A Room To Be Proud Of!

The reinstatement of a heating source from the coal fire proved immediately popular, and a testament to passengers that it was funded entirely by donations to purchase coal and kindling.  A number of chiming clocks were also donated, the late Peter Jordan even making a clock cabinet himself which was mounted atop the fireplace replacing a displayed headboard dating from the centenary celebrations in 1996 for Poulsom Park.

We have been fortunate too, in that following an appeal a good number of items of luggage were donated to add atmosphere; these also are displayed outside the room in the summer months adding more period atmosphere to the area under the canopy and shelter.  The doorway through to the toilets, having long been out of use, was covered by creating a promotional display for the group's activities past and present.

Thanks & Acknowledgements

These works have been on the priority list for the group for several years and would not have been possible without the assistance of a number of parties:-

Peter Jordan Douglas Robinson

John Paul Bridson Decorators

Peter Robinson Tony Beard

Stovetech (I.o.M.) Limited

Michael Bishop Richard Pryke

The Tile Gallery (2012) Limited

Alastair Lamberton Douglas Darby

The fire surround shortly after completion of replica tiling which was funded by the Friends Of.. and completed in 2019; the extant tiling had suffered over the years and was badly in need of replacing.

Redecoration Works Commence

The room has been repainted by volunteers on a number of occasions but by 2025 the decision was taken to have it professionally decorated, which is also to include the addition of ceiling coving.  Funding was agreed to install a multi-fuel stove to replace the open fire and by May of 2025 this had been installed making a marked improvement in heating the room.  At the same time the chimney was lined to improve efficiency and a cowl added to the top.

The framed displays were also fully refreshed as part of these works, mounts having dropped and photographs faded over time; these appeared in a matching style to the new website including new panels covering the 2024 anniversary and the Royal Train as well as our own promotional materials and a selection of ephemera acquired over the years.  A new hearth rug was donated by a member and a replica crest added to the chimneybreast.

A Warm Welcome

The waiting room is an area that the Friends Of... are justifiably proud, having restored it piecemeal over a number of years, and the addition of a new stove not only means the fire can once again be lit, but with its cowling will be more efficient - and less inclined to fill the room with smoke in a south-westerly wind!  The decision was taken to also restore and repaint the room at this time and professional decorators contracted to carry out this work.

As the 2025 season opened there was much to look forward to with the new fires due to be installed later in the year, and attention was turned to refreshing the historical displays, details of which may be found here.  A number of archive images are now displayed for the first time in many years complementing the extant displays, all of which have been refresheed with kind assistance from the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association.

The new clock which was supplied by one of our volunteers, the late Peter Jordan.  This view also shows the old tiles and promotional banner which was kindly donated by Ed More, one of our members.