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 :-)

Coronation excitement is reaching fever pitch in little Peel. The train stands passenger and crew less as everyone is packed into the Railway Hotel (Creek) to watch on the tv that has been rented for the day. On the roof of the goods shed, the gulls take bets on if No16’s boiler will hold out for the trip back up to St.John’s

The “Bog Ore** Express”maybe only ever ran four or five times out to Peel Gasworks in real life, but in the fantasy world of model railways it’s an annual event No8 Fenella is in charge again this year, the pw department travel in the compartments of F19 with their shovels in the luggage section. ** Bog Ore, a by product of the local gasworks, probably highly toxic but used to scatter on the tracks to prevent weeds growing, much cheaper than weed killer

Much delayed due to a combination of circumstances mostly beyond my control, this Oxford/Branchlines Hutchinson is U.S.A. Bound on Monday

The fantastic work at Groudle never fails to amaze me. It really is the diamond on the crown of our heritage railways.

I took one look at this and immediately congratulated myself for not being clever and for sticking with hand operated points

I might as well Neil, I’ve helped pay for it:-)

Yeah, poor thing. a shame the way things have worked out with 21, I really like it, and hope it’s problems are resolved.

Just because I can…. Viking trundles in with three van loads of Okells for the Creek Darts Weekend, the Donegal sisters are back in action after a motor refit in car 20 and The Cabbage brings in the Dining Train to the bay platform on a Sunset Supper run.

Thanks for the mention Gary. My Peel layout took its inspiration in turn from the one built by Barry Lane and featured in Railway Modeller in the 1980’s

During the winter, I’m quite happy to assume that the minimal service by Railcar set goes on in regular order, Monday to Saturday, and there’s no need for me to actually be there to witness it. However a visit to the bottom of the garden this week on an unrelated matter revealed that one of the Railcars is out of action due to a failed engine, and rather than subject any passengers to a two hour return journey in reverse all the way back into Douglas, steam has briefly returned. No6 Peveril, F19 and Gr12 make up the service. *Footnote No6 and the Railcars would not have been operational at the same time. I know that🙂