noticeboard - Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association

50th Anniversary of Lord Ailsa's Re-opening

posted 2 Jun 2017, 16:13 by IOM SRSA

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the 3 June 1967 re-opening of the Isle of Man Railway by the Marquess of Ailsa after its entire closure at the end of 1965. Without Lord Ailsa's personal financial support from 1967 until 1973, the south line to Port Erin would not have survived for us all to enjoy today.

Planning Application for Storage Shed at Meary Veg

posted 23 May 2017, 02:59 by IOM SRSA [ updated 23 May 2017, 03:16 ]

The Department of Infrastructure / Isle of Man Transport have applied for planning permission for the erection of a building at Ballnahowe (Meary Veg) for storage of railway rolling stock and materials with vehicular and rail access. Part of the site has been used for the storage of rails, sleepers, other permanent way items and pipework since the time of the IRIS sewerage pipe installation.

The steel portal building will be 130ft long x 43ft wide, agricultural in style with green side and roof panelling, galvanised steel roller shutter access doors to the Douglas facing end.

The full planning application documents can be seen on the IoM Government's On-line Planning Portal under planning reference 17/00503/B.

Manx Steam Railway News - Spring 2017

posted 13 May 2017, 09:30 by IOM SRSA

The latest edition of our journal Manx Steam Railway News (No.171 Spring 2017) has been published to members. 60 pages of news, views and recent events on the steam railway, historical articles of interest and a selection of colour and B&W photographs from various eras.

Also available to buy from selected bookshops and cafes across the Island, or order a copy direct from us online at www.iomsrsa.org/shop

Notice to Members - 2017 Annual General Meeting

posted 28 Apr 2017, 09:46 by IOM SRSA [ updated 18 Jun 2017, 05:51 ]

The 2017 Annual General Meeting of the Supporters' Association will be held at the Falcon's Nest Hotel, Port Erin, on Friday 28 July 2017 starting at 8.00pm. Formal notice is attached, please click on image to view full page.

"No.1 returns to Peel"

posted 24 Apr 2017, 03:06 by IOM SRSA

A fine selection of historic locomotive fittings and other artefacts from the steam railway has been put together by the Supporters' Association for Manx National Heritage to exhibit at the House of Manannan in Peel. The centrepiece of the display is the chimney off 1873-built locomotive No.1 'Sutherland', kindly loaned by Isle of Man Railways, accompanied by brassware, lamps and other period items. The exhibition is on display in the foyer of the House of Manannan from now until November 2017.

Association Open Evening & Film Show - 21 April

posted 13 Apr 2017, 04:25 by IOM SRSA [ updated 13 Apr 2017, 04:47 ]

The Supporters' Association will be holding an open evening and film show at the Falcon's Nest Hotel, Port Erin, on Friday 21st April 2017, from 7.30 pm onwards. It provides an opportunity to discuss volunteer roles within the Association and future projects in support of the Steam Railway. Please see letter from Bill Cubbon (IoMSRSA Chairman) below.

The event is open to members and non-members, we look forward to seeing you there.

Isle of Man Transport: A Colour Journey in Time - New Book Release

posted 22 Mar 2017, 04:15 by IOM SRSA [ updated 22 Mar 2017, 04:16 ]

Due for publication on 30 August 2017, authors Martin Jenkins & Charles Roberts. Hardcover, 160 pages. Publisher Pen & Sword Transport.

"This stunning selection of colour views, dating from the period 1953-1980, includes most of the vessels operated during this period by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company and The Ramsey Steamship Company. Passenger boats and freighters are seen at ports on the island and on the mainland. There is comprehensive coverage of the Peel, Ramsey and Port Erin lines operated by the Isle of Man Railway with some outstanding views taken during the 1950s, together with excellent portraits of most of the locomotives, as well carriages, vans, wagons, lorries, stations, staff and signal boxes. Also covered are Douglas Station and its environs, St John's junction and the Sunday 'specials' to Braddan. Many of the rich mix of bus types operated by the railway subsidiary, Isle of Man Road Services, are seen in a variety of locations. Included are some of the vehicles delivered just before and shortly after the Second World War. There are good views of the fascinating Ramsey Pier Tramway and its unusual rolling stock, as well as rare scenes taken as early as 1953 on the Groudle Glen Railway.

For anyone who loves the Isle of Man and its wealth of vintage transport, this book provides a remarkable trip down memory lane and a colourful reminder of some of its lost glories. The book is dedicated to the memory of John McCann who took brilliant colour views on the island starting in 1953."

3 Lineside Structures added to Protected Buildings Register

posted 8 Mar 2017, 01:24 by IOM SRSA [ updated 8 Mar 2017, 01:24 ]

Three more lineside structures on the Isle of Man Steam Railway have recently been added to the Protected Buildings Register, by reason of their important architectural and historical significance. This follows submission by the Supporters' Association of a number of building registration proposals to the Government's planning department in recent years, with a view to helping conserve wider Manx steam railway heritage and social history. The three new protected structures are:

The crossing Gate House at Ballasalla Station.

Originally built during the 1880's to the same design as the gatehouses at The Level and Four Roads, the Ballasalla Gate House was extended by the Isle of Man Railway Company as late as 1962 to accommodate a ship's wheel with which to operate mechanically the swing gates and observe the road. This is the sole example of this operating method on the Isle of Man, a similar proposal for Quarterbridge crossing was not progressed before the Peel Line closed.

The stone-built Ballasalla Water Tower.

Dating from 1911, itt is the only 'original' water tower in operation on the steam railway today.

A similar water tower at Castletown was demolished in 1981 and a larger version sited at Port Erin was demolished in 1986. Both those locations have 'modern' era replacements.

The stone-built Gatekeeper's Hut at Four Roads, Port St Mary.

Dating from the 1880's and replacing an earlier wooden hut, this is one of only two stone-built gatekeeper's huts remaining in original 'as-built' condition (the other being at The Level) and in a good state of repair. On-site restoration work was undertaken by the Supporters' Association in 2013.

Mill Road Gatekeeper's Hut Returns

posted 6 Mar 2017, 01:35 by IOM SRSA [ updated 6 Mar 2017, 01:35 ]

The historically significant 1874 Mill Road crossing gatekeeper's hut returned to the Steam Railway at Castletown on 4 March 2017 after extensive off-site restoration work undertaken by the Supporters' Association. Some minor fixings and fittings are still to be added in situ. Our thanks to Culture Vannin and Greenfields Joinery for their support with this important heritage conservation project. Ready more about this project at www.iomsrsa.org/projects

Isle of Man Railway Journey - New Book Release

posted 21 Feb 2017, 01:21 by Ed More [ updated 21 Feb 2017, 01:21 by IOM SRSA ]

Middleton Press is due to publish a new book at the end of March 2017, titled 'Isle of Man Railway Journey' by author Tom Heavyside. It expands the publisher's Narrow Gauge Branch Lines series which has previous covered in B&W the lines to Peel, Port Erin and Ramsey by steam, and the east coast electric route Douglas to Laxey, Snaefell & Ramsey. This new publication is in full colour, 96 pages, 120 photographs plus large scale maps and other details of local history. Available to (pre-) order direct from Middleton Press and from other stockists.