Extracted From Manx Steam Railway News

In the shed during March experiments with the firebox of No.5 Mona took place and was steamed on 11th March. The Isle of Man Highway & Transport Board (River Division) required a number of piles to be taken to the Silverburn River between Ballasalla and Castletown. It was, therefore, decided to use a train, so on 17th March the diesels with three runners went to Pulrose Bridge and collected the piles. On the following lay, No.5 took the three runners, one “M” wagon and F.27 to the Silverburn River and returned light engine. On 19th No.5 again went to the Silverburn River and collected the runners, “M” wagon F.27, which had been emptied. On return the engine shunted F.30 back to the carriage shed, and F.47 and F.10, which had been repainted were moved out of the paintshop, places taken by F11.

The first special train of the 1970 season ran on Easter Sunday, 29th March. No.4 Loch with F.45, F.75 and F.36 conveyed Mr. Dudley Cunliffe-Owen and his guests to Castletown. The train departed from Douglas at 11.43am and arrived at Castletown at 12.25pm. The train then returned to Ronaldsway Halt (now closed to passengers) for the party to have their lunch. On the return journey, the train left Ronaldsway Halt at 3.04pm and arrived back in Douglas at 3.40pm where the stock was put back into the carriage shed.

A special train left Douglas at 7.30pm on the evening of 20th May for Castletown, conveying the Lions Club No.11 Maitland with five carriages, stopped at Port Soderick, Santon and Ballasalla for Treasure Hunts. The train arrived at Castletown at 9.15pm. On the return journey the train left at 11.18pm with carriages lighted, and arrived in Douglas at 11.59pm after a very successful evening.  

A question by a Member of the House of Keys in the Manx Parliament brought out the facts relating to children under 13 years of age working voluntary on the railway; a number of children aged 11 who are members of the Supporters' Association were helping at Castletown Station in their own time doing odd jobs under the supervision of the Station Master. These children were seen helping and a question of these children working on the railway was brought up in Tynwald. By the Education Act children under the age of 13 cannot work for a profit-making concern such as the Isle of Mann Victorian Steam Railway Co., Ltd. This “work” also includes voluntary work and, therefore, the Railway Company was in breach of the Act.

The British Rail Queen (Miss Marilyn Pope) visited the Island on 16th July, and travelled on the 2.15pm train to Port Erin; the train made a special stop at the gate near the start of Southern “100” Road Races on the Castletown by-pass road, for the queen to open the races. The train, without the queen, continued on to Port Erin. On the return journey, the train stopped close to the same spot so that she could be taken back to Douglas. On the following day No.10 G.H. Wood was back in service, and No.4 Loch went on shed. F.54 was moved out of the paint shop after repaint, replaced by F.27. 

During the morning of 1st August, van G.19 was loaded up with camping equipment for a party of campers at Castletown in the adjacent Poulsom Park; the goods van was attached to the 2.15pm train to Port Erin and was detached at the siding at Castletown.

The International Music Festival was held at Castletown in the last week of the season and on 10th September a number of people taking part had a ride on the railway; the 2.15pm ex-Port Erin was made up to seven carriages as 83 persons joined the train at Port Erin and 117 at Castletown. The train was banked by the 2.15pm ex-Douglas from Ballasalla to Ballaquaggin.

A Special Train will leave Castletown at 1.10pm for Douglas returning at 2.55pm to Castletown; conveys Victoria Road School, Castletown, Party only - approximately 150 passengers. To return stock of the Special to Douglas, an additional train leaves Castletown at 3.50pm conveying ordinary passengers. Outward working of stock, refer to Altered Working).

On the evening of the same day a Special Train was run to Castletown and return for the employees of Mylchreests Motors. No.4 Loch with F.18, F.35, F.47 and F.49 left Douglas at 7.30pm on a wet night, arriving at Ballasalla at 8.00pm for a short stop for passengers to visit the Whitestone Hotel. The train eventually arrived at Castletown at about 8.45pm. The return train left Castletown at 11.10pm and ran non-stop to Douglas arriving at 11.50pm.

Locomotives

No.1 Sutherland and No.3 Pender were the remaining locomotives from the original trio supplied for the opening of the Peel Line in 1873 and were both withdrawn and displayed at Douglas Station throughout the summer season.

Frames from No.2 Derby were in store with the remainder of the locomotive having been scrapped save for the cab sheets and water tanks which were stored in the carriage shed headshunt at Douglas Station at this time.

Re-boilered in 1968 and one of the mainstays of the fleet at this time, No.4 Loch  (1874) saw regular use throughout the summer season being favoured as the best performer owing to the works carried out three years earlier.

Working on reduced pressure and withdrawn during the year, No.4 Mona  (1874) was the second of two locomotives built for the opening of the line together with No.4, further information elsewhere on this news page.

No.6 Peveril had been withdrawn in 1960 and by this time was repainted into the spring green livery forming part of the display at Douglas Station in the former goods yard during the summer months.

No.7 Tynwald had been dismantled in 1947 with the frames retained; these were in store with the remainder of the locomotive having been scrapped (for cab sheets and tanks which were stored in the carriage shed headshunt at at this time.

Last steamed the previous year, No.8 Fenella was stored in the workshop complex at Douglas Station, being the last small-boilered locomotive to remain operational until many years later.

No.9 Douglas had not been used since 1953 and remained in largely original condition, painted for display purposes and joining the other withdrawn locomotives in the goods yard at Douglas Station.

No.10 G.H. Wood (1905) remained in regular operation throughout the year though was largely confined to peak season owing to a weakened boiler and other locomotives being favoured.

With a new boiler fitted in 1959 No.11 Maitland (1905) continued to see regular operation, the last boiler to be provided by Beyer, Peacock & Co., and the last to be fitted to a locomotive under the tenure of the Railway Company.

A regular feature on timetabled trains throughout the season No.12 Hutchinson (1908) was one of four medium-class locomotives to operate the line throughout this period until withdrawal some seven years later.

At that time work was in hand to return No.13 Kissack to operation which would occur the following year with a new boiler, the second to be provided by the Hunslet Engine Co., of Leeds following that for No.4 Loch.

No.14 Thornhill had been built for the Manx Northern Railway in 1880 and was by this time repainted into an approximation of her original Tuscan Red livery and joined the other withdrawn locomotives as part of the open-air display.

The odd-one-out and last steamed in 1968, No.15 Caledonia was also displayed in the former goods yard at Douglas Station when not stored in the carriage shed, in a rather bright version of her original Tuscan Red livery.

Last locomotive supplied in 1926, No.16 Mannin had been withdrawn in 1964 after running on reduced pressure for a number of years; as with others, it was painted into spring green to form part of the displays in the goods yard at Douglas.

Purchased second hand the previous decade, railcars No.19 & No.20 Railcars were used on short workings and specials as detailed elsewhere on this page, appearing at the station a number of times during the season.