A PLAQUE commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Isle of Man Steam Railway (IOMSR) was unveiled at Douglas station on July 1, by the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man, Lieutenant General Sir John Lorimer KCB DSO MBE, who astutely described the heritage railways as: “Part of the Island’s DNA”.
Locomotives were bedecked with Manx flags and special nameboards relating to the line’s history – Beyer Peacock 2-4-0Ts carrying Sir John Pender (No. 13 Kissack), The Earl of Derby (No. 11 Maitland), and The Duke of Sutherland (No. 4 Loch), while ex-Manx Northern Railway Dubs 0-6-0T Caledonia carried The Manx Northerner. Each train left Douglas station accompanied by music from the Douglas Town Band. In the Port Erin museum a replica ‘Douglas & Peel United’ banner supplied by the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters Association was mounted on the buffer beam of 2-4-0T No. 1 Sutherland.
Consultation
In the light of the lieutenant governor’s observation, it seemed ironic that on July 3 apublic consultation concerning the Manx railways commenced, with a closing date of August 13. This relates to the Isle of Man Heritage Railways Independent Review & Economic Impact Assessment being prepared by consultants.