Mike Buttell

Peel loco shed was such a charming building, why on earth they had to knock it down, but leave the water tower in place I just don’t know.

49 inches my friend :-)

I’ll measure it tomorrow for you

Seasonal greetings, not from Little Peel, but a few miles up the coast on the Manx Northern

That’s captured the essence of those cottages completely Chris :-)

The tedium of the “one train a day” Railcar working in and out of Peel during the winter months of the early 1960’s, is broken by the arrival of No12 Hutchinson and three M class wagons loaded with coal for the gas works. After the Donegal sisters leave for St John’s the wagons will be shunted over to the goods shed road for unloading. No12 will then go back to Douglas light engine.

Nice to see you back in action. It’s inspired me to venture to the bottom of the garden to make sure my little empire is still intact after a very busy season in the real world

I finally found time to install the lovely headboard made by my good friend Dave Archer to commemorate my Grandfather Joe’s first (of three) retirements from driving the Manx Peacocks in 1962. His two hand lamps accompany. it’s been so busy this year that the railway has been left to one side, and in places the accumulated cobwebs made the room resemble Miss Havisham’s Mansion. Some serious track cleaning may follow next

Episode 2 https://www.manxradio.com/podcasts/isle-of-man-heritage-railways-a-celebration/episode/steam02/

Been a bit quiet as busy with another project. If anyone fancies a listen and has 25mins to spare, the first in a series of four radio documentaries I’ve written and presented on Manx Radio https://www.manxradio.com/podcasts/isle-of-man-heritage-railways-a-celebration/episode/railpart1/

I’m on my holidays presently and mindful of time being dedicated to swmbo I will join in when I can steal a few moments cheers Neil

A few extras running today as the TT crowds are about and it’s “Mad Sunday” No10 is waiting to bank the 4pm special out of Peel and No16 has the afternoon service, two coaches are enough, the beach is still packed

Thanks Ian. The railway of my youth (and later) had many great characters and it’s nice to be able to remember them and occasionally bring them back to life. Jack Lewney was Peel driver for many years and No6 Peveril was almost a personal possession for him. He would have thoroughly disapproved of his fireman having a pint after work though:-) I was washing the dinner plates last night and glanced over to the shed where “Little Peel” lives and through the window caught the sunlight playing on the loco shed gable end, of course by the time I’d finished and dried up the sun had moved, but it had inspired the picture.

Early evening sunshine as Driver Jack Lewney has a final check around his charge before putting it to bed for the night. The fireman’s bicycle leans against the front buffer, shortly it’ll lean against the front wall of the Railway Hotel.

Delighted to say “Little Peel” features in a three page article in the June edition of Narrow gauge world magazine :-)