Hardly back from the Isle of Man, Ron set sail (figuratively speaking) for Bavaria. I’ve mostly posted the railway photos (sorry those who enjoy the tourism….)
Today is at Ulm Hbf…
Buses and trams ourside….
Back in the station….
Nice to see some freight…
Back to the passenger units….
And finally, Ron’s one coach train to Frederickshafen….
Just for a change, a few things that caught my eye recently.
Jago Hazzard looks at Borough Road – a very closed station close to my old London stamping grounds…
Something for our ESNG members to emulate. (Note it’s a list of the 10 heaviest trains, not the 10 heaviest members!)
Probably the only reason that I might make a French model railway? Wonderful machines.
Less exotic, but now just a part of UK railway history. I loved the early electric blue livery.
Ever thought of modelling Iranian railways? This is rather special!
Not my idea of a holiday…..
To close, just in case you are hungry after watching all the above!
Last, but not least, we have the 2′ gauge Groudle Glen Railway. Less than a mile long, and 2′ gauge, it serves the Sea Lion Rocks Tea Room.
The Glen and the viaduct carrying the road and Manx Electric Railway.
The main station.
The trains. I like the loco livery, rather like the old Midland & Great Northern Joint ‘gorse’ colour.
And Sea Lion Rocks.
So that’s the Dawes Brothers Manx excursion. I thought that would be the end of their holidays, but Ron has already headed off to Bavaria. He’s sent me some railway pictures, so we’ll post them at some point soon. But perhaps I’ll have some modelling posts to come first?
Last Sunday in the month, and time for the ESNG to convene again. A fine turn out of 10 members today.
Simon was running a series of American locos and a long passenger train.
Action on the main line, British and Dutch, from Brian….
Neil’s track maintenance machines…
Multiple units old and new, from Chris and Neil….
Elsewhere, Martin and Neil were playing DCC, the treasurer was collecting money, and there was already competition for the comfy chairs.
Later in the afternoon, everyone seemed to gravitate to the armchairs, leaving Phil to run lots of trains!
And, as ever thanks to Brian for the video! Here’s the maestro in action….
And Brian, why are we all walking backwards at the end of your video? It’s not Christmas yet!
Today we visit the Manx Electric Railway sheds and works.
Just a photo dump, really. Lots of trams in all states of repair, and some spare parts!
And finally, the works mascot. If this falls off the building, the MER is doomed!
Next post will be the last from the Isle of Man – a visit to Groudle Glen.
The Snaefell Mountain Railway joins the village of Laxey with the summit of Snaefell, at 2,036 feet above sea level the highest point on the island. The line is 5 miles (8 km) long, is built to 3′ 6″ gauge. It uses a Fell Incline Railway System centre rail for braking on the steep gradients. The railway occasionally uses the centre rail for braking only; the cars are all now equipped with rheostatic braking, which meets all normal braking needs.
No. 5 arrives back from the summit. Note the bow pantograph collectors, and the decided bow in the bodywork – that is newer than the other carriages, as it was replaced (without a clerestory roof) after a fire. Also the ‘narrow gauge’ (well, 6″ less) Manx Electric lines in the foreground.
And awaits the return run….
No. 4, showing the Fell braking system attached to the bogies….
No. 1 seems to have added rail brakes on the bogies?
Ron sets off for the summit….
No. 1 (and Ron) arrive….
The views are worth the ride – on a clear day!
Next post, a visit to the Manx Electric Railway workshops.
Perhaps it’s worth starting today with two maps of the Isle of Man rail system. As is now, and as it was, with many more 3′ gauge lines around the island. It was rather like the Isle of Wight, with a lot of lines round a small island.
We have travelled from Port Erin to Douglas, around Douglas Bay by horse tram, and today onward to Laxey by the Manx electric railway. Our trip starts at Derby Castle…
And on to Laxey, where the 3′ Manx Electric Railway interchanges with the 3′ 6″ Snaefell Mountain Railway.
A busy station….
Trains passing through on the way to Ramsey….
A trip on Manx Electric Railway No. 2…
Next time, we’ll visit the Snaefell Mountain Railway.
Douglas is the interchange between the Isle of Man steam railway and the Manx Electric Railway. Before we venture down the electric line, we’ll spend a day at Douglas and visit the railway works.
The seaside….
The station…..
Steam to electric….
And the works….
The steam locomotives on display, all 2-4-0T’s, except the 0-6-0T ‘Caledonia’, built for the Manx Northern Railway. Most of the 16 locomotives that served the island survive in various locations.
Coaching stock being restored and repaired…
A goods van with the distinctive IOMR diagonal planking, and the ex-County Donegal railcar – that spent more time running on the Isle of Man than it did in Ireland.
The machinery in the works is still belt driven from overhead lay shafts. And the steam engine that originally powered it all has been preserved.
Next time, we really will go electric!
Today’s pictures are mostly from Port Erin, one end of the remaining section of the Isle of Man steam railway. This lovely 3′ gauge system covered much of the island in its heyday. I was fascinated with it as a teenager, but never plucked up the courage to try a GEM whitemetal kit of their 2-4-0T locos. I probably couldn’t afford it, anyway. I recall that I did build a Manx Northern Railway full brake in shellacked cardboard, with cotton beading to the coach body. I can’t remember how good it was!
First, a few views of the seaside.
Then to the railway. Running into the station and round the train.
The locos look beautifully care for.
And some original coaches in their smart red and cream livery.
Plastic sleepered track! Peco?????
And a view of the station.
Down the line to Port Soderick. The station building is privately owned.
And then through Ballasalla, Castletown and Colby….
To arrive at Douglas….
Some electric railway shots next time…
We pause our exploration of Manx trains for another ESNG meeting. It was an easy Wednesday, as we didn’t have to set up a layout – I realised on Sunday that with the summer holidays no one was using the hall between meetings. So we left the railway in place and running started immediately.
Allan had a couple of new diesels to pull his steel train.
Modern goods from Chris.
Older goods from me.
A little bit of America from Michael.
Some antiques from Mr Atfield (not including the club members.)
And the prototype pictures for the week. Tottenham Court Road in 1927. Lots of scenic detail here.
The Deptford Wharf branch. An interesting prototype, with Southern street running.
Another scenic idea for the 40’s and 50’s. Recovering an unexploded bomb (after defusing, I hope.)
And a modelling idea – just the vehicle to deal with that wagon that keeps derailing.
Back to the Isle of Mann next post…..
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