The Season

Easter services kicked off the year running between  Monday 13th April and Sunday 20th April before the season proper strated on  Monday 7th May on a daily basis until Sunday 29th September.  Extra services were operated Mondays to Thursdays in July & August only; the lunchtime (12.28pm) services crossed at Castletown with all other services passing as scheduled at Ballasalla. Santa Trains operated to Santon on key dates in December.

The year saw the publication of a guide book to the railway, the first in many years, which featured a double headed train with No.12 Hutchinson and No.13 Kissack on its cover and would be followed by a similar booklet covering the electric lines two years later.

In general numbers were down on the previous years, though on the peak days in August when the extra trains were operated an increase of 12% was noted, trains were largely restricted to four carriages as the amount of operational rolling stock was at its lowest ebb, a number of carriages having been withdrawn in the preceding two seasons.

More positively, a policy was taken to issue platform staff with new unforms in navy blue complete with brass replica buttons, waistcoats and jackets, with uniform caps denoting rank, this was seen as going a long way towards promoting the vintage aspect of the operation.

Being found to be in parlous condition after years of neglect, the clock tower at Douglas Station was restored, the iconic golden domes being re-giled as part of these works, as well as repainting of the railings into purple lake and the addition of a timber hut at the platform entrance.

At the other end of the line, works carried out to the southern terminus was applauded and recieved several awards; this building was now in an attractive green and cream scheme having spent many years in the drab overall red.  Works included improvements to the booking hall and waiting room which were furnished with period posters and photographs.

Locomotives

No.4 Loch (1874) carried the maroon livery spent the season as south-based locomotive, with No.11 Maitland (1905) in appearing in what became known as Madder Brown following its short spell in black; No.12 Hutchinson (1908) was found to have a boiler defect meaning it was out of service for the peak season while No.13 Kissack (1910) completed the quartet of operational locomotives.

Displayed in the museum at Port Erin were No.1 Sutherland, No.15 Caledonia and No.16 Mannin while withdrawn and stored No.6 Peveril , and No.7 Tynwald, privately owned  were No.5 Mona, No.8 Fenella and No.9 Douglas with No.3 Pender in the Manchester Science Museum.