Isle of Mull Railway
| Isle of Mull Railway | |||||||||||||
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| Route length: | 2 km | ||||||||||||
| Gauge : | 260 mm | ||||||||||||
| Scotland : | Isle of Mull | ||||||||||||
| Operating points | |||||||||||||
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The Isle of Mull Railway was a miniature railway on the Isle of Mull , an island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland . She had a track width of 10¼ inches and led over a distance of 1¼ miles from the ferry terminal in Craignure to Torosay Castle . It was opened in 1983 under the name Mull and West Highland Railway , regular operations ended in October 2010. The route was marketed as Scotland's only island railway for passenger transport.
history
In 1975 the then owner of Torosay Castle, the politician David James, decided to open the castle and gardens to the public. Businessman (and railroad enthusiast) Graham Ellis recommended building a narrow-gauge railway to transport visitors from the ferry terminal to the castle, 1.5 miles away, and expected the railway itself to become a tourist attraction.
Although the building permit was granted in 1975, construction work did not begin until April 1982. The line was completed in May 1983 and the first test train ran on May 22 of the same year. The first passenger train ran on August 18, 1983, and scheduled operations began on June 22 of the following year. Up until 2010, more than 25,000 passengers used the train every year.
In 2010, Torosay Castle was put up for sale. Due to the uncertainty about the future of the property, the Mull and West Highland Railway Company announced the cessation of operations on October 28, 2010. A month later it became known that the company intended to relocate the railway.
The last day of operation was December 4, 2010. The ferry company Caledonian MacBrayne supported the farewell celebrations with special tickets to the island and had souvenir posters printed. The very last train was driven by the founders of the railway, Martin Eastwood and Graham Ellis. He drove in double traction with Lady of the Isles and Victoria , the former having a sign with Balamory Express on the front. All of the railway's rolling stock was on the train.
The closure of the railway line has been described by the local tourist office as a "significant blow to tourism on the island and mainland ." Chris James, owner of Torosay Castle, criticized the railway line operators and complained that he "had it free of charge for 30 years with the Let trains play. "
In 2011 it was announced that no buyer had yet been found for Torosay Castle. This year the castle should not be open on 245 days, as before, but only on 45 days, which was not enough for the railway to operate economically.
The railway systems were still available in 2011, so that operations could be resumed to a reduced extent during the Easter holidays. In 2013 the railway systems were removed. The material and the vehicles were sold in single lots. Relocation of the railway to Balloch was discussed, but it was not implemented. In 2015, all remaining vehicles and track systems were sold to the operator of the Rudyard Lake Steam Railway . Dismantling and transport took place in spring 2016.
Rolling stock
A total of six diesel and steam locomotives have been used on the system so far, as well as 12 passenger cars with bogies and three freight cars . The Glen Audlyn and Lady of the Isles locomotives have now been parked on the mainland.
Steam locomotives
- The Lady of the Isles ( 2-6-4T ), built in 1981, was previously used on the Suffolk Miniature Railway in Kessingland . The construction of the locomotive was influenced by another machine from Roger Marsh, Trevithick , which is now used on the Royal Victoria Railway .
- Victoria (2-6-2T) was built by Mouse Boiler Works in 1993 and is based on a Baldwin- built locomotive that operates on the Puffing Billy Railway in Australia .
- Waverley (4-4-2) was built by David Curwen in 1948. Originally called the Black Prince , shewas used on a railway line in Weymouth , Dorset . Waverley is now on permanent loan from the Rudyard Lake Steam Railway , in Staffordshire , and has been repainted green.
Diesel locomotives
- Frances with two powered bogies , was built by Mouse Boiler Works in 1999 and is powered by a Perkins 1000 diesel engine via a fluid transmission. Weight 2 tons.
- Glen Audlyn with two powered bogies was built by Bob Davies in 1986 on the Isle of Mull. Driven by a Perkins 4108 diesel engine from a Commer vehicle via a fluidtransmission.
- The Green Diesel , originally operated on the Great Central Railway at Loughborough , is based on a Class 26 locomotive and is powered by a Morris Minor engine through a mechanical transmission with four forward and four reverse gears.
watch TV
The Isle of Mull Railway appears in an episode of the second series of the CBeebies television program Balamory . The recordings were made in autumn 2002.
Web links
- Official website (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ History of the Isle of Mull Railway , accessed October 15, 2011
- ↑ Press release: Issued by The Mull & West Highland Narrow Gauge Railway Company Ltd. Retrieved November 13, 2010 .
- ^ Howard Johnston: Ax falls on Isle of Mull Railway . In: Steam Railway . 382, November 12 - December 9, 2010. Bauer Media, p. 30 .
- ^ A b Phil Ashworth: Last train for Mull Rail . In: Heritage Railway . 145, 23 December 2010 - 19 January 2011. Mortons Media Ltd, Horncastle, p. 16 .
- ^ Phil Ashworth: Evesham Vale up for sale. In: Heritage Railway . 148, March 17 - April 13, 2011. Mortons Media Ltd, Horncastle.
- ↑ Phil Ashworth: Officials Mull over Loch Lomond Switch . In: Heritage Railway . 152, July 6 - August 2, 2011. Mortons Media Ltd, Horncastle.
- ^ Rudyard Lake Steam Railway. Leek and Rudyard Railway Ltd, January 7, 2017, accessed February 21, 2017 .
- ^ History of the Isle of Mull Railway
- ^ Isle of Mull Railway, Balamory
- ^ Tobermory ( Memento from January 16, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
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