Royal Saloon F.36

This saloon is made up of two separate first and third class vestibules and was favoured by the railway directors to carry out inspections of the line, notably during snow clearance and to host visiting dignitaries; it was not until 1963 that it gained its title, when it was used to carry the Queen Mother between Douglas and Braddan to attend an open air church service.  Seeing use again on 2nd August 1972 when a larger group of the Royal Family travelled in between Castletown and Douglas, for which is was completely repainted.  In addition to Queen Elizabeth and the Duke Of Edinburgh, Lord Mountbatten, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward took the journey.  Again in use for royalty in the millennium year 1979. King Olaf V of Norway boarded a special train at Port St. Mary bound for Douglas during a Tynwald Day visit.  The last use by royalty of this carriage was in September 1993 when it was removed from the museum and used to transport the Duchess Of Kent the entire length of the line; it then spent some time out of the museum as part of the Year Of Railways celebrations before returning. The museum was refurbished in 1998 and it was again removed and stored at Douglas Station, returning the next year and remained on exhibition until the summer of 2022 when trackwork was relaid in the hall.  It is presently in storage and a proposal by the Association to return it to serviceable condition is under consideration.

Fleet No.:

Year:

Builders.:

Length:

Width:

Height:

Status:

F.36

1905

Metropolitan

36' 11"

7' 0"

10' 3"

Stored

Above: the saloon as it appeared in the railway museum until the end of the 2022 season still carrying the paintwork applied for the Royal Train in August 1972, being a darker shade of maroon than that currently use, the lettering in a shade of peach with two-tone green shadow detail and no class designations.  This saloon was the last example to retain its roof-mounted torpedo vents until F.31 had these refitted when a new roof was fitted in 2023.  Ailsa Era crests as also applied.

(Photo: I.o.M.S.R.S.A.)

Roof Vent & Lighting Detail

April 2021

First Class Interior

October 2021

Panel Lettering Decals

October 2022

Roof Vent & Lighting Detail

April 2021

Douglas Station

September 1963

Fleet Number Detailing

October 2022

Stones Electric Lighting Detail

April 2021