Mike Buttell

The discussion outside the Peel loco shed concerns the prospects of Phil Read on the Gilera beating Mike the Bike on his MV in the 1963 Senior TT. “As much chance as 16 making it back up the hill to St.John’s” teases the driver of the Donegal Railcars, who is busy tending to the needs of his own motor cycle. “There’s life in the old girl yet” is the reply, and there is, …..just

The generic Peco industrial town backscene is history. A trip out to Kipperopolis last week with the camera to take photos of the backs of the houses along Glenfaba road, followed by some time photoshopping out satellite dishes, some of the smaller building extensions and skylights etc and some Toning down of the colours has made for a more realistic version of Peel to overlook the station. No8 Fenella waits to charge uphill to St. John’s

There are not very many pictures of the Knockaloe branch (I’ve only ever seen the same three) so this is an imagining of what one of the 16 trains a day might have looked like as it made its way back into Peel from the camp.

No1 Sutherland is set to take the 14:30 up to St.John’s where it will join the the Douglas bound train from Ramsey. The Post Office van has just offloaded the mail bags into the luggage end of the brake coach. The smell of kippers will no doubt linger inside the coach for at least a few days or more likely forever

“We’ve had to disturb Mr Sheard’s Christmas Dinner, he says we can take you, the sleigh and presents in an open wagon. But if we need to put on a cattle van for the reindeer it’ll be an extra three pounds and it won’t be one of the good vans like last year.” “He says it’s not his fault you got stuck in the pub.”

Set at Sulby Bridge Railway Station on the old Manx Northern line, during the 1930’s No 4 Loch on the way down to Ramsey passing No15 Caledonia. The crew of the Caley demonstrate just how big the snow drifts they have just cleared were, with no exaggeration at all, well perhaps just some, maybe, possibly, probably.

Rare to see a double header in Peel (Isle of Man Railway) in December, but the Steam Packet sailing has arrived into Peel Harbour due to gale force winds, and Numbers 13 Kissack and 4 Loch prepare to battle the elements into Douglas with the diverted passengers

Intruder alert! Manx Northern Sharp Stewart No1 “Ramsey” on a works train at Peel. IMR No13 “Kissack” in the background. One of the MNR sharpies is recorded as having gone south to Port Erin in 1911, so that gives me all the licence I need. This loco is a static model, using one of the spare Oxford Diecast plastic chassis.

Looking really good Chris. :-)

“Ease up!” Ivo captures the scene at Peel, Isle of Man, as No1 Sutherland couples on to the first afternoon train towards St.John’s and Douglas. The smell of smoke, steam, kippers and a fresh late autumn breeze combine to add to the sight of the train at Mill Road crossing

No1 now lined numbered and named. that’s it now, not doing any more, except No14 maybe :-)

This one (1!) was unplanned, but has turned out okay I think. Awaiting lining out and sporting hand mixed Indian Red livery “Sutherland” has made it to Peel

Busy in Peel! The pre WW2 stock is in action. No4 Loch is based out in Peel, working chimney first into Douglas, No13 Kissack has the afternoon train and No15 Caledonia looks ready to run up to Knockaloe Internment Camp with supplies and a couple of empty H wagons.

“The Peel Engine” of Manx mythology. No6 Peveril joins the fleet and is out on test with one of the first trains of the winter timetable. Once the tourists have gone, just a single coach is often sufficient for late 1950’s traffic. I’ve left the Oxford/IOM Transport plastic dome on this one, as it looks scruffier than the brass ones. Subtle alteration to the chimney top as well. The intention is to fit the small snowploughs that were such a feature of the Manx locos in winter, plus some steam heating pipe work maybe.

Classic issue :-)

The little Oxford locos are a cut (or three) above the old GEM ones, they capture the Manx Peacocks perfectly, mind you they should, No 12 was 3D scanned for the unpowered model and I was pleased to have been asked to look over the images before they were made into models.

G glad you got that Neil, that was what I was trying to achieve.

Late afternoon in Peel (Isle of Man) 1962, numbers 5 “Mona” and 12 “Hutchinson” have a seven coach train packed with holidaymakers to take back into Douglas. It’s a scene I might have witnessed as a youngster and therefore is a pleasure to be able to recreate in miniature

Let me think about that Neil I’ve thought about it ……

Another loco body almost completed, just the cab steps to position. This one No10 G H Wood, in Ailsa green. The layout is being built to run in three eras. pre WW2 with No4 Loch, No13 Kissack and No15 Caledonia in dark green livery. Coaching stock in a mix of purple lake/off white and plain brown 1950’s to 1965 with No5 Mona, No6 Peveril, No12 Hutchinson and No16 Mannin all in Indian red livery with red and cream coaches 1967/68 Ailsa era with No8 Fenella, No10 G H Wood and No11 Maitland, coaches again in red and cream ( I am tempted to turn out the Foxdale Coach in blue and yellow as Lord Ailsa’s camping coach :-)

Alongside Maitland for comparison No8 Fenella in Peel this evening. Running on a chassis borrowed from the 1950’s Mona. I’m really pleased with this one, lowering the tanks was a challenge, but not as much as applying the N gauge lining. Just a bit of pipe work to finish the body and then a chassis of its own.

Jim, I haven’t tackled motorising the tram yet, but might have a go at some point, picked it up on eBay for a tenner :-) couldn’t resist at the price

After a heavy session in the Creek, following the Royal Show, Farmer Cringle couldn’t decide if it was the eight pints of Okells or the “locally sourced” mushrooms in his omelette that were responsible for his hallucinogenic state… Standing with his back firmly to the fence seemed the only sensible option.

It’s been a busy afternoon in Peel, so much so that the 16:20 has been strengthened to four carriages

Can’t remember if these were Bemo or Liliput, but they worked well.