Rush Hour Weekends
Rush Hour Weekends
Introduced over the May holiday weekend in 2009, the Rush Hour event was hosted by all island railways and saw intensive services, the memorable 2013 event saw Easter Saturday accommodate no less than twenty two train movements across the day with a base at Castletown, seven locomotives in service and a special one day timetable. Last staged in 2019 by which time the scale had been reduced somewhat, these images show a selection of views of the event. Of note, in both 2020 and 2021 a "virtual" event was also staged, during lockdowns by sharing images of previous events on social media platforms.
The so-called "boat train" using bogie runner F.57 as part of a mixed train, paused at the station en route to Port Erin; the train was hauled by 1896-built locomotive No.8 Fenella and also consisted of drop-side wagon M.78 and pairs carriage F.54, the bulkhead of which can be seen here.
A number of vintage vehicles have been visitors to the station during Rush Hour events over the years, as well as this traction engine, a Sentinel steam wagon and flatbed lorry have attended and some other items of rolling stock have been displayed in the goods yard across the years.
A mixed train hauled by No.8 Fenella arrives from Port Erin on a dull morning as passengers capture the moment; these trains are commonly made up of a series of carriages as well as, in this instance, closed van Gr.12, drop-side wagon M.78 and three-plank wagon replica H.1.
The true element of "rush" is illustrated in this traditionally chalked timetable from the 2013 event showing the additional trains which ran in between the scheduled services; the final two trains were an evening service travelling to Port Erin and return, a popular aspect of the event.
Stored in the goods shed prior to restoration, Wickham people carrier No.23 was posed outside the shed with visiting vintage Leyland Atlantean bus for the 2011 event. This unit is now operational again and sees use providing shuttles during the Manx Heritage Transport Festival.
No.13 Kissack awaits the first train of the day from Douglas as anticipation mounts as to which headboard it will be carrying; the headboards were an integral part of the latter Rush Hour weekends. The locomotive carries the original holly green livery with tri-tone lining out detail.
The turning of locomotives creates additional interest and here No.12 Hutchinson arrives bunker-first to Port Erin with the frames of No.7 Tynwald visible in the distance; this was the 2011 Rush Hour event for which the locomotive provided special services while turned round.
Manx Northern Railway recreation train using M.N.Ry. No.4 Caledonia dating from 1885 and the recently restored Foxdale Coach being marshalled at the station before being post on the siding while service trains passed, this was part of the 2013 event over the Easter weekend.
No.8 Fenella with an additional service consisting of the 1905-built saloon carriages as part of the 2011 event; by the following year these carriages had been converted to form the railway's dining train and remain a regular visitor to the station on their many duties every year.
This Leyland Atlantean bus was built in 1976 and initially operated for Liverpool Corporation prior to being purchased by National Transport and operating on the island until its retirement and preservation; usually based at Jurby Transport Museum, it has visited the station on a few occasions.
Travelling Post Office services became an annual part of the Rush Hour event as seen here with carriage F.49 on the left duly labelled as such; to add variety this operated as a mixed train with M.78, H.1 and Gr.12 behind No.8 Fenella, the favoured motive power for these specials.
Another Rush Hour, another mixed train with No.8 Fenella this time with F.49, H.1 and Gr.12 arriving at the station; this locomotive last operated in October of 2020 after which its ten-year boiler certificate expired and it now awaits its turn for overhaul and return to traffic.
The unadulterated glee on the faces of the locomotive crew are evident here as No.4 Loch arrives having been selected, joy of joys, to carry the headboard marking the highlight of another Rush Hour weekend; it is common for highly paid crews to work weekends, such is their dedication.
No.10 G.H. Wood took its turn to be chmney-first into Douglas for the following years' event and is seen here arriving on a special working; this locomotive last worked in 2018 and is in the queue for restoration, sister No.11 Maitland returned to traffic in a similar guise in 2022.