminus.
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