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.  This is one of only two non-compartment four-wheelers.  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 “pair” F.75.  In this form it was common for its use to be reserved for special occasions.

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. John’s 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, the interior having been used for the storage of non-displayed items; sadly woodworm was discovered in some of these and they were subsequently disposed of, the effects to the carriage hopefully limited.

Prior to being “paired” to become F.75 in 1926 the two individual saloons were close-coupled as A.12 and C.9; as built they were painted green as opposed to the purple lake of the other early rolling stock making them unique.