The Governors   Saloon F.75

Two of the first four-wheel carriages built for the opening of the Peel Line in 1873 by the Metropolitan Carriage &Wagon Co., Ltd., of Saltley in Birmingham, upon delivery of the first bogie carriages from Brown, Marshall & Co., Ltd., in 1874 this carriage was close-coupled with C.9 and later mounted onto a bogie underframe in 1926 to become F.75.


These two unique carriages were both saloons, the only two delivered, and now form the Governors’ Saloon, extant in the railway museum at Port Erin where it has been exhibited since withdrawal from traffic in 1975.  The left portion as below is A.12 with its larger windows while C.9 has five smaller windows each side of the central door and small opening windows above the centre glazing.  The panelling between the two illustrates how they became pairs carriages.  


Remaining in this formation since 1926, an opening between the two saloons was created for the reopening in 1967 and the following year the carriage made an excursion to St. Johns for a Supporters' Association special train.  The vehicle remained in periodic use thereafter, with a premium sometimes being charged to travel in it.  It entered the railway museum in 1975 where it has remained since, apart from a short spell 1998-1999 stored in Douglas Station during museum refurbishments.  


In February 2014 it was moved to a dedicated plinth during renovations by volunteers of the Association and it remains here today, coupled to closed van G.19.  Sadly, the interior is not open to the public.

Fleet No.:

Capacity:

Built:

Width:

Builders:

Length:

Status:

F.75 (A.12 & C.9)

40 (Two Adjoining Saloons)

1873/1874 (Paired 1926)

7’ 0”

Metropolitan 

34’ 2”

F.75 on its plinth in the Railway Museum shortly after being positioned there by Association volunteers in February 2014.

F.75 at Douglas Station in June 1969 when it was ocassionally used in traffic, passengers paying a premium to travel in it.

A relatively rare view at Port Erin Station dated August 1938 showing F.75 in the purple lake and off-white livery in general service.

F.75 in model form on the Douglas 61 layout by Association member Michael Radcliffe, seen in September of 2017.

On the right in the Railway Museum during shunting of F.36 in February 2022, variance in style is clearly evident.

Shunting in Douglas Station during July 1972 when the carriage was promoted as in service for a premium ticket fare.