Rush Hour on the Railways 2012
For the third year the IMR has hosted the Rush Hour on the railways event. This year it was held over 6th-9th April, and had a fairly packed schedule. In the end the events consisted of a mix of complications, excitement, and of course plenty of action. The weather was also mixed with downpours and bright sunshine in one weekend, but was certainly compensated for by the amount of goings on about the railways.
Friday 6th
The first day of events was not to be as packed as the following days. Two of the islands vintage buses were on display along the railway, Thornycroft BC 13 at Douglas station, and IOMT Leyland Atlantean 45 at Castletown station. As for train services, the Port Erin train started with 12 Hutchinson, and the big F rake of F45/F48/F47/F46. The 09:50 ex- Douglas was hauled by 4 Loch with carriages F54/F9/F26/F39, and the 10:55 ex- Douglas with 10 G.H. Wood and F18/F11/F49. The train based event was the rolling lunch using the bar set. This was attached to the 11:50 ex- Douglas, resulting in and 8 coach train hauled by 12 Hutchinson and banked by 13 Kissack. This ran as far as Castletown before the train was split, with Kissack and the bar set returning to Douglas with the 12:55 ex- Port Erin.
Saturday 7th
This was the busiest day on the line and was to become the most interesting. Again a three train service was required, and with timetable U in use evening services also featured. There were other additional journeys for the day, with a mixed train, featuring a Travelling Post Office in F49. In the morning Douglas yard appeared very busy with two full carriage rakes on the platform, and 4 (yes 4!) locos in steam on shed. The 09:50 consisted of 6 carriages (F54/F9/F26/F10/F11/F39) and was hauled by an unpublished double header of 4 Loch and 13 Kissack. The 10:27 was to be the mixed goods with wagons M78/H1/G12 with carriages F18/F49. In the end the first journey was to be hauled by 12 Hutchinson. The timetabled 10:55 train was to be the bar set including F35 being used as a buffet car. This was to be the start of perhaps the most interesting and exciting event of the day, the return of 8 Fenella. The agreement over the ownership of the locomotive had been signed that morning and this was its first time back in use. However this is also where the days complications began. The 10:27 was due to pass the 09:50 ex- Port Erin at Port Soderick, however there was a complication with the points resulting in a delay of the north bound train of almost half an hour. Fenellas first journey finally departed Douglas just after 11:30. With small water tanks Fenella had to take on water at Ballasalla, before passing the mixed goods at Colby. The mixed goods was now carriage only and hauled by 13 Kissack for a Castletown return. When Kissack returned south it passed a double header of 12 Hutchinson and 4 Loch. Upon arrival in Port Erin Fenella was swapped with 13 Kissack, meaning for the rest of the day Kissack worked with the bar set and Fenella worked with the mixed goods 8 Fenellas day continued with the mixed goods running 2 Castletown returns before heading for Douglas. The last swap was where the double header became 12 Hutchinson running single, and 13 Kissack swapping with 4 Loch. The days delays were recovered by the end of the day with the 21:15 ex- Port Erin arrived in Douglas on time.
Sunday 8th
The timetable was less busy for Sunday with the standard timetable S, with 3 trains hauled by 4 Loch, 13 Kissack and 10 G.H. Wood. The morning featured guided tours of the signal box, workshops and running shed in Douglas, although there was less to talk about with the paint shop and carpenters closed off and a large amount of stock out in service. The afternoon however also included another use with the mixed goods for the photography special, hauled by 12 Hutchinson. The service was to Santon and back with a photostop at Port Soderick. Upon return to Douglas 8 Fenella was in light steam and on display in the yard and platforms. There was a barbeque held, however with weather against us it was inside the workshops. Poor weather however drove many attendees away early, leading to the event being cut short. However for those remaining the opportunity was given to photograph locomotives and stock returning to shed, and then for a few photos inside the shed. For the evening film show the Leyland PD2 was used as a shuttle, however it ran early with an extra little trip up to Port Jack.
Monday 9th
The final day of the events was meant to end on a gathering of rolling stock in Douglas yard and platforms. This didn't materialise in full with the 2 service rakes, the bar set and a mixture for the other rake (F54/F9/F26/F39). These were hauled by 4 Loch and 12 Hutchinson. Also locomotives 8 Fenella and 13 Kissack were dragged out for a brief spell, moved by the simplex. The resident tamper machine was also out on display.
All photos © David Kelly 2013, unless stated otherwise.