Since the new Company took over a considerable amount of goods have been carried between Ballasalla and Ramsey for the Isle of Man Ferry Express who find it more convenient to send goods wagons to Ramsey for their agents to make deliveries in the north of the Island rather than making the long journey by lorries, which would be running empty for half the time. The two Empress vans and up to six “G” vans are used for this.  The vans are loaded at Ballasalla and locked; on arriving at Ramsey they are unlocked by the haulage contractor and unloaded straight on to lorries for delivery.

Most of the goods handled by the Isle of Man Ferry Express come in containers and in some cases it would be more convenient if a container could be sent rather than loading a van, so on 20th September a container was put on to an “M” wagon at Douglas to see if it would be possible to use them. A run was made out to Union Mills, but the container was too high for the bridge. It was then decided to use the well wagon which had been used to take the mechanical grab up to Foxdale in the 1930s when a considerable amount of spoil was being brought down. The well wagon was hauled out from the siding behind the carriage shed where it has been for about twenty years (its last journey being to bring the grab back to Douglas sometime in the 1940s when it was subjected to a 5mph. speed limit).

Unfortunately the wagon proved to be too short for the container so it was decided to lengthen it by ducting the centre well out complete and welding an extra thirty inches on to each side. This work was started on 21st September. The following day the wagon was finished and given a coat of brown paint with black iron work and sent with the container to Ballasalla. On Monday, 25th September, the well wagon and container traffic were brought into Douglas, together with G.19 and Empress van F.28 attached to the five o'clock train ex Castletown.  The container and Empress Van, plus two “M” wagons, were shunted on to the Ramsey train for the following morning and the “G” van on to the Peel train. This freight traffic has been built up through the efforts of our  Treasurer, Max Crookall, until recently the Manager of Isle of Man Ferry Express who run a container service between Preston and the Island.

Latest Freight News

The Railway is to have its own containers – “Mantainers” [sic.] - and on 22nd December four ex-B.R. containers were being painted yellow in Douglas.  A contract has been obtained from the I.o.M. Electricity Board to transport fuel oil for the Ramsey Power Station from the main Power Station at Peel. Carriage by rail awaits the provision of tank wagons. Freight trains are being run practically daily between Douglas and Castletown to which most of the traffic has been transferred from Ballasalla. Trains are run about twice a week to Ramsey, requiring a second engine to be steamed.

No regular schedule is adhered to trains being run as required by boat arrivals at Castletown and traffic offering. To provide additional vehicles for containers, ten of the “pairs”, original four-wheelers mounted in pairs on bogie underframes, have had the bodies removed and the underframes used directly as flat wagons. One has been converted to a well wagon, and others are expected to be similarly converted once the design has been perfected. On the last day of the passenger service to Ramsey - 29th September, a Mini car was conveyed to Ramsey on wagon M.56, attached to the rear of the morning train.

1968 Tourist Season Plans

Timetables now issued for the season, 29th April to 7th September, show some variation on last year’s pattern.  Until 25th May trains will leave Douglas for Peel at 10.20am and 2.20pm, returning at 11.54am and 4.34pm; from Peel to Ramsey at 10.10am on Wednesdays only, returning at 3.54pm (connections to and from Douglas), and working back to Douglas from Peel at 5.14pm.  On the South line trains will run at 10.05am and 2.05pm returning from Port Erin at 11.30am and 4.00pm. T he Peel and Port Erin trains will also run on 12th, 13th and 15th April.  Extra trains will run from 27th May to Peel at 11.40am and 3.40pm, returning at 10.24am and 2.14pm, and on the South line at 11.15am and 4.15pm, returning at 10.00am and 2.05pm and this will be the pattern for the rest of the Season on the South line.  

The Ramsey trains will be as earlier, but also run on Mondays and Fridays, with an extra Wednesday only service from Ramsey to Douglas at 10.30am, returning at 3.30pm.  For the peak tourist season from 3rd July trains will leave Douglas for Peel at 10.20am, 11.40am, 2.20pm and 3.40pm, returning at 10.15am, 11.54am, 2.14pm, 4.34pm and 5.14pm, and for Ramsey at 10.00am and 3.30pm, returning at 10.30am and 3.54pm, again Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only.  A short working from Ramsey at 12.00pm to Kirk Michael returning at 2.45pm, is also shown: Sunday services will commence on 14th July, to Peel at 10.20am and 2.20pm and to Port Erin at 2.05pm and 4.15pm.  

The form of the new timetables is generally similar to last year’s, with the outer page of 27th May to 7th September timetable attractively printed in old-fashioned type, following Lord Ailsa’s desire to emphasize the “Victorian” aspect of the railway.  The Writer still hankers after the old style, as seen in our “reproduction” timetable advertised in Sales Counter, as he considers this easier to read and understand.  The practice of including Sunday trains in the one table, which proliferates the notes so detested by passengers, should be looked at again as not being authentically in period.  In the above review services on the South Line have been described as going through to Port Erin. In fact, passengers will be conveyed by bus south of Castletown until repairs to the trackbed (damaged by the laying of the gas main last year), are carried out to permit the railcars to be used.

The 27th May time-table implies that passengers will change into the railcars at Ballasalla on all but the second of the morning trains each way. The regular use of steam locomotives requires virtual relaying of the track.  The problem is aggravated by the volume of freight traffic passing through Castletown at boat sailing times, involving the use of both through roads for making up trains. Congestion looms inevitably this summer, and it is earnestly hoped that compensation for the damage will shortly be agreed. Fares are similar to last year’s, and Two-Day Runabout tickets at 15/-d will also be available.  The Association hopes to negotiate a Seven-Day ticket for members only, perhaps including their families, so bring your membership cards with you this seasons There will be special arrangements for Tynwald Fair Day, 5th July, and for the three T.T. race days. A “mixed” train, times for which are not yet available, will run for the Peel-Ramsey oil traffic, with limited passenger accommodation and possibly conveying parcels traffic.