The Gallery : 1990 - 1999
The Gallery : 1990 - 1999
M.N.Ry. No.4 Caledonia piloting No.1 Sutherland with a double-header as part of the Steam 125 celebrations with took place across the entire 1998 season marking the anniversary of the opening of the Peel Line; the latter locomotive was returned to traffic using the boiler from No.8 Fenella for a three-year period.
In 1991 the station retained its canopy which was in poor condition and removed as part of a major refurbishment starting two years later, note the flat roof. The canopy was in a poor state of repair at this time and modern additions to the roof and gable, unsypathetic to the vintage of the structure are clearly evident.
The station as restored seen here some years later in 1999 after the addition of half-height macadam platforms, little has altered from this scene today. The addition of the platforms and removal of the canopy are the only significant changes to the site, and both occured within a few shrt years of eachother in 1993 and 1998.
No.11 Maitland crossing the Silverburn Bridge at the southwestern extent of the station with an early season train in 1991 with purple lake rolling stock typical of the era, all carriages having been so treated by 1991 and remaining so until the red and cream livery was adopted once again beginning in 1999 by incoming management.
As part of the major refurbishment in 1993-1993 a new pitched roof was added over the former gentleman's urinal in a sympathetic style. to the original. When complete it was difficult to see where modifications were made; this area now houses the Friends Of... model railway exhibition room established in 2020.
No.12 Hutchinson was in steam with single saloon F.29 (which had recently been refurbished and lost its bus-style windows and been fitted with fixed seating) on an Isle of Man Railway Society early morning special in May of 1991. Trains of once carriage are rare, usually Ultimate Driving Experiences use this configuration.
The second breakdown crane built by Richard C. Gibbins of Birmingham was owned by the railway and dates from 1893; displayed until 1991 in the yard until removed as seen here with No.11 Maitland shunting it for onward travel to Douglas where it was moved by road, ultimately being plinthed at Union Mills Station.
No.11 Maitland was built in 1905; arriving with a train from the south in early part of the 1991 season with seasonal fireman Charlie Watson on the footplate. This unusual pale colour scheme was carried by the locomotive for a number of years, later being repainted into the darker "Indian" red in 1997.
No.13 Kissack makes her departure in the spring of 1991; the locomotive would go on to donate its boiler to No.10 G.H. Wood returning to steam in 1993. The locomotive is now once again in traffic and has been painted in the holly green sceme wih vermilion lining detail, similar to that carried in the 1920s and 1930s.
Commercial postcard view of No.11 Maitland at the station in 1991 carrying the unusual Madder Brown livery lighter than the usual red. Fitted with a new boiler in 1981 supplid by Israel Newton & Co., the safety valves were positioned between the cab and dome further forward than those of her shed-mates at this time.
One of the Isle of Man Ferry Express shipping containers restored and displayed until being relocated to Ballabeg Station in 2001; it has since been dismantled and some parts are retained in the goods shed for potential restoration in the future, the possiblity of it once again being displayed here has been mooted a number of times.
The goods shed carried advertisements for Manx National Heritage visitor attractions for several years prior to part restoration in 2001 including new windows. The current appearance of the building is more historically accurate and plans have been drawn up for its possible use as a visitors centre in the future.