No.11 Maitland

Fleet No.:

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No.11 

Maitland

19 Tons, 10cwt

1905

2-4-0T

Beyer, Peacock 

B.P.4663

In Traffic

872,129 (@1964)

Company Director

11 x 18

3 9

The second of two locomotives ordered in 1905, the other being No.10 G.H. Wood, both were named after company directors, in this instance Dalrymple Maitland.  Originally carrying Salter safety valves, it was the recipient of a new boiler in 1934 and again in 1959 ensuring its longevity in regular service.  For this reason it was rare for it to be out of use for long spells, indeed the withdrawal in 2006 until recommissioning in 2022 was the longest period of time the locomotive had ever been out of service.  It formed part of the active fleet for the reopening in 1967, painted into the Spring Green livery it again carries today.  Through the dark days of the closures and short line workings of 1975 and 1976 No.11 was still in regular use, only being withdrawn in 1980 when a new boiler was ordered for it as part of the ongoing commitment shown to the future of the railway following nationalisation in 1978.


The new boiler was fitted in 1981 and at the behest of an enthusiast who paid for the paintwork, it was re-painted into the post-war Indian Red, the first locomotive to carry this since 1966.  The new boiler tubes for this overhaul were funded by the Supporters Association,  In after the fitting of new welded water tanks it outshopped to take part in filming a B.B.C. adaptation of The Ginger Tree in an unlined black livery which it retained for the rest of that season (though the wheels remained red giving it an odd appearance).  It returned to a lighter variation on the Indian Red scheme with white and black lining in 1989, later featuring in the adaptation of The Tamworth Two and Five Children & It. Being a favourite with the crews for many years, it was referred to as the Millennium FalconThe locomotive was fitted with a brass safety valve bonnet originally carried by No.13 Kissack until 1971 but this returned to No.13 in 2012 for a Winter Photography event.  After 2007 it was stripped for major overhaul and the frames were restored by Alan Keef Ltd., from 2017.  It was later moved to the Statfold Barn Railway for reassembly and returned to home metals in January 2022, entering traffic after trials shortly thereafter and is now once again a valued member of the service fleet, and currently the sole example of a Spring Green locomotive.

The Manx Heritage Transport Festival in July 2022 with No.11 on dining duty ready for departure from Douglas Station on another popular evening excursion.

August 1974 at Castletown Station with a northbouth train, No.11 retaining the spring green livery which was standard at the time. Restored in 2022 this appearance is very similar today.

June 1960 at Port Erin Station the crew posed beside No.11; this is the second year since a new boiler was fitted, note the smaller cast chimney and rivited patches on the tanks.

Winter service in November 1965 carrying a small rear plough with a train of one carriage at Port Erin Station, pushed up parallel to the station building to save passengers from the elements.

Following a repaint into Indian Red with black and straw lining in June 1997 beside the coal butt at Douglas Station; this livery was retained until withdrawal in 2006.

August 1955 at Douglas Station and No.11 still carries the tapered chimney with copper cap and brass numerals which would be lost with the 1959 reboilering to a plain cast chimney.

No.11 in June 1977 at Port Soderick Station carrying the iconic oval "train following" board indicating to gatekeepers that an additional untimetabled train was following.

July 2022 and No.11 on Ultimate Driver Experience duty at Castletown Station with single carriage F.18; this was one of the first of these duties undertaken by a restored No.11.

April 1991 and No.11 passes Ellenbrook with a Branch Line Society special with leading saloon F.30 still fitted with the unattractive bus windows, not helped by the choice of livery.

1905 and the official works photogrph from Beyer, Peacock & Co., Ltd., showing No.11 in a pale (possibly photographic) livery complete withSalter safety valves and chimney numerals.