The Gallery : 1970 - 1979
The Gallery : 1970 - 1979
No.11 Maitland in the apple or spring green livery which was standard from 1967, arriving from the south in the summer of 1971 in a timeless scene viewable still today. This locomotive was returned to traffic following extensive overhaul in 2022 and now once again carries this colour scheme.
The fondly-remembered diesel railcars passing No.4 Loch with The Southsider in the spring of 1979 when they were in periodic traffic on special workings. The locomotive had been outshopped in this new livery the previous year and would retain it until rebuild commenced in 2001 as part of the Un-Loch Your Cash appeal.
During the short line workings of 1975 when the station served as the northerly terminus as trains did not serve Douglas again until 1977 following campaigns. This accounts for the southbound train appearing to be on the "wrong road", usually southbound departures are all from the line on the left.
Special train for the tercentenary of The Derby with No.13 Kissack stowed on the goods siding as a regular passenger train heads towards Ballasalla. Additional working are still stowed on the siding ocassionally, to allow for the passing of regular services on the loop lines, a view sometimes still seen today.
No.12 Hutchinson passing the original advertisement hoarding shortly before it was removed from the site; a replica now stands in its place, since 2023. The locomotive last operated in 2018 and is presently next in line to be overhauled, the boiler having been reconditioned and returned to the railway in late 2023.
Volunteers from the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association on a working party in the spring of 1975 with (left to right) Alex Townsend, Ron Cooper, Derek Hibbert, Richard Clark and the late and much missed chairman Tony Beard, one-time station master at Castletown under the auspices of Roger Webster.
The erstwhile diesel railcars with a special working; these units were earmarked for restoration in 1998 but sadly the project was halted and they remain stored. Commonly used on the lighter graded Peel Line, after its closure they were also regular performers on the south line, always working back-to-back.
The view of a departing train from the pedestrian crossing at the Silverburn Bridge showing the pointwork at the southwestern end of the station yard; today the style build into the side of the bridge remains in place, though it has long become overgrown and provides no pedstrian access across the railway line.
The level crossing at Mill Road southwest of the station was operated manually until automated in 2001; the lodge has been restored by the Supporters' Association and remains on the site today, the sole survivor of several similar modest lodges which existed at Ballahick and Kentraugh elsewhere on the line.
No.13 Kissack blows off - this train was in 1981, evidently this is a shunting move as the train is on the wrong road, so possibly a special working. Also note the canopy on the far right which at that time was carrying its short-lived pale blue scheme, later being maroon before reverting to traditional green.
An overview illustrating the size of the goods yard with the rails gravelled up to rail height allowing road vehicles to use the area with ease; seen in 1975 when short line workings saw the station serve as the terminus; the goods yard on the left is still at its full extent as the siding stretches off into the distance.
The grassed area in front of the station was, until the 1994 works, a hard-standing used for parking and turning of buses as seen here. A vast improvement today sees an attractive lawned area, though at times there are discussions to revert this to parking use which the Friends Of... are desirous not to see happen.
Summer sunshine as a train arrives, this location remains one of the most popular for photographing arriving trains to this day. This is No.4 Loch in 1972 arriving with an afternoon service passing the goods yard, note the rotten sleepers in a pile to the side of the train, retained for fire-lighting purposes when expired.
Built for the opening of the line, No.4 Loch is framed by the much-missed station canopy in this view from 1971 also showing the original advertisement hoarding. This scene typifies the character of the station when the canopy was still in place and shows the large area it provided covered shelter for.
The rear of the station building looking somewhat forlorn in summer of 1973 showing the original gents facilities and flat-roofed toilet block. The overgrown state remained for several years, with all windows boarded up, and happily a full restoration was commenced at the close of the 1993 operating season.
No.4 Loch passes the original water tower showing this narrow structure to good advantage; sadly it was later demolished although there are hopes to create a replica in the future. At the present time a tank on stilts is on the site, provided for the short-line workings of 2001-2002 when the I.R.I.S. Scheme were ongoing.