1993 News
Embedded Files
The Season
The Year Of Railways stamp launch opened the year on Friday 10th February with a special train before the season iteself which operated from Friday 9th April to Sunday 31st October on a daily bais, the usual extras running between 5th July and 30th August Mondays to Thursdays only.The lunchtime (12.28pm) trains crossed at Castletown with all others Crossed As scheduled to pass at Ballasalla er Fayre Hosted At The Station For Year Of Railways a "Tug-O-War" between the Castletown Ale Drinkers and No.17 Viking was staged at the station.
Planning was submitted for a major restoration of the station building including re-opening the waiting room, addition of doorways and overhaul of toilets; following the last trains of the season work began on this, which included the removal of the canopy which was in poor condition. During the spring the frames of No.7 Tynwald were repainted (as seen, right) and remained on display on the loading dock outside the goods shed, in the ownership of the now-defunt Isle of Man Railway Society.
For the memorable summer events marking the centenary of the electric railway, a series of flagpoles were erected along the frontage of the station, which hosted a fayre in the summer, featuring newly commissioned diesel locomotive No.17 Viking as a component for the Castletown Ale Drinkers Society who pitched teams against it for a tug-o-war. The rear siding was shortened during November to make way for additional parking, this also necessitated the removal of part of the old loading dock to the rear.
Locomotives
No.4 Loch (1874) was something of a star across the year, being used "under the wires" on the electric railway as part of the year-long celebrations, being turned chimney-first to Douglas when back on home metals.
No.10 G.H. Wood (1905) was fitted with the boiler removed and overhauled from No.13 Kissack and was re-commissioned at Easter outshopped in the brunswick green and vermilion livery.
No.11 Maitland (1905) retained the "madder brown" livery and was a mainstay of the fleet throughout the season, with its black/white lining out detail providing yet another variant in apperance.
No.12 Hutchinson (1908) remained in regular operation, still in the non-standdard blue livery with large square cab
No.17 Viking (1958) had been purchased the previous year and was commissioned Good Friday with due ceremony, carrying a name which had originally been intended to be carried by No.3 Pender back in 1873; it was outshopped in the brunswick green livery matching No.1o.
Displayed in the musuem at Port Erin were No.1 Sutherland, No.15 Caledonia and No.16 Mannin while stored were No.6 Peveril , No.13 Kissack and the frames of No.7 Tynwald; privately owned and stored on the railway by the Isle of Man Railway Society were withdrawn locomotives No.5 Mona, No.8 Fenella and No.9 Douglas.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse