Isle of Man Trip

[ge_rik]

[quote author=Stainzmeister link=topic=299283.msg322127#msg322127 date=1406138970]
Great set of photos Rik.
Tis sad to see old trackbed though - but it does evoke images of what used to be......
[/quote]
Thanks Paul
To be honest, the trackbed walk was a bit boring after while - one stretch of disused trackbed looks very much like another


There`s very little infrastructure left. The Union Mills platform edge, a few overbridges and underbridges and three crossing keepers` shelters


Would be nice to think that one day it could be rebuilt (Peel is the only major town without a railway), but I doubt it will be.

Rik

 

[ge_rik]

By contrast, the Groudle Glen is a really lovely little railway which has been lovingly restored.
To get there from Douglas, I hopped aboard the MER and on reaching Groudle, there was an interesting vehicle on the tram track. No doubt the tramcar enthusiasts will be able to explain what it is and what it does.


The glen itself is very picturesque


The station is in a sylvan setting


The line winds through the woodland on the edge of the gorge and then emerges on the clifftop where there is the other terminus (where once there was a small zoo)

 

[ge_rik]

The restored Bagnall loco is wonderful (similar to the Rye and Camber 3` locos but on 2` track


I stayed there the full two hours it was open and travelled on the last train of the day. I saw work in progress on Sea Lion`s sister engine - Brown Bear


and watched the stock being shunted by the electric loco - Polar Bear


.... and Sea Lion being put to bed for the day


A really great little railway - I took loads of video which I`ll edit on my return and post on Youtube.

Rik

 

[tramcar trev]

To get there from Douglas, I hopped aboard the MER and on reaching Groudle, there was an interesting vehicle on the tram track. No doubt the tramcar enthusiasts will be able to explain what it is and what it does.

Well (he says in authorative tone) that is the famous "Yellow wagon" with ladder......

 

[ge_rik]

Well (he says in authorative tone) that is the famous "Yellow wagon" with ladder......

D'you know. I thought that was what it was, but didn't like to say.
Rik

 

[tramcar trev]

I have some more questions Rik. So what happens in Winter? Everything shuts down and the Locals just walk? Or the locals stay indoors? or they close the Isle down for the winter?....
The Horse pulling the tram is a sort of half a Clydesdale or some other breed? Spose I should ask a tweed clad chinless horsey toff.... Delete all reference - the horses are really "Trammers" WOW!!!!!! they must be the last of them in the world. We use Clydesdales on the Granite Island service mainly because they are heavy enough to not get blown into the sea during winter storms....
Dont forget the Laxey Wheel and the Snaefell, questions will be asked......

 

[ge_rik]

Accoring to the timetable I have for the MER, it ceases operations the first weekend in November and then starts running again the first weekend in April. I think it's really there for we grockles. Dunno nuffin about horses. The stables are a five minute walk from where we're staying so if we're back in time tonight I might pop along there and ask a few questions on your behalf.

Yes, Laxey Wheel, Snaefell and MER to Ramsey today - looks like another scorcher but will pack my mittens, woolly vest and balaclava just in case the top of the mountain is in cloud.

Rik

 

[tramcar trev]

The mystery of the Yellow van has been solved. It is Van12 the overhead maintenance van..... A section of the roof lifts up to work on.... So I am reliably advised by another chap who refused to pack me in his suitcase....

 

[ge_rik]

The mystery of the Yellow van has been solved. It is Van12 the overhead maintenance van..... A section of the roof lifts up to work on.... So I am reliably advised by another chap who refused to pack me in his suitcase....

Thanks for that info - it has filled a void in my data banks. Spotted another two vans on the MER today - will provide photographic evidence later when I've done some downloading, editing and uploading.

Rik

 

[ge_rik]

OK - a bit more IoM eye candy for the devotees .....

Snaefell summit - thank goodness for glorious weather?



Interesting single switch blade point ....


One of the tramcars at Laxey


Rik

 

[ge_rik]

Some interesting tramcar manoeuvres at Ramsey. The power car detached from the trailer and then reversed up the other line. They then released the brake on the trailer and let it roll down the gradient over the crossover. The power car then coupled back up to the trailer.


I`ve taken video of the whole thing so will edit and upload when I return to the mainland (or as the Manx people call it, `the island`).
Another couple of MER vans at Laxey - they were in the smithy`s yard - if you look carefully you can see the smith hard at work under the green van

 

[ge_rik]

I decided to stay on another night. What it is to have a tolerant and understanding missus who`s back at home. Actually, she`s probably glad to have me out of the house for a week. Anyway, today I went back to the IMR. By chance the first train of the day which I boarded was hauled by MNR No 4 Caledonia


and as it was a ten-coach train, it was banked for the entire journey by IMR No 4 Loch


I blagged my way into the leading guards compartment which I had to myself, so managed to get some footage of the entire train as it wound its way to Port Erin


where it was a treat to see both locos taking on water (pity the sun was on the wrong side)

 

[ge_rik]

I loitered for a while at Douglas Station, wanting to film the arrival of the next train, but had to wait around two hours. There had been a fire further up the line and so nothing was running. The compensation was seeing GH Wood pottering around the station, also awaiting the arrival of the next train


Returning to Laxey tomorrow as the Mine Railway only runs at weekends.

Rik

 

[KandNWLR]

A fantastic set of photos. Glad you decided to stay another day. More pics and videos I hope, soon.

 

[ge_rik]

Any idea why they bank the train rather than double heading :-\

Not sure. I thought they would detach the banker when they reached the summit of the line but no. So no clear idea. If there's still time after my trip to Laxey I'll pop in to the station and ask that question.

Rik

 

[ge_rik]

Any idea why they bank the train rather than double heading :-\

Spoke with the guard for that train before I boarded the ferry.
Because they were intending to split the train at Port Erin to make up a 5-coach special, they decided it would be easier to shunt the rear five coaches into the siding if the loco was used as a banker rather than as a pilot. He then said, of course it didn't make that much difference as the loco still needed to take on water at the other end of the station, but it just seemed like a good idea.

The station master at Douglas said they quite often have to bank trains as the limit for one loco is six coaches - but normally the banker detaches at Port Soderick. On this occasion, because of the special, the banker stayed on all the way.

Rik

 

[ge_rik]

Now back on the mainland - 6 railways visited and only around 3h of video and 350 photos to edit.
Productive trip .......

Rik

 

[KandNWLR]

Looking forward to it soon!

 

[ge_rik]

Last installment........

On my final day (yesterday), I travelled on the MER from Douglas to Laxey once more. This time I took a few shots of the tramcar and its period features

This was my transportation


And this the driver`s compartment


The fittings were quite original


Not sure what this was high up on the bulkhead between the passenger and driver compartments - a housing for an acetylene lamp maybe?


I assume this was a later innovation - a means of sharing light between the passengers and the driver?



Rik

 

[ge_rik]

My objective was the 19" gauge mine railway at Laxey - Hadn`t realised that in its time it was the most productive lead mine in the UK. The preservation society has built replicas of the line`s two diminutive steam locos - Ant


.... and Bee


Although the line is only 3/4 of a mile long, it provides an insight into how the ore was transported from the mine to the washing sheds.


I was intrigued by the locking mechanism for the points. Might be worth replicating for those points on my line which have a tendency to let fine-profile flanges through