Several Isle of Man locomotives have appeared in both The Railway Series and Thomas & Friends media.
Isle of Man Railway[]
No. 1 Sutherland[]
Sutherland is a 2-4-0 tank engine at the Isle of Man Railway.
Technical Details[]
Real-life History[]
No.1 Sutherland was built for the opening of the railway on 1 July 1873 this locomotive is named after the Duke of Sutherland who was a director of the railway company in its formative days. it was given the honour of hauling the first official train to Peel and remained in service, albeit as Douglas shunter only latterly, until 1964 when it was withdrawn. When the Marquess of Ailsa took over the railway in 1967 it was painted spring green and placed on static display at St John's, a tradition that later came to Douglas when the railway closed at the end of the 1968 season. When the railway museum was opened in 1975 it was given pride of place and it seemed that was the end of the line. However, with anniversaries being in the air, it was brought back to Douglas in October 1997 for feasibility studies to examine it possible return to service for the Steam 125 celebrations the following year. Using the privately owned boiler from No. 8 Fenella it was the star turn in 1998, and travelled to the Manx Electric Railway on occasion steaming from Laxey to Fairy Cottage. it even made a brief return to Peel Station to commemorate the opening of the Peel line. it later was repainted to Indian red and withdrawn when the boiler was removed and replaced into the frames of No. 8. No. 1 was stored undercover at Douglas station until late 2018 when work on cosmetically restoring it for display commenced. The completed locomotive was returned to the railway museum in 2020, where it took the place of No. 16 Mannin[1]
Sutherland was seen with a face at a Days Out with Thomas event, and portrayed as a Friend of Thomas the Tank Engine.
Livery[]
Sutherland is currently painted in Holly Green with black and red lining. It was previously indian-red.
Appearances[]
No. 2 Derby[]
Derby was a 2-4-0 tank engine who worked on the Isle of Man Railway.
Technical Details[]
Real-life History[]
Second of the original batch of locomotives delivered to the railway, No. 2 was named after the Earls of Derby who owned the Isle of Man before it was sold to the British monarch and is often seen in early photographs without it back cab sheet (No. 1 also appears in this form on a famous photograph of opening day. No 2 Set the precedent for Steam On The Electric being used in construction by the Isle of Man Tramways & Electric Power Co. (there are two photographs illustrating this). No. 2 is the only locomotive on the railway to have been lost to the pages of history, only a pony truck survives today, and it is difficult to surmise if this was originally No. 2's as so many parts were interchanged on the locomotives. It was withdrawn in 1951 and dismantled at the time for use as spare parts for the other smaller class locomotives. The Frames having survived in store for many years were scrapped in 1980 by "Pat the Rat" (a local scrapman) at the behest of the then manager Bill Jackson. The surviving pony truck was for many years at the end of Birkenhead Siding at Port Erin with No. 4 Try These chalked on it. Later relocated to Douglas yard, this pony truck was re-built with new roller bearing axleboxes and entered regular service under another locomotive in 2020. It survives as a final reminder of the only engine to not exist in one form or another.[1]
Livery[]
Derby was last painted in a Holly Green livery.
Appearances[]
No. 3 Pender[]
Pender is a 2-4-0 tank engine at the Isle of Man Railway.
Technical Details[]
Real-life History[]
The third of the original trio was to have been named Viking originally, but the name was changed to honour the name of a director of the company Sir John Pender and it wouldn't be until over a century later in 1993 that an Isle Of Man Railway locomotive would carry the name. The last purchase of 1873 from Beyer, Peacock, it was little modified over the years, when compared with it sisters, and was withdrawn from service in the 1950s.
In 1925, Pender was involved in an accident at Douglas station which resulted in the death of the fireman. The train failed to stop as it arrived at Douglas station, crashing through the buffers, and coming to rest embedded in the platform. The fireman was thrown from the footplate and suffered fatal injuries. Pender was re-boilered in 1888 and 1913. The third and current boiler was made in 1923 for No.2 "Derby", and was fitted in 1951 after that locomotive was broken up. The side rods are from No. 4. "Loch" (they are stamped 1416). Pender was canibalised for spare parts to keep the other locomotives in service. Many non-ferous fittings are missing.
Pender left the island in 1977 and now resides as a sectionalised exhibition display at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, a stone's throw from its birthplace. Pender was sectioned at the Museum: the boiler and firebox were life-expired and the right-hand cylinder is cracked. The right hand tank was removed and is in storage at the Museum; many cab fittings were missing before arrival at the Museum. Pender was re-painted after sectioning in an approximation of Isle of Man Livery but in BR Deep Bronze green.[1]
Livery[]
Pender is currently painted in BR Deep Bronze green with brass fittings.
