Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association

[1] In its time the Supporters' Association has undertaken many supportive projects on the railway, from the basic painting and maintenance of level crossing gates (which were controversially replaced with automated barriers in 2001) to more menial matters such as the general tidying up of stations along the line, at one time their input ranged all the way up to providing volunteer operational staff such as station masters and train guards each summer during the 1970s.

An ambitious attempt to fully restore a steam locomotive (No.9 Douglas, built by Beyer, Peacock & Company at its Gorton Foundry in 1896 and withdrawn from traffic in 1953) was aborted and so after much deliberation of other major projects (and having used some the intended funds to re-tube No.

11 Maitland in 1981) in 1982 the association began the ambitious restoration project of the Groudle Glen Railway which, since that time has been re-opened in its entirety and now operates at weekends and certain evenings in the summer months.

A number of works have also been undertaken to stations along the line, notably at Castletown, Ballabeg, The Level and Port St. Mary as well as larger projects including cosmetic restoration of out-of-use locomotives.

As at May 2024 there are a number of these in hand:- The association has also been vocal in its support of the completion of the rebuild of the diesel railcars which (as at April 2024) are in store uncompleted at Douglas Station.

In 2003 a preservation policy was put in place, thereby securing the future of the line in a way sympathetic to its origins, ensuring that they are consulted when any major projects are considered by the railway's management.

Potential projects are discussed at board level on a regular basis, ensuring the group's continued commitment to the preservation of the railway and its historical stations and stock, reflected in the proposed items on the list above.

Various replica station buildings were built, starting with the station canopy in 1993, and the improvement of the line as one of the island's tourist attractions has continued; this has included the added attraction of visiting steam locomotives, gala days in conjunction with Isle of Man Heritage Railways and popular off-season events such as Santa Trains at Christmas and Bunny Trains each Easter weekend.

[clarification needed] The group maintains a strong working relationship with the management and attends regular meetings to ensure the development.

Together with H.1 (the next project by the group) these two wagons now form the Troublesome Trucks for the Friends of Thomas weekend that takes place on the railway annually.

No. 11 Maitland at St. John's Station in July 1967, the line's penultimate year of full operation.
Volunteers from the Supporters' Association repainting the crossing gates at Port St. Mary Station in July 1973; until the nationalisation of the line in 1978 the Association maintained an active volunteer presence on the railway, both operationally by providing guards and gatekeepers, and peripheral works such as painting and maintenance at the lineside; these efforts were later concentrated on their restoration of the Groudle Glen Railway
The Level following its first restoration in February 2012; this site was revisited in 2021
No.4 Loch was the subject of the successful Un-Loch Your Cash appeal in 1998
No.5 Mona stored in 2007 prior to cosmetic restoration work commencing.
No.13 Kissack fitted with Association-funded injectors at Port Erin Station
No.6 Peveril which was cosmetically restored by the Association in 1994 and again in 2021
No.11 Maitland 1981 at Douglas Station in 1983 carrying Association-funded boiler tubes
Association-built replica wagon H.1 (with F.36)in the Isle of Man Railway Museum at Port Erin.
The goods shed at Castletown Station which sees use as a base for Association volunteers in harmony with the Friends Of... group there
Lhen Coan Station on the Groudle Glen Railway with original locomotive Sea Lion in 2009; this railway was restored and owned by the Association between 1982 and 2009 when it became an independent organisation.
Restored drop-side wagon M.78 in a siding at Douglas Station ; this was restored by the Association Mainland Group in 1998 and remains in regular use on photographic charters and mixed trains during events, when not displayed in the Isle of Man Railway Museum
Replica three-plank wagon H.1 at Douglas Station ; this was built in 2000 by the Association's Mainland Group utilising a small number of remaining components. When not used it is displayed in the Isle of Man Railway Museum with several other examples of historical rolling stock.