Stone Water Tower
Stone Water Tower
The station once boasted a stone-built water tower at its north-eastern end, the site of which is now occupied by a signal repeater disc beyond the Poulsom Park accommodation crossing. This original dated from the earliest days of the railway and was demolished in 1978 shortly after the government took over operation of the railway. It was fed by a manual water pump from an Abyssinian Well and was situated over a well, which was unearthed during drainage works for the nearby modern housing estate in 2021, but then filled back in.
No.8 Fenella beside the original tower in the summer of 1968 by which time it was in poor supervicial condition from years of leakage; this locomotive would be withdrawn and stored at the close of this season.
During the closure of 1966 it was uncertain whether the tank would ever be used again as the future of the entire network was hanging in the balance. Services were to return the following year and the tank would again see use.
The original was located on the other side of the access crossing as viewed today. The Friends Of... have provided historical research and scale drawings of the original should a replica ever be constructed, the current version being time expired and in need of replacement which is due in early 2027; the original also had a small storage room housing the pump beneath the tank, similar though smaller than that which remains at Ballasalla Station today which has happily been placed on the protected structures list for future preservation.
No.12 Hutchinson taking water in the summer of 1968 with the loop and tracks towards Love Lane Bridge stretching out into the distance. This locomotive last operated during the 2018 season and is under rebuild.
Another view showing No.12 Hutchinson taking water in the summer of 1968 carrying the spring green livery which was applied for the reopening of the railway the previous year under the auspices of the Marquess of Ailsa.