Appearances[]
No. 4 Loch[]
Loch is a tank engine at the Isle of Man Railway.
Biography[]
Thomas & Friends[]
Other media[]
Loch was seen in Hashire! The "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends" Steam Locomotive is Alive!, where host Gaku Hamada is riding while learning about how the railway works.
Technical Details[]
Real-life History[]
Loch was built in 1874, one year after the railway opened. Named after lieutenant governor Henry Brougham Loch and beloved by many as their "favourite" engine on the railway. As originally built, Loch was a small boilered locomotive, but it was rebuilt as a medium boilered locomotive in 1909. This gave it the same tractive effort as Nos 10 and 11.
No. 4 has the strange distinction of being what must surely be the first locomotive ever to (re)enter service on the day the line closed. Having been earmarked for re-boilering in 1967, by the 1968 season it was ready for service and steam tests were carried out accordingly. Fate intervened, however, and at the end of September 1968, the Peel and Ramsey lines closed for good. Fortunately, the Port Erin line was retained and No. 4 was familiar to many as the southern based engine for many years, right up until its withdrawal from service after the 1995 Christmas services on the railway.
It is the only locomotive to carry a non functioning "bell-mouth" dome. It was used heavily in the marketing campaign for the 1993 "Year of Railways" when it was the locomotive chosen to haul special services on the Manx Electric Railway. Following the Un-Loch Your Cash appeal by the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association in 1998–2000, it returned to service in 2002 and was a regular fleet member once more.
On 20 May 2008, it collided with a van and badly damaged its buffer beam. The boiler certificate expired on 31 August 2015 and following that days services it was withdrawn from traffic; it is not known when it is likely to return to service.
Loch has also appeared with a face at Days Out with Thomas in the past and pulling the "Santa Express" trains during Christmas time.
Livery[]
Loch is painted in Indian red with black and yellow lining. It is distinguished from its shed-mates by carrying a Legs of Mann and "4" numeral on his buffer beam. Between 1979 and his withdrawal in 1995, he had carried a non-standard livery of maroon.
Appearances[]
Annuals[]
- 1980 - Real Railway Feature - Isle of Man Railway (mentioned)
Documentaries[]
Postcards and Stamps[]
- 2021 - Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends at Christmas (cameo)
Voices Actors[]
- Masayuki Omoro (Japan; Hashire! The "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends" Steam Locomotive is Alive!)
No. 5 Mona[]
Mona is a 2-4-0 tank engine at the Isle of Man Railway.
Technical Details[]
Real-life History[]
Arriving with No. 4 in 1874 in readiness for the opening of the Port Erin line, the name "Mona" is named from the Latin name for the Isle of Man. Rebuilt as a medium boilered locomotive in 1911. Last reboilered in 1946, No. 5 was a regular on the Peel line later in it career and remained in service right until the 1970 season when it refused to hold a head of steam and was subsequently mothballed. After storage, it was privately purchased from the newly nationalised railway in 1978 but remained on site, being stored in the carriage shed at Douglas until it was demolished to make way for new bus garage and offices in 1999. Until 2020 in the back of the new carriage shed (and having been relocated there in 1999 shortly after the original 1893 shed was demolished to make way for a new bus depot and administrative centre), No. 5 had had no attention for many years and was a sorry sight, still wearing it 1967 spring green livery, now very faded. It is not known if it will ever return to service but in the near future this seems unlikely. it was one of two (the other being No. 12) to carry a brass fleet numeral on the left-hand tank only. During 2020 the locomotive was dismantled to enable asbestos removal and in January 2022 an appeal was launched by the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association to cosmetically restore the locomotive in time for the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Peel Line in 2023.[1]
Livery[]
Mona is painted with a Spring Green livery.
Appearances[]
No. 6 Peveril[]
Peveril was a 2-4-0 tank engine at the Isle of Man Railway.
Technical Details[]
Real-life History[]
A one-off purchase in 1875 from Beyer, Peacock & Co. (works number 1524), and of similar design to Nos. 4 and 5, Peveril (named after a character in Sir Walter Scott's novel Peveril Of The Peak) saw extensive use on Peel Line for many years, apt as the name is also a local one. it was rebuilt as a Medium Boiled locomotive in 1907, and last reboilered in 1932. it was withdrawn from service, having been station shunter at Douglas for a number of years, in August 1960 and stored out of use thereafter. In 1967 it was selected as one of the static display locomotives during the Marquess of Ailsa years at St.John's station and, after closure of the Peel and Ramsey lines in 1968 relocated to Douglas Station for display purposes. Stored for several years together with No. 5 Mona in original 1893 Douglas carriage shed, it was removed from here and cosmetically restored by members of the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association, a local preservation group, in 1994 and is now resident in the railway museum at Port Erin carrying the Indian red livery of the post-war years. Sometimes considered as a restoration job by the railway, this has yet to be carried out but enthusiasts remain hopeful that this may happen one day. During 2020 the locomotive was temporarily removed from the Museum before returning in June 2021. During this period, it was partially dismantled to enable asbestos removal. Currently (2021) in the process of a full repaint into lined Indian Red livery.[1]
Livery[]
Peveril is currently is painted in Indian red with black and yellow lining.
