3rd / 3rd  Class Saloon F.29

F.29 was the first of the saloons and was delivered from the Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co., of Saltley Works in Birmingham in 1905 with the other three of the first batch F.30-F.32; it was configured as two separate third class vestibules.  These third class saloons were shorter than the later two F.35 and F.36 which included first class accommodation and were delivered later in the same year.


It was fitted with bus style windows in 1972 in an attempt to aid ventilation, receiving an all-over red livery at the same time.  Partially rebuilt and losing these in 1987, a doorway being made in the bulkhead at the same time, which also included out-shopping it in the purple lake livery with gold lettering and two-tone green drop-shadow, as opposed to the original crimson and scarlet as shown below.  It was intended to add a corridor connection at this time to include it as part of the Bar Set but in the event this was not implemented.


It was converted to form part of the dining train in 2013 and fitted with dining seating and corridor connections at both ends, although the southerly connection remains unused as no further carriages have yet been modified to extend the dining train further. In 2011 the Association provided new seating moquette for this carriage during restoration works, these were used for a short time prior to conversion.  It is one of two saloons to have what are known as horseshoe tables, offering diners a view of the countryside as they travel.

Fleet No.:

Year:

Builders.:

Length:

Width:

Height:

Configuration:

Status:

F.29

1905

Metropolitan

36’ 11

7’ 1”

10’ 3

3rd / 3rd Class

In Traffic (Diner)

In September 1950 F.29 was captured at Douglas Station in the all-over austerity brown livery with class designations on the doors.

Outshopped in June 1991 in a purple lake livery but without beading detail and carrying the post-war crests, sister F.32 at Port Erin Station.

August 2019 at Port Erin Station and F.29 was in service on a non-dining train, quite a rare occurrence since this train was set up in 2013.

F.29 at Port Erin Station in July 1933 showing the original purple lake scheme with class designations on the panelling and company crests.

A private charter for the now-defunct Isle of Man Railway Society in June 1992 headed by No.12 Hutchinson arriving at Castletown Station.

Departing Castletown Station with No.8 Fenella in charge of a dining service, a rare occurrence given the smaller series of locomotive.

In July 2011 the saloon was fitted with new seating moquette provided by the Association following a request from the incoming management.

Seen in September 1972 at Douglas Station, F.29 was one of several saloons to have bus windows fitted, with a new all-over red colour scheme.

In August 2014 the Association hosted a staff reunion marking forty years since the centenary celebrations of the south line.

In the purple lake livery in 1992 prior to the addition of corridor connections and dining conversion.