Empress Van F.27 (i)
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F.27 is the first of two identical luggage vans purchased in 1897 and dubbed Empress Vans owing to it being delivered in the jubilee year of Queen Victoria; similar in dimensions to the half-luggage carriages F.19 and F.20 but with no passenger accommodation, it was used in connection with the Luggage In Advance service on the south line for the heavy boat trains. Latterly the carriage was used as an ambulance train during road closures on the T.T. Course which was close by to much of the north line route, commonly stowed at St. John’s Station. It survived the closures and was also later used to accommodate campers as part of the Campamarina scheme at Castletown Station, fitted out with bunk beds (as was sister carriage F.28 at the same time) and outshopped in all-over maroon.
Spending its latter years in the yard at Douglas Station in open storage and last used during Cycle Week in 1988, it was in poorer condition than sister F.28 and was stripped down to its frames in January 2013 to ultimately form the basis of a replica which now serves as the kitchen/generator/toilet for the railway’s popular dining train, the original being used for patterns. The bodywork was beyond economical repair and scrapped at this time, though the timber underframe survives in the workshops at Douglas Station, possibly a candidate for future restoration at some point in the future, or the basis for another carriage. Stripped to the timber underframes it is currently stored in the paintshop and is used for storage purposes only and as a workbench, the bodywork having been scrapped in 2013.
Year:
Length:
Width:
Over Ducket:
Capacity:
Wheelbase:
Roof-Rail:
Builders:
1897
35’ 0”
7’ 0”
8’ 2”
Nil
4’ 6”
9’ 4”
Metropolitan
Stripped down for measurements to be taken forming the basis of the replica of the same fleet number in January 2013 in the workshops at Douglas Station.
By July 1969 the much faded red scheme to drab brown when captured in the goods yard at Douglas Station still carrying its fleet number on the upper panelling.
Stored in the workshops complex at Douglas Station in 2011 prior to being stripped down when replica F.27 (ii) was constructed, the carriage was in a poor condition by this time.
By 1980 both the Empress Vans were stored at the former south line platform at Douglas Station, it was common for the vans to be kept outside for many years as seen here.
In July 1986 F.27 was to be found in storage at Santon Station on the former manure siding with a variety of other rolling stock and in a poor state of repair, as was sister F.28.
May 1966 at St. John's Station; a single movement that year saw the van return to Douglas using No.8 Fenella; the brown livery looks to have been recently applied.
In the goods yard at Douglas Station following repaint into an all-over red scheme when used as an ambulance train during T.T. periods with a variety of other stock.
The two Empress Vans just outside the original carriage shed at Douglas Station, having been partially repainted into the purple lake scheme carried latterly.
Carrying an all-over red colour scheme (F.28) in July 1966 at the rear of the old carriage shed at Douglas Station, the year of indecision, but looking relatively smart.
1949 at Douglas Station and another view from the goods yard, note the seemingly temporary repair work to the running boards, possibly in the two-tone brown livery.
Panelling detail showing the nationalisation maroon showing through the faded purple lake, also showing the toplight windows which were a feature of these vehicles.
Both of the Empress Vans were used by Campamarina for campers and fitted with bunks, seen here with No.4 Loch on the goods siding at Castletown Station.
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