RESTORATION of 1872-built Isle of Man Railway goods van No. G.1 by The Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters Association (IOMSRSA) has been completed. The official handover of the vehicle to the railway at Douglas workshops on March 21 included presentation of a replica builder’s plate to Culture Vannin chairman, Chris Thomas, to recognise the support that organisation had given to the project.
IOMSRSA launched the ‘G.1 Appeal Fund’ to restore the vehicle five years ago (RM, April 2018). Work commenced in September 2019 but was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The project has cost some £35,000 and transformed the van from a very fragile state to its original condition for use in demonstration trains and display in Port Erin museum.