The Gallery : 2010 - 2019
The Gallery : 2010 - 2019
No.1 Sutherland made a rare appearance at the station in December 2019 en route to the museum at Port Erin following cosmetic restoration works hauled by M.N.Ry. No.4 Caledonia making for quite the sight; carriage F.54 was used for braking purposes and the locomotive later entered the railway museum where it remains.
Diesel-electric No.21 stands in the goods yard after a mechanical failure as M.N.Ry. No.4 Caledonia passes with a service train heading north. The much maligned locomotive was used on services on ocassion but is presently stored in the bus yard at Banks Circus without its wheelsets having not run for several years.
Something different during one of the popular Island At War 1940s themed events with No.13 Kissack posed on Travelling Post Office duty. Being the most historically in tact station on the line makes it a popular location during a variety of events. These are staged annually, the wartime event proving the most popular.
The triskelion at the station after refurbishment; this was originally sited at Peel Road Station on the Ramsey Line and moved here in 1975. Fresh decorative gravel and regular repainting by the Friends Of... volunteers ensure this feature looks its best for passing travellers and all visitors to the historic site.
The frames and bunker of No.7 Tynwald were displayed on the loading platform at the station until September of 2012 when they were removed off-island. The locomotive was built in 1880 and was last used in 1947 making it the first of the railway's locomotives to have been withdrawn from traffic and dismantled.
Trains passing, No.13 Kissack with a northbound service and a double header with M.N.Ry. No.4 Caledonia and No.12 passing by during the 2010 Manx Heritage Transport Festival when these working are common; there are generally four operational steam locomotives at any one time and two being worked on.
No.8 Fenella stands at the up platform as M.N.Ry. No.4 Caledonia passes, the iconic replica running in board mounted on the goods shed completing the scene and showing the contrast in the design of the two locomotives; early season lighter loaded trains would commonly use No.8 as motive power until withdrawn in 2020.
The picturesque view from the up platform showing the original station building and the goods shed which was erected at the turn of the century. The white picket fencing is painted regularly by the Friends Of... volunteers to ensure the station looks its best, they also provide the tinplate adverts which add to the character.
From 2010 the Island At War weekends were a popular highlight of the station calendar; the last such event took place in August of 2019. The period uniforms, coupled with the dressed station and period music and broadcasts played over the public address system made for a great atmosphere, several of these have been staged.
Replica wagon H.1 was constructed and funded by the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association and sees use on various charters and specials. It is seen here on its own while other rolling stock is marshalled for a series of staged run-pasts for photographers; it is sometimes loaded with cargo for extra interest.
Ultimate Driver Experiences often call at the station in season; here is No.13 Kissack and the Foxdale Coach on such a duty in the spring of 2019, this unique carried is commonly used on these duties and has been restored to its original appearance since 2012 when used on a Winter Photography event.
Well known long-term stationmaster Grant Taylor poses beside No.12 in the summer of 2017 prior to the withdrawal of the locomotive. The locomotive remains in the workshops and is scheduled to be the next to return to service following reassembly, followed by No.10 G.H. Wood which last operated in 2018.