Appearances[]
No. 7 Tynwald[]
Tynwald was a 2-4-0 tank engine at the Isle of Man Railway.
Technical Details[]
Real-life History[]
Built in 1880 (Beyer, Peacock works number 2038) and named after the Manx Parliament, this locomotive has the dubious honour of being the first locomotive to have been withdrawn from service, as early as 1947 which accounts for the lack of photographs of her. No. 7 was the first of the fleet to have sandboxes placed just ahead of the water tanks. As a result, the shape of the feedwater pipe was changed from the original "C" shaped end to an "S" shape entering the boiler between the smokebox and first cladding ring, rather than between the first and second cladding rings. The locomotive was involved in a collision with No. 10 G.H. Wood in 1928 and the frames were badly buckled at this time; owing to the large amount of work required to repair this, it was not selected for any further attention when withdrawn in 1947 and the locomotive dismantled. Stripped down, the frames were stored on a siding at Douglas Station for many years, with the tanks and cab being stored separately and scrapped in 1974. Upon nationalisation, the remaining frames were purchased by what is now the Isle of Man Railway & Tramway Preservation Society and stored in the open air at Santon, later Castletown. Very little remains of them, other than the main frame, coal bunker, and buffer beams but they have however survived over the course of three decades and are an integral part of the railway's history. In store off-site for a number of years, the frames were returned to public display on the goods platform at Castletown Station during November 2009. The frames have since been sent off Island and are now in storage in Weeting, Suffolk.[1]
Livery[]
Tynwald's remains are painted in an non-Standard Green with yellow lining.
Appearances[]
No. 8 Fenella[]
Fenella is a 2-4-0 tank engine at the Isle of Man Railway.
Technical Details[]
Real-life History[]
Originating from 1894 and named after a character in a novel by Sir Walter Scott, popular at the time, this locomotive was for many years based on the Ramsey Line of the railway and indeed remained in service until the Marquess of Ailsa revival in 1967. It carries a unique, 2'11" diameter, 160psi boiler, which gives it the same theoretical power output as the medium boiler locomotives, but in reality it was inclined to run short of steam on heavy trains. It was purchased by a preservationist group in 1978 with a view to complete restoration and in 1988 the boiler was lifted from the frames and sent to the workshops of the Severn Valley Railway for re-construction. This was a long-term project and as relationships between the owners and management soured, the project did not reach fruition. Happily, the owners offered the boiler (now complete) to donor locomotive No. 1 Sutherland so that it could return to service for the Steam 125 celebrations in 1998 and after an agreed three years in No. 1 the boiler was lifted into No. 8 which operated as a member of the active fleet until early summer 2008. Being the sole representative of the smaller engines (No. 4 has been rebuilt to a medium configuration) it was often to be seen on lighter trains, specials and acting as station pilot. it operated in May 2010 on non-passenger duties as part of the annual Rush Hour event and since this time a long dispute has been settled and the locomotive returned to railway ownership in April 2012 seeing service once again for the Rush Hour event. No. 8 made a return to the site of Peel Station for display to commemorate the 140th anniversary of the Peel line on 1 July 2013, placed on a short length of display track next to the former water tower at the station. Following the close of the shortened 2020 season the boiler certificate expired and the locomotive was withdrawn.[1]
Fenella was seen with a face at the Days Out with Thomas events, and portrayed as a Friend of Thomas the Tank Engine. He has also pulled the "Santa Express" trains during Christmas.
Livery[]
Fenella is currently painted in Indian red with black and yellow lining.
Appearances[]
No. 9 Douglas[]
| This article is about the narrow gauge engine. You may be looking for the standard gauge engine. |
Douglas is a 2-4-0 tank engine at the Isle of Man Railway.
