Isle of Man Railways Diesel Loco fiasco

[John Luxton]

It’s 10 years now since the dodgy diesel dubbed The Cabbage was delivered to the Steam Railway.
And a decade on, new figures have been released proving just useless it has been.
Diesel no.21 was delivered on December 11, 2013, having been purchased at a cost of £420,000.
It was supposed to pull commuter, dining and maintenance trains as well as act as a shunter and recovery loco.

The loco dubbed 'Cabbage' that's only been used on two days in four years

It was last used in 2021

www.iomtoday.co.im

 

[Railsigns]

When I saw it earlier this year it was off its bogies and resting on sleepers.

 

[John Luxton]

When I saw it earlier this year it was off its bogies and resting on sleepers.

Yes it was like that last year as well! I really don't know why they didn't try and source a locomotive from somewhere nearer than the USA. FWHR at Boston Lodge could probably have come up with a solution and they have experience of doing new build contracts for other narrow gauge operators.

 

[Belfastmarty]

The IMR don't have much luck with their diesel locos; I seem to recall the previous incumbent (Schoema 17) being less than reliable too. As @John Luxton says, purchasing from the USA was a strange decision with manufacturers closer to home surely able to supply something appropriate.

 

[dgl]

Clayton could have probably done something too, or ask one of the preserved narrow gauge railways.

 

[randyrippley]

They have previous history with this kind of nonsense. Sounds like a rerun of the Donegal railcar purchase.

 

[Western 52]

Do the Donegal railcars still exist? I think I last saw them in 1989.

 

[John Luxton]

Do the Donegal railcars still exist? I think I last saw them in 1989.

Yes they do. A rebuild was started on them a decade or more ago and then paused.

 

[Western 52]

Yes they do. A rebuild was started on them a decade or more ago and then paused.

It would be great to see them run again. I've never seen them working.

 

[John Luxton]

It would be great to see them run again. I've never seen them working.

Agree. I did see them out in the mid 1990s when I started visiting the island on a regular basis - but they were not in public service by then.

 

[stuu]

Weird. Surely you insist on some sort of guarantee in the contract? And considering diesel locomotives have been around for over 100 years, how did they get it so badly wrong?

 

[John Luxton]

Weird. Surely you insist on some sort of guarantee in the contract? And considering diesel locomotives have been around for over 100 years, how did they get it so badly wrong?

The IoM Government do not have a good record with transport matters.

The shortening of the Douglas Horse Tramway following the promenade rebuild is another recent example and now they are wondering why passenger numbers are down!

As well as the railways the government nationalised the Isle of Man Steam Packet a few years ago.

There are now questions as to the suitability of the new build ship MANXMAN which appears to have draught issues at both Heysham and Douglas depending on the tides and the port authorities do not appear too happy with the vessel operating in high winds due to the vessel's windage which can affect manoeuvring in port. These are issues which should have been considered at the design stage not when the vessel was actually delivered!!!

Isle of Man is a good example of why Governments should not run transport!!!