Ahead of the extended Summer Transport Festival marking the 150th  anniversary which commences this Sunday, 23rd  July, there have been shunting movements today at Port Erin Station.  No.24 Betsy was used to remove Royal Saloon F.36, H.1 and M.78 from the railway museum to allow No.6 Peveril to be taken over the pit in the carriage shed to receive attention ahead of the welcome event on Sunday 23rd  July hosted at the station.

This saw the rolling stock stowed on the second headhunt at the station while the locomotive was removed, timed as the 11.60am ex-Douglas arrived headed by No.13 Kissack.  The carriage and wagons were then returned to the museum with No.6 joining No.5 Mona, recently cosmetically restored by the Association, in the carriage shed, the first time they have been together like this since there years in the old carriage shed at Douglas Station.

The railway is operating to the “R” and “U” timetables tomorrow meaning that the evening service also operates; timetable  “R” runs on Friday and Sunday with the  “S” timetable in place on Saturday, the eve of the festival.  The opening evening of the event at the southern terminus looks set to be a memorable occasion with a line up of locomotives raising the curtain on a week-long celebration featuring all the railways and tramways on the island.