Technical Details[]
Real-life History[]
A further increase in traffic led the railway company to order a further locomotive in 1896, with No.9 being the last locomotive from Gorton Foundry that year (Beyer, Peacock works number 3815). Reboilered only twice and most recently in 1912 "Douglas" is one of the most original fleet members, little altered since delivery. The only major modifications being the fitting of vacuum brake equipment for train braking combined with a steam brake on the loco (the most obvious detail of this it the exhaust pipe from the cab front to the smokebox on the right hand side of the boiler). This also included conversion from wooden to iron brake blocks. Along with No 14 the loco was only ever fitted with Salter safety valves never receiving a more modern boiler. Withdrawn in 1953 by which time it had been reduced to light duties, it was stored and cosmetically restored for the 1969 season but was ultimately sold in 1978 though fortunately has never left the railway. it was partially repainted in the 1980s into a non-standard brown livery (one which is thought to have been carried by some locomotives based on early colour photos) with black/orange lining. Later it was fully painted, again in a non-standard livery (the colour was previously used on the station building at Port Erin) with black/red lining which is the livery retained today. it smokebox door went missing at some point and was replaced with a wooden version. During 2020 No.9 was dismantled, asbestos removed and the boiler, tanks and cab all sand blasted and primed in red primer. The boiler is currently stored at Douglas, while the chassis and superstructure are currently stored in the carriage shed at Port Erin.[1]
Livery[]
Douglas is painted non-Standard Green with black and red lining.
Appearances[]
No. 10 G.H. Wood[]
G.H. Wood is a 2-4-0 tank engine at the Isle of Man Railway.
Technical Details[]
Real-life History[]
The first of two 1905 purchases, and the first "medium boiler" locomotive, No. 10 is named after the railway's one-time company secretary and director George Henry Wood and indeed when new, so proud was the director of his namesake that he posed for photographs in front of the locomotive, the photos then being reproduced on his Christmas cards. As the first of the larger class of locomotives on the line, it was a regular performer and rarely out of service, operating mostly on the south line. it worked through the Marquess of Ailsa years to nationalisation but was withdrawn in 1977 with defective boiler. At this time it was stored in Douglas works and it wasn't until 1992 when sister No. 13 was withdrawn that it was reconditioned and launched at Easter 1993 as part of the Year of Railways sporting a darker green livery and black/red lining which was an approximation to it original livery. The locomotive wears the Spring Green livery applied in 2007 to mark the fortieth anniversary of the takeover of the railway by Lord Ailsa. Together with No. 12 they are the only service locos to not carry chimney numerals. It featured in the movie Five Children & It. The boiler certificate expired on 1 August 2017, its last appearance was the 50th anniversary celebrations of the re-opening of Douglas station on 29 July 2017. The overhaul began shortly afterwards with the boiler being sent away for overhaul in April 2018 and the frames to Alan Keef Ltd in October 2020.[1]
G.H. Wood was seen with a face at the Days Out with Thomas events, and portrayed as a Friend of Thomas the Tank Engine. He also pulls the "Santa Express" trains during Christmas.
Livery[]
G.H. Wood is painted Spring Green with black and white lining.
Appearances[]
Annuals[]
- 1980 - Real Railway Feature - Isle of Man Railway (does not speak)
Postcards and Stamps[]
- 2021 - Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends at Christmas (cameo)
No. 11 Maitland[]
Maitland is a 2-4-0 tank engine on the Isle of Man Railway.
Biography[]
Thomas & Friends[]
Other media[]
Thomas met Maitland at Douglas station. He arrived just as Maitland was leaving for Port Erin with some important mail. Thomas peeped his goodbye and remembered the times he had pulled the mail train on the Island of Sodor.
Technical Details[]
Real-life History[]
Stalwart of the fleet and rarely out of service, the second of the 1905-built locomotives was named after another company director and is fondly remembered by several generations of enthusiasts as the longest-serving fleet member. Having been re-boilered in 1959 this ensured it future well into the final years of company operation, through the Marquess of Ailsa years and into nationalisation. Another boiler was fitted in 1981 (the first under government ownership) when it was re-painted into the current Indian red having previously sported a variation of the spring green livery. The boiler tubes for this new boiler were funded by the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association, a local preservation group. In 1989 it was chosen to take part in The Ginger Tree, a television dramatisation being filmed on the railway and was painted into an unlined matt black livery which it retained for the rest of that season before being returned to a variation on the Indian red livery. it also featured in the movie Five Children & It. The locomotive sports a brass safety valve bonnet mounted on the boiler (the others being painted) but this was originally carried by No. 13 Kissack until 1971. The locomotive last worked in 2007 and a new boiler from the Severn Valley Railway (New boiler 1). The frames were moved off site for restoration by Alan Keef in 2017. The loco was moved to the Statfold Barn Railway for reassembly and painting in 2020 and returned to the railway on 6th January 2022 for trials before re-entering service.[1]
Maitland is seen with a face at the Days Out with Thomas events, and portrayed as a Friend of Thomas the Tank Engine. He also pulls the "Santa Express" trains during Christmas.
Livery[]
Maitland is currently painted in Indian red with black and yellow lining. Maitland was previously painted Spring Green.
