‘NO PLANS’ TO DISPLAY ISLE OF MAN MONA AND DOUGLAS, DESPITE ASBESTOS REMOVAL
There are no plans to put Isle of Man Beyer Peacock 2-4-0Ts Nos. 5 Mona and 9 Douglas on public display, despite them having their asbestos removed.
In early June, 1874-built ‘Medium Boiler’ Mona and 1896-built ‘Small Boiler’ Douglas – which have not been publicly accessible for decades owing to asbestos contamination –were removed from the carriage shed at Douglas for the first time in years so a specialist contractor could undertake controlled asbestos removal. The opportunity to make Mona and Douglas safe has arisen because the contractor is also removing asbestos from ‘Small Boiler’
No. 6 Peveril and unique Manx 2-4-0T No. 16 Mannin, ahead of an inspection to determine whether or not the latter will be restored (SR503 Narrow Gauge News).
Isle of Man Director of Transport Ian Longworth said: “We currently have no plans beyond the asbestos removal. It is likely that No. 6 will go back in our railway museum and Nos. 5 and 9 will go back into storage. No. 16, however, we will be assessing for potential return to traffic for the [railway’s] 150th anniversary, if that proves possible.
This has to be both practical and affordable and the asbestos removal is part of the assessment.”
Meanwhile, the first pair of five new-build boilers for the IoMSR fleet have been delivered. Built at Bridgnorth works on the Severn Valley Railway, the first has been delivered to Alan Keef Ltd near Ross-on-Wye where it is to be fitted to the frames of No. 11 Maitland while the second boiler, which is intended for either Nos. 10 G.H. Wood or 12 Hutchinson, has been delivered directly to Douglas.
Construction of boilers three and four is “on hold for the moment”, owing to “the impact of the coronavirus situation,” said Bridgnorth volunteer shedmaster Martin White.
●● Despite lockdown being lifted on the Isle of Man from June 15, only the Groudle Glen Railway is set to reopen, from July 5. The IoMSR itself remains closed.