No. 21

Summary

The request sought details on work undertaken, costs, operational status, and future budgets for Isle of Man Steam Railway locomotives. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that lifetime records do not exist, but provided detailed work summaries and a total cost of £195,202 for the preceding twelve months, along with current operational statuses and planned work for 2026.

Key Facts

• Lifetime records for locomotive work and costs do not exist, so data was provided only for the preceding twelve months.
• The total cost for locomotive work from 01/11/24 to the response date was £195,202.
• Locomotive No. 21 is currently out of service pending recommissioning plans after bogie and axle repairs.
• Several locomotives (Nos. 10, 12, 16) are out of service undergoing heavy rebuilds or refurbishment.
• The budget for planned locomotive work in 2026 has not yet been approved by Tynwald.

Data Disclosed

• £195,202
• 01/11/24
• 17/11/25
• 2025
• 2026
• 42,000 miles
• No. 21
• No. 10
• No. 12
• No. 16

Original Request

I seek the publication of the following information: What work has been undertaken on the steam railway's locomotives, including the no.21 diesel and how much has been spent either A) on each locomotive or B) in total for these works? What is the current operational status of each locomotive in the ownership of the Steam Railway/Isle of Man Government? What locomotive work is planned in the 12 months and what is the budget for those works?

Data Tables (6)

Full Response Text

Appendix 1 What work has been undertaken on the steam railway's locomotives, including the no.21 diesel and how much has been spent either A) on each locomotive or B) in total for these works?

Response We do not hold that information (records do not exist for the lifetime of the Railway). For the purposes of this request, we have provided detailed work information and total cost (B) for the preceding twelve month period.

No. Summary of work done Spent from 01/11/24 Total A summary of total costs for the fleet.

£ 195,202 1 Cleaned for museum duties Nil 4 Following 2025 winter works, the loco has been subjected to regular routine inspection and maintenance throughout the year. Apart from minor adjustments and the replacement of consumable parts the loco has had:- • Running gear overhaul • Wheels reprofiled • Paintwork refreshed • Horn guides repaired • Front-end dragbox replaced • Weeping boiler tubes sealed • A piston rod became loose in the crosshead, requiring repair • Chimney replaced

5 Cleaned for museum duties, but is currently not stored in the museum Nil 6 Volunteers fitted a snow plough and vacuum exhaust pipe The loco was then displayed and is currently stored in the Workshops. Nil 8 Stored in the Workshops pending rebuild and return to traffic Order placed for casting of new cylinders. Nil 9 Cosmetic restoration by IoMSRS volunteers. The loco is now displayed in the museum. Nil 10 Heavy overhaul and repair of the frames (chassis), body, valves and running gear

Machining of new LH cylinder Work completed for machining of wheelsets, skimming journals, manufacture of new crank pins, fitting and wheel profiling.

11 Following 2025 winter works, the loco has