Appearances[]
Annuals[]
- 1980 - Real Railway Feature - Isle of Man Railway (does not speak)
Postcards and Stamps[]
- 1995 - Thomas the Tank Engine's Dream (does not speak)
Documentaries[]
- 2005 - Hashire! The "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends" Steam Locomotive is Alive! (cameo)
- 2020 - Returning to Shining Time (cameo)
No. 12 Hutchinson[]
Hutchinson, nicknamed Hutch, is a 2-4-0 tank engine on the Isle of Man Railway.
Biography[]
Thomas & Friends[]
Other media[]
At Ballasalla, Thomas had to wait for the morning passenger train to pass him. This time it was Hutchinson pulling the coaches and Thomas smiled and blew his whistle as he passed him at the level crossing. Bertie was also out visiting, waiting at the crossing on his way to Port Erin and tooted his horn in welcome.
Technical Details[]
Real-life History[]
The twelfth locomotive was a one-off order, similar in design to it two sisters purchased in 1905. Built in 1908 (Beyer Peacock works number 5126), and named after company director W. A. Hutchinson, it was delivered to the railway with Salter safety valves and a deeper tone of whistle than had previously been employed. Still in service today, it has always been one of the most active members of the fleet, perhaps only surpassed by No. 11 Maitland and appearance-wise has had a chequered career. Today, it is largely in 1950s condition, carrying the Indian red livery of the period but it previous guise was much more contrasting. When the newly nationalised railway was in need of infrastructure refurbishment, No. 12 was the second loco to be fitted with a new Hunslet boiler. At this time it was given larger water tanks and a square "house" or cab supposedly similar to that carried by No. 16 Mannin. These features, together with a non-prototypical blue livery gave the loco a somewhat odd appearance when compared with it shed-mates, and the look was not widely liked. Due to the higher side tanks, it was inclined to roll more at speed than the other locomotives in it rebuilt form. it did however remain in this guise until withdrawn from service for rebuild and re-entered traffic in 2001 in traditional form. Also of note is that it was one of only two engines (the other being No. 5) to carry a brass fleet number above the name plate on tank. This was lost prior to the 1981 rebuild and was reinstated for the 2009 season. Returned to service in April 2017 following a winter overhaul and withdrawn following expiration of boiler certificate on 31 August 2019. Work on an overhaul commenced in May 2021.[1]
For the annual Days Out with Thomas weekend events, Hutchinson was used to portray James the Red Engine.
Livery[]
Hutchinson is painted in Indian red with black and yellow lining.
Appearances[]
Annuals[]
- 1980 - Real Railway Feature - Isle of Man Railway (mentioned)
Postcards and Stamps[]
- 1995 - Thomas the Tank Engine's Dream (does not speak)
Documentaries[]
No. 13 Kissack[]
Kissack is a 2-4-0 tank engine at the Isle of Man Railway.
Technical Details[]
Real-life History[]
Another one-off order from 1910 (Beyer, Peacock works number 5382), and named after a company director; unlucky 13 (latterly referred to as 12a by some of the railway's staff) was one of the backbones of the railway's fleet, having seldom been out of service until withdrawn with defective boiler at Christmas 1992; the boiler was refurbished and placed in the frames of No. 10 G.H.Wood which re-entered service as part of the Year of Railways in 1993 but No. 13 was left in dismantled form and stored. In 2001 it was announced that it would be the recipient of a new boiler and by the season of 2006 it was returned to steam. Painted in the now "fleet" livery of Indian red, it previous incarnation had been a deep Brunswick green, not thought to have been an historic livery of the railway but more a "nice colour" at the time. it carries the deeper whistle that it will be remembered for in the 1980s but the brass safety valve bonnet that originates from this locomotive was, for a time, carried by No. 11, being reunited with No.13 for a Winter Photography event in February 2013 and remained since this time. No. 13 is a regular performer on the railway and part of the active fleet since returning to service in 2006 with a new boiler. When performing steam trials prior to this, the locomotive appeared with "12a" chalked on the back cab sheet, evidently by a superstitious member of workshop staff. No. 13 was withdrawn from service in 2013 for boiler repairs. These were completed in March 2015 and the locomotive is now back in service, spending April of that year turned chimney-first into Douglas for the first time in many years for a short spell. The locomotive emerged in the holly green livery in March 2016.[1]
Kissack is seen with a face at the Days Out with Thomas events, and portrayed as a Friend of Thomas the Tank Engine. She also pulls the "Santa Express" trains during Christmas.
Livery[]
Kissack is currently in painted in Holly Green with black, red and white lining.
Appearances[]
No. 14 Thornhill[]
Thornhill is a 2-4-0 tank engine at the Isle of Man Railway.
