Manx Heritage Transport Festival 2011
Wednesday 27 July
The welcome day for the events didn't have any on railway events scheduled other than the operation of the Groudle Glen Railway. However there were unusual movements on the day. For the MER 16+48 worked the 10:10 from Derbycastle and back before being replaced by 7. On the IMR 4 Loch also hauled the 'mixed train' as a part of its test running.
Thursday 28 July
The first full day of the events was focused around Port Erin. Vintage cars and Sentinel steam wagon were on display on the station. Ribble Leopard 665 was also in the area. 10 GH Wood hauled the mixed train consisting of H.1, G.12, F. 26 and F.49. 4 Loch was also on hand in Port Erin as a station pilot resulting in 3 locos in the station several times.
Friday 29 July
Events supposedly around IMR Douglas station, however I spent much of the day on the MER. Vintage cars and traction engine on display in Douglas. Recently refurbished saloons F.30 and F.32 were also on display on the platform. 4 Loch banked the 11:50 ex-Douglas to Port Soderick, then returning with two carriages. 10 G.H. Wood ran an extra train to Castletown, consisting of F.39, F.11 and F.31. This then returned behind the 17:30 ex-Port Erin making an impressive 8 coach rake. G.H. Wood then hauled the bar set to Port Erin and back for the 'Buffers Buffet' and 'Rail Ale Tour'. On the MER 33 was back on service trams, working with trailer 46, 20+58 also worked a wedding charter. The main MER event was Derbycastle shed tours. (Separate gallery for shed tour below).
Derbycastle shed tour
Saturday 30 July
This day was focused around the MER and Laxey and proved to be an eventful day. Beginning with the launch of Tunnel Car 7 and trailer 48 with 09:40 working from Derbycastle. The set then worked the 11:10 ex-Ramsey before being exchanged with 22+41 at Laxey. 7+48 then picked up the D4 diagram. 16 was working with mail van 4 on the Groudle shuttle and the Wickham railcar was shuttling between Laxey staion and Sub-Station. Due to heavy loads, 33+46 worked a special as far as Laxey before being located to the depot headshunt. 16+4 were then moved from the station to the headshunt as well resulting in a very unusual sight of 3 passenger cars on the Laxey shed headshunt. The visiting Aldershot and District Dennis Falcon was operating tours around Laxey village. 33+52 as well as a tower wagon were also on display in the station with various vintage cars and motorcycles.
Sunday 31 July
A day focused around Ramsey and Jurby however timings lead to Manx Transport Photos only making it as far north as Laxey. None the less another eventful (but grey) day. 33 worked the 10:10 ex-Derbycastle hauling trailers 46 and 59, 46 was left in Ramsey for the day with 33+59 working the D2 diagram. The Dennis Falcon and PD2 worked shuttles to Jurby Transport Museum and Miltown house during the day. Michael Portillo was visiting the island for his next series of Great Railway Journeys, so 7+48 were out on a private special as was an SMR car. Workshop and shed tours for the IMR were also on the day, including an incredibly rare look into Douglas carriage sheds. (Again separate gallery below)
IMR Douglas shed tour
All photos on this site are copyright David Kelly 2013, unless stated otherwise. Permission MUST be given for any of these photos to be used elsewhere.