The Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters’ Association have been in discussions with the Three Foot Gauge Society in respect of a surviving original Manx Northern Railway six-wheel carriage dating from the railway’s opening in 1879; a unique survivor, this carriage was removed from the island back in 2012 and currently resides in outdoor storage in Suffolk but it is hoped to repatriate it to the island.

Initial discussions with a variety of organisations have so far proved fruitless and we are now actively seeking somewhere on the island where the carriage can be kept in covered storage, there being no available space on the railway itself.  We are therefore appealing to anybody who could accommodate the historic vehicle and ensure its retention on the island.  Some remedial work has been carried out but the carriage cannot be operated in service.

One of a fleet of fourteen obtained from the Swansea Carriage & Wagon Co., to the unusual six-wheel “Cleminson” patent, only three other carriages from the order remain, one of which has been completely restored by an Association members and is now back on the railway, with a further body used as storage and another as part of a private collection off-island.  All remaining examples are of historical significance and rare three foot gauge survivors.

Chairman Bill Cubbon said: “...this represents a final throw of the dice to attempt to have this carriage returned home; we have been working closely with Robert Hendry to achieve this aim but thus far have been unsuccessful in finding a suitable home for the carriage, so we are now opening our appeal up to the general public in the hope that we can find a home for it...”  The Association is hopeful that a home can be found.

The carriage is just over 30’ 0” long and around 7’ 0” wide without the overhang of couplings which can be removed as required; it would need to be transported on a road trailer, so any potential accommodation would need to accessible by road with such a trailer and articulated unit.  Further details can be obtained from the chairman who details appear elsewhere.

Full details of this historic carriage, its specification and history can be found on our official website here as well as details of all our previous projects on the railway over many years which have included everything from funding new locomotive boilers to the upkeep of wayside stations and everything in between. 

About The Supporters’ Association

The Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters’ Association is the premier group dedicated to the future preservation of the unique Isle of Man Railway, having been in existence since 1966, the year in which the railway first closed.  Since this time we have established ourselves as the leading charity in railway preservation on the island, resurrecting the Groudle Glen Railway from 1982 as well as a great deal of voluntary works on the railway itself including cosmetic work at lineside stations and funding locomotive components.

The group were instrumental in campaigning for the government to take over the railway in 1978 and have since that time carried out many major fundraising for railway including the return to service of 1874 locomotive No.4 Loch, new water tanks for M.N.Ry. No.4 Caledonia and three railway wagons as well as the cosmetic restoration of three locomotives, No.5 Mona, No.6 Peveril and No.9 Douglas, the latter of which remains ongoing.. They have been a preservation charity for a period now approaching sixty years. 

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