Technical Details[]
Real-life History[]
Built for the Manx Northern Railway in 1880, this locomotive was originally numbered 3, becoming 14 upon the merger with the Isle of Man Railway in 1905 but not receiving its number and chimney numeral immediately (the numerals were lost in 1956 when a replacement chimney was fitted). it was the only locomotive purchased by the Manx Northern to be built by Beyer Peacock & Co., in their Gorton Foundry in Manchester (works number 2028), and was similar in design to No. 7 Tynwald. Unique among the fleet in still being in almost "original" form, it retained it distinctive Salter safety valves until withdrawal from service in 1963 and after storage it was repainted into an approximation of it original colour scheme and placed on display at St John's station during the 1967 and 1968 seasons, and later at Douglas station. In 1978 it was sold for private preservation on the island and remained there for some time, unavailable for public viewing. In July 2021 it was photographed in the workshops of John Fowler Ltd. in Ulverston.[1]
Livery[]
Thornhill is painted Tuscan Red with black and vermilion lining.
Appearances[]
No. 15 Caledonia[]
Caledonia is an 0-6-0 tank engine on the Isle of Man Railway.
Biography[]
The Railway Series[]
Annuals[]
Caledonia was built by Dubs of Glassgow in 1885 for the Manx Northern Railway to haul their traffic from the Foxdale mines, and later purchased by the Isle of Man Railway. Wilbert Awdry described Caledonia as the "odd man out", being a chunky 0-6-0, heavy and powerful tank engine.
Thomas & Friends[]
Other media[]
Caledonia had once sent Thomas a letter about his narrow gauge railway and how excited he was when he was able to climb the top of Snaefell, the highest mountain on the Isle of Man.
Thomas later had a dream of travelling to the Isle of Man. In his dream, Caledonia was asked to try and get the mail to Snaefell Summit when Snaefell Car No. 1 and Civil Aviation Railcar No. 4 could not make it. However, Caledonia was unable to do his job due to having his brakes mended that day.
The next day, as a thank you for helping out, Caledonia showed Thomas the water wheel used to pump water out of the mines at Laxey. The two then decided to have a race back to Douglas station, but Thomas was woken up by Sir Topham Hatt before it could begin.
Technical Details[]
Real-life History[]
Caledonia was built by Dübs and Company in 1885 for the Manx Northern Railway on the Isle of Man as their No. 4 to handle heavier trains and in 1895 was used for the construction of the Snaefell Mountain Railway.
In 1905, when the Isle of Man Railway took over the MNR, it was renumbered 15 and used only so often, mainly on cattle trains from Ramsey. In 1967, it was overhauled and painted spring green and operated until 1975 when it was repainted MNR red and put into the IoMR Museum.
In 1995 it was returned to steam and operated on the Snaefell Mountain Railway for their centenary celebrations. It was painted in a blue livery in 1999 until 2007 and was overhauled heavily in 2009 to early 2013. In 2014, it was withdrawn from service due to boiler problems.
Between 1999 to 2007, Caledonia was painted dark blue and starred as "Thomas" in the annual Days Out with Thomas weekend events.
It was overhauled at the Severn Valley Railway in 2018 and returned later that year. Caledonia has been operational ever since.
Livery[]
Caledonia is currently painted in Metropolitan Red with red and black lining.
Appearances[]
Annuals[]
- 1980 - Real Railway Feature - Isle of Man Railway (mentioned)
Postcards and Stamps[]
- 1995 - Thomas the Tank Engine's Dream (does not speak)
Documentaries[]
No. 16 Mannin[]
Mannin is a 2-4-0 tank engine at the Isle of Man Railway.
Technical Details[]
Real-life History[]
The last locomotive to be supplied to the railway and built in 1926, again by Beyer, Peacock & Co. (works number 6296), No. 16 was by far the most powerful 2-4-0T locomotive on the line. it was purchased to haul the heavy Port Erin boat train, a job which had previously taken two locomotives either double-headed or banked. Larger than its older sisters, differences include a larger diameter boiler (3'6"), larger side tanks (520 gallon), higher boiler pressure (180psi) and larger cylinders (12" bore). It was also the only locomotive to be fitted with a vacuum ejector and steam sanders from new. It was a rarely used away from the Port Erin line during its active career and when not required, as outside the holiday season there would be a much reduced service (and no boat train), would be stored in the locomotive shed there. It spent its last few years used as a Douglas-based engine on the Peel line, when due to poor boiler condition the maximum pressure was reduced which would have dramatically reduced performance. It appears it never travelled north of Kirk Michael on the Ramsey line—certainly there is no photographic evidence to support this. It remained in service until 1964 and later was repainted into spring green and placed on static display at St John's and later Douglas stations until entering the railway museum in 1975 with Caledonia and Sutherland. Briefly considered as a candidate for restoration in 1967, but rejected on account of it non-standard design, it has only ventured out of the museum once, for rebuilding in 1998/1999, and at that time it was treated to "lining out" of paintwork, the previous coat having never been lined. There were two locomotives bearing this name, the other being a mock-up used in the annual Douglas Carnival parade; the fate of that loco is unknown. In early 2019 it was announced that Mannin would be removed from the museum for restoration to working order, its place being taken by No. 1 Sutherland once its cosmetic work is completed. The railway hopes to have Mannin back in full working order in time for the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Isle of Man Railway in 2023. The locomotive was removed from the museum in early 2020, and the boiler has been sent to the Severn Valley Railway for assessment.[1]
Livery[]
Mannin is painted in Indian red with black and yellow lining.
