I certainly don’t take it for granted that you post these gems of nostalgia on TH-cam Alan. Thankfully you do, and it takes all of us back to maybe a gentler time. Very evocative and certainly appreciated.
I was privileged to participate in the steam 125 celebrations and it was a memorable celebration organised by Alan Corlett. After he retired all further events were very low key in comparison. Long live the IMR
Oh so many happy memories! During the 1960s I had two Youth Hostelling holidays on the IOM with school when I discovered this wonderful railway. I then dragged my parents over for two family holidays so I could spend as much time as I could exploring the varied railway systems on the island. I bought a second hand copy of J.I.C.Boyd's definitive book on the steam railway, and tucked inside was a copy of the 1967 summer timetable. Services to Ramsey had been restored with three trains a day from Douglas. The line to Port Erin was closed beyond Castletown, with a train ticket including the bus fare onwards to Port Erin. Of interest was the signal at Port St. Mary which was operated by a windlass at the top end of Port Erin station. After breakfast I would make my way to the windlass and on receiving a wave from one of the station staff (relieved no doubt at not having to make the not inconsiderable walk there and back) I would pull off the signal for the first inbound train of the day, and once the train had passed , return the signal to danger, which was quite a thrill for a train mad schoolboy! The loco on that service was No.11 Maitland and, if I remember correctly, the fireman's name was Alec Towler who was very kind to me and used to allow me on the footplate to help him with odd jobs on the loco. Then, armed with my weekly rover ticket, I'd spend the rest of the day riding the railway. One could get to Ramsey, and be back in Port Erin in time for tea! The other locos I remember in service at this time included No.8 Fenella, and No. 10 G.H.Wood which was stabled at Port Erin so it could take the first Douglas bound train of the day. Also operational was the ex-County Donegal diesel railcar which I remember as being very hot and noisy! The cafe on Douglas station boasted a wonderful Polyphon which, when encouraged by the insertion of a penny, would burst into life and a large revolving pierced metal disc would produce beautiful tunes. Is it just a pipe dream that he Peel line might one day be reopened? Once again Alan and Heather, thank you for reawakening these happy memories with this lovely film.
Wonderful film. Thank you. Judging by the foliage I suspect this was taken in late September 1965, shortly before the suspension of trains in November that then led to full closure being announced in January 1966. Two trains to Port Erin with a run to Peel in between would have been right then. Brings back memories of some wonderful summers spent in the Island in the early 1960s even if it was sad to see the railway declining year by year at that time. Nonetheless, there were still 6 locos and the diesel railcars in use during the full 1965 summer season.
Thankfully a bit has survived! Now how cool would it bee if the other lines had survived as well? I mean, the IOM already has the coolest railways far and wide!
Fred Dibnah's son drove steam engine trains on the isle of man, I met him in 2007 & had a talk about trains as I was going through my train driving course on the mainland at the time & was on holiday to see the TT, we came to the mutual agreement that steam engine drivers were real train drivers as the trains I drive are all electric EMUs.
I remember travelling on these trains as a kid on holiday. Happy times.
Superb!
What a wonderful gem of a film! And good to know that at least the Port Erin Line is still with us and seems to thrive.
Glad I'm old enough to remember those days. The Island just isn't the same magical place it used to be.
The Isle of Man will always be s magical place@
I certainly don’t take it for granted that you post these gems of nostalgia on TH-cam Alan. Thankfully you do, and it takes all of us back to maybe a gentler time. Very evocative and certainly appreciated.
I was privileged to participate in the steam 125 celebrations and it was a memorable celebration organised by Alan Corlett. After he retired all further events were very low key in comparison. Long live the IMR
Oh so many happy memories! During the 1960s I had two Youth Hostelling holidays on the IOM with school when I discovered this wonderful railway. I then dragged my parents over for two family holidays so I could spend as much time as I could exploring the varied railway systems on the island. I bought a second hand copy of J.I.C.Boyd's definitive book on the steam railway, and tucked inside was a copy of the 1967 summer timetable. Services to Ramsey had been restored with three trains a day from Douglas. The line to Port Erin was closed beyond Castletown, with a train ticket including the bus fare onwards to Port Erin. Of interest was the signal at Port St. Mary which was operated by a windlass at the top end of Port Erin station. After breakfast I would make my way to the windlass and on receiving a wave from one of the station staff (relieved no doubt at not having to make the not inconsiderable walk there and back) I would pull off the signal for the first inbound train of the day, and once the train had passed , return the signal to danger, which was quite a thrill for a train mad schoolboy! The loco on that service was No.11 Maitland and, if I remember correctly, the fireman's name was Alec Towler who was very kind to me and used to allow me on the footplate to help him with odd jobs on the loco. Then, armed with my weekly rover ticket, I'd spend the rest of the day riding the railway. One could get to Ramsey, and be back in Port Erin in time for tea! The other locos I remember in service at this time included No.8 Fenella, and No. 10 G.H.Wood which was stabled at Port Erin so it could take the first Douglas bound train of the day. Also operational was the ex-County Donegal diesel railcar which I remember as being very hot and noisy! The cafe on Douglas station boasted a wonderful Polyphon which, when encouraged by the insertion of a penny, would burst into life and a large revolving pierced metal disc would produce beautiful tunes. Is it just a pipe dream that he Peel line might one day be reopened? Once again Alan and Heather, thank you for reawakening these happy memories with this lovely film.
How many more gems have you tucked away? Thank you for this one.
Wonderful film. Thank you. Judging by the foliage I suspect this was taken in late September 1965, shortly before the suspension of trains in November that then led to full closure being announced in January 1966. Two trains to Port Erin with a run to Peel in between would have been right then. Brings back memories of some wonderful summers spent in the Island in the early 1960s even if it was sad to see the railway declining year by year at that time. Nonetheless, there were still 6 locos and the diesel railcars in use during the full 1965 summer season.
Thanks for another nostalgic treat
Love these movies. Thanks!
Brilliant! I was living in the Isle of Man in those days, a sad time for the railway.
Thankfully a bit has survived! Now how cool would it bee if the other lines had survived as well? I mean, the IOM already has the coolest railways far and wide!
@@michaelXXLF IOM really do. It's down to true democracy and community and Government working together rather than representing lobby interests
What a great film, bringing back some memories. Thank you.
Thanks Alan and Heather for another British railway gem. Lovely to see footage of the Peel Line. It would be lovely to see this reopen!
Yet another excellent video. Thanks Alan, they’re always appreciated.
Coaling looks to be done in the same way as in Portugal at Porto Trindade station on the old metre gauge lines out of there.
Fred Dibnah's son drove steam engine trains on the isle of man, I met him in 2007 & had a talk about trains as I was going through my train driving course on the mainland at the time & was on holiday to see the TT, we came to the mutual agreement that steam engine drivers were real train drivers as the trains I drive are all electric EMUs.
In steams days, EMU drivers were known as 'Motormen' to differentiate them from steam drivers
Sir Topham Hatt the Railway Controller.