Transport Dept Threatens Historic Manx Railway Stock

[25 298]

Isle of Man Railway & Tramway Preservation Society
2 Moultrie Rd Rugby CV21 3BD 01788 543026
emails [email protected]

Release date 31 Jan 2011
Transport Department Threatens Historic Manx Railway Stock

For thirty-seven years the Isle of Man Railway & Tramway society and its predecessor body have played a major role in preserving important items of Manx rolling stock. The Society enjoyed good relations with a series of managers of Manx Transport, including Bill Lambden, Harry Stewart, Harold Gilmore, Rupert Gibb, Bill Jackson, David Howard and Mike Ball and concluded a generous ground breaking deal with Robert Smith permitting the government owned No 1 Sutherland to return to service.

Things began to go sour soon after the appointment of the current director of Transport, Mr Ian Longworth. An agreement between the Transport Division of the Department of Tourism & Leisure and the Society had been signed, but Mr Longworth decided to go back on it. Although the Department actually ran No 8 in public service without the Society’s knowledge whilst claiming the 1 April 2009 agreement was not in force, the Department has put ceaseless pressure on the Society to accept a different and totally unreasonable agreement.

Although the Society has repeatedly said it wished to negotiate over other issues with the Department, as there was no “linkage” between different subjects, the department has studiously refrained from doing so. On 25 January, Mr Longworth gave the Society notice that if we did not capitulate to the Departments demands to replace the 1 April 2009 agreement with a new and unfair agreement, that the Society would have to remove the rare Cleminson coach which it preserved, Locomotive No 8, which is actually covered by the agreement of 1 April 2009, MER Locomotive No 23 and MER Freight Car No 26 from the department’s property.

Failure to do so would result in the equipment being dumped outside, so vandals and thieves could wreck it. The Cleminson coach and the MER vehicles are some of the most important items of historic rolling stock on the Island, which was why they were rescued by the society when they were in danger of being broken up. Their destruction would bring odium upon those responsible, namely Mr Longworth.

The Society has repeatedly offered to make MER No 23 available free of charge to the Department for use at Rail Enthusiast events. When it appeared in 1983, when Bill Jackson was Transport Executive, it attracted over 400 visitors to the Island, so is a valuable crowd magnet. MER freight Car No 26 has never appeared in service, but would be equally successful.

Ever since Bill Jackson retired, every effort by the Society to see these vehicles operate has been met with indifference and obstruction, but no previous director had proposed to use them to blackmail the society into accepting an unfair agreement over something else. No previous director has proposed to jeopardise items of unique historic significance to the Island.

The Society Board had decided to prepare agreements that would give the department unlimited use of MER 23 and MER 26 for a ten year period. Despite the menacing tone of Mr Longworth’s letter, we have forwarded signed copies of the agreements to the Department. This is clearly the best way forward for the Island, as it will provide added attractions to re-juvernate the stale transport events that the department now offers. The Society Board has also indicated to the Minister of Tourism, Mr David Cretney that it would be happy to make the Cleminson coach available for public display in the Port Erin Museum without charge. Had any previous director been in office, the Board feels these offers would have been gladly accepted. The Board hopes that Minister Cretney will have sufficient control over his Department that these logical proposals will be adopted.

The Society has written to the Chief Minister, the Hon J A Brown to request a Declaratory Resolution of Tynwald that the measures proposed by the department on 25 January be not implemented. The Society has further suggested that a Select Committee of the House be set up to investigate the mismanagement of the Departments affairs, as the current actions of the Department are contrary to the Interests of the island, of the Manx taxpayer and of the railways themselves. The Society hopes that Tynwald will take a resolute stance to protect the national interest from the misguided actions of the Public Transport Division of the DCCL, but has to prepare for a worst-case scenario, that it has to remove its stock from the railway by the start of March.

If anyone on the Island is in a position to offer accommodation for one or more of a steam locomotive, a passenger carriage and two MER vehicles, which vary in length from 23 to 37 feet, are approx 8 feet wide and 10 feet tall, we would be pleased to hear from you. Robert Hendry can be contacted at 2 Moultrie Rd, Rugby, Warks, CV21 3BD, phone 01788 543026 or by email at [email protected]

Given that saving one small horse tram was only resolved with less than 24 hours to a destruction deadline, the Society cannot be optimistic over finding homes on the Island for its collection. The board has, of necessity been making enquiries off the Island, and has potential homes for two of the above vehicles, and is actively seeking venues for the remaining items.

It would be tragic if the Society were forced to remove historic vehicles from the Island that have served the Manx people for generations because a Director of Transport wishes to use them as counters to pressure the Society into relinquishing a SIGNED agreement in favour of an unfair and inequitable replacement document.

It is our firm hope that a Select Committee will be set up to investigate the affairs of the Department, as the Island, the Manx Taxpayer and railway enthusiasts who love these railways deserve better at the hands of those who run them.

Robert Hendry, chairman of the Society said
“With homes on the Island and Across, I am familiar with the Island railways and also many historic railways in the UK. When I visit such lines in the UK, perhaps after several years, I am always impressed with the progress that I see. They are a glowing tribute to those who run them. Anyone who knew the Island railways twenty years ago and who sees them today is conscious of relentless decline and neglect. In the last twenty years 40% of the MER power cars have become junk. On the steam railway coaches that were in good condition in the 1980s are now ruinous. The new and hostile attitude of the department to a Preservation Society that is their natural ally makes the threat to Manx heritage even greater.”

“The Railways deserves better, the Island deserved better and the Manx Taxpayer most assuredly deserved better. To give one simple example, we need to remove asbestos from two steam engines we own, and the Department needs to do the same with two of its engines. They have quoted us £45,000 for the work. The quotes we have from a leading UK railway asbestos remover, including transport to the UK are £25,000. In theory the department are the EXPERTS ! The department is obstructing us in removing our two engines to do the job efficiently and professionally. We would be happy to assist them over securing better terms than they seem to be able to get for their own engines, so helping the Manx taxpayer. We are still willing to do so and have told the Treasury that we will gladly assist. The Department needs to be re-organised from top to bottom, and to see how successful historic railways work with preservation societies such as ourselves in the UK. The Island Railways can have a future, but as they are currently being run, I fear for them. Now is the time for a thorough investigation and fresh management.”

[Tony]

What a sad state of affairs. The Manx Railway and the Electric Tramway should be a jewel in the crown of the island, not a bargaining chip used by a public servant for unknown ends. Any normal transport manager would welcome assistance from enthusiastic, knowledgable "outsiders" if it helped their "bottom line".

[richard thompson]

This is a bad situation. We can only hope that sense prevails and the assets of the society and island don't suffer damage because of this.

Richard

[StoneRoad]

I am speechless........what a carry on!

I do hope that the situation is resolved quickly.

Ah, 25 298, do you want the information in this release posted elsewhere?

StoneRoad

[48111]

Well that is terrible news, lets all hope sincerely that something happens to avoid this.

48111

[John H-T]

This has been covered in detail in the latest copy of Steam Railway. Yet again we find a situation where it was thought that "preserved" railway stock was secure only to find that it isn't.

I very much hope that sense will prevail and that this can be sorted.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

[25 298]

Originally Posted by StoneRoad

I am speechless........what a carry on!

I do hope that the situation is resolved quickly.

Ah, 25 298, do you want the information in this release posted elsewhere?

StoneRoad

I'm quite happy for people to pass the word on! If you are interested in trams and wish to lend your support to Robert Hendry and the IoMRTPS or wish to be kept upto date please join the Isle of Man Trams yahoo group.

Either type the url below into your browser address bar

http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/IsleofManTrams/

or send me your email to [email protected] and I will send you an invite.
Mr Hendry is a member of the group and is most aggrieved by this parlous state that his historic stock of Trams and steam engines find themselves in. He will be most pleased if any of you can join.

Also he suggests anyone who has fond memories of these trams and steam engines should email the responsible ministers. If anyone is interested in writing to the ministers please email me and I will give guidance as to who to contact!

Many thanks,

Brendan Kilgallon