Appearances[]
No. 17 Viking[]
Viking is a 4-wheeled Diesel-hydraulic engine on the Isle of Man Railway.
Biography[]
Thomas & Friends[]
Other media[]
When Thomas was dreaming about visiting the Isle of Man Railway, he was at Port Erin on Holiday and met Viking when he pulled into the station with a rumble. Viking was on holiday too, and it did not take them long to become friends and Viking told Thomas that he was going to Laxey to see a special mail train go to the top of Snaefell. Thomas asked if he could come along and Viking promised to show him the way. The next day it was raining and very cold as Viking and Thomas set off for Laxey.
Technical Details[]
Real-life History[]
This engine was built by Schöma of Germany in 1958 and purchased by the railway in 1992 replacing the time-expired railcars (see below) which after many years of neglect were reaching the end of their useful lives (without receiving serious attention). As part of the Year of Railways celebrations in 1993 and following competition in the local press, the locomotive was named Viking, the name originally to have been allocated to No. 3 Pender back in 1873, and it was outshopped in a dark green livery similar to that carried by No. 10 G.H.Wood at the time. Upon delivery it had been in unlined green livery with the fleet number 208 on it cab sheet, a memory of it first owner "Braunschweigische Kohlenbergwerke (BKB)", Helmstedt, Germany, where it had run on 900 mm gauge in an opencast coalmine. Beset in latter years by problems through lack of maintenance, No. 17 is now in the spring green livery following comments made by local preservationists that a loco (preferably steam) should appear in this colour scheme. Whilst usually restricted to non-passenger services, No. 17 saw some use in traffic during the 2010 season owing to steam locomotive failure; it is usually in operation as part of the annual railway-based events Rush Hour in April/May each year and the Manx Heritage Transport Festival each July. The locomotive is currently stored and unserviceable, its future remains uncertain. The Department of Community Culture and Leisure announced in 2012 that were will be seeking £750,000 of Government funding for a new build locomotive to replace Viking. In October 2012 was announced that a replacement diesel engine had been sourced to replace Viking with delivery expected in Spring 2013.[1]
For the annual Days Out with Thomas weekend events, Viking was used to portray "Dirty" Diesel.
Livery[]
Viking is painted green with a red chassis and black running board. Viking has black and white lining on his cab and sides.
Appearances[]
No. 18 Ailsa[]
Ailsa is a 4-wheeled Diesel-hydraulic engine on the Isle of Man Railway.
Biography[]
The Railway Series[]
Other media[]
Ailsa makes a cameo in Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends at Christmas. She can be seen at the engine and carriage sheds behind Henry at Douglas Station.
Technical Details[]
Real-life History[]
Built for the Jubilee Line extension of the London Underground in 1994 and used by the contractors who re-laid approximately 2/3 of the Port Erin line in conjunction with the IRIS project (a sewerage scheme which saw a main pipeline being laid beneath the railway in 2000-2002 resulting in shuttle services being operated), this locomotive was bought from the contractors upon completion of the work and named "Ailsa" in honour of Archibald Kennedy, 7th Marquess of Ailsa who had done so much to keep the railway alive in the late 1960s. It was stated at the time that the loco would receive a spring green livery (known as "Ailsa Green" as it was standard livery at the time of his ownership) but it remained in plain white livery, until removal of some of its ballast weights which has resulted in a red oxide lower half with a white upper. The locomotive was originally built to work on the construction railway in the Channel Tunnel which accounts for the somewhat squat appearance, although the cab was extended upwards before its arrival on island. This also results in limited visibility for the driver which has seen it fitted with closed circuit television cameras to aid vision. However, this disability as well as the absence of a continuous train braking system (in this case vacuum brakes) and also a mechanically governed top speed of 25kmh (15.53mph) ensures that the locomotive is used largely on shunting and permanent way duties being unsuitable for passenger workings.[1]
Livery[]
Alisa is painted white all over, with small yellow and orange warning stripe panels on her front.
Appearances[]
Snaefell Mountain Railway[]
Snaefell Car 1[]
Snaefell Car 1, also known as No.1 Tram, is an electric rail car/tram at the Snaefell Mountain Railway on the Isle of Man.
Biography[]
Thomas & Friends[]
Other media[]
When Thomas was dreaming about visiting the Isle of Mann on holiday, he met No. 1, who had been struggling to get to the top of Snaefell mountain, but couldn't make it. Thomas then told the stationmaster that he would be able to help out by clearing the way with his snowplough, and then No. 1 would be able to get to the summit. Thomas led No. 1 to the summit. Thomas nearly got stuck in a snow drift as they were nearing the top, but he struggled valiantly through until they managed to reach the summit of Snaefell.
Technical Details[]
Real-life History[]
Built in 1895 as the first of a batch of 6 cars, Car No.1 arrived in the Spring of that year.
During Autumn 2010, Car No.1 was withdrawn for a full overhaul at the Laxey Snaefell Car Shed, which was completed in January 2013, the car repainted into it’s original livery, with the original ‘Snaefell Mountain Tramway’ lettering. It returned to traffic at the start of the 2013 season in May, and remains in service.
Livery[]
No. 1 is painted in the Snaefell Mountain Railway blue and teak livery with yellow lining and white borders.
Appearances[]
Snaefell Car 5[]
Snaefell Car 5 is an electric rail car/tram at the Snaefell Mountain Railway.
Biography[]
Thomas & Friends[]
Other media[]
Snaefell Car 5 was seen in Hashire! The "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends" Steam Locomotive is Alive!, where host Gaku Hamada was riding while learning about how the railway works.
Technical Details[]
Real-life History[]
No. 5 was delivered to the Snaefell Mountain Railway in spring 1895.
It was rebuilt with a new body on its original underframe and trucks in 1971 after a fire had destroyed its original bodywork.
Livery[]
No. 5 is painted in the Snaefell Mountain Railway red and teak livery with yellow lining and white borders.
Appearances[]
Voice Actors[]
- Mahito Tsujimura (Japan; Hashire! The "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends" Steam Locomotive is Alive!)
Civil Aviation Railcar No. 4[]
The Civil Aviation Rail Car, or simply known as The Railcar, is an maintenance trolley at the Snaefell Mountain Railway.
Biography[]
Thomas & Friends[]
Other media[]
In a dream of Thomas', the railcar was unable to reach the summit of Snaefell with the mail because its wheels kept slipping on the icy rails. Thomas then suggested that he clear the way with his snowplough, with the railcar following behind. Despite nearly getting stuck in a snowdrift near the top, Thomas managed to struggle through, allowing the railcar to deliver the mail.
Technical Details[]
Real-life History[]
The Railcar was built by Wickham of Ware in 1991 and arrived to the railway the same year. It is currently in use by National Air Traffic Services (the successor of the Air Ministry and Civil Aviation Authority). It used by crews travelling to maintain the aerial masts at the top of Snaefell mountain.
Livery[]
The railcar is painted yellow with black warning stripes along the side.
Appearances[]
Manx Electric Railway[]
Manx Car 20[]
Manx Car 20 is an electric car/tram at the Manx Electric Railway on the Isle of Man.
Biography[]
Thomas & Friends[]
Other media[]
The electric tram appeared in Hashire! The "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends" Steam Locomotive is Alive!, giving Gaku Hamada a ride through the railway.
Technical Details[]
Real-life History[]
No. 20 was the second of the ‘Winter Saloon’ Motors delivered from G.F.Milnes for the opening of the full Ramsey extension in 1899.
Livery[]
No. 20 is painted in Manx Electric Railway red/white/teak livery. It was painted "Nationalised green" from 1958 to 1961.
Appearances[]
Voice Actors[]
- Masayuki Omoro (Japan; Hashire! The "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends" Steam Locomotive is Alive!)
References[]
| Isle of Man Railway | Locomotives | Sutherland | Derby | Pender | Loch | Mona | Peveril | Tynwald | Fenella | Douglas | G.H. Wood | Maitland | Hutchinson | Kissack | Thornhill | Caledonia | Mannin | Viking | Ailsa |
|---|---|---|
| Rolling Stock | Coaches | Trucks | |
| Snaefell Mountain Railway | Snaefell Car 1 | Snaefell Car 5 | Civil Aviation Railcar No. 4 | |
| Manx Electric Railway | Manx Car 20 | |
| Douglas Bay Horse Tramway | Douglas Bay Horse Tramway No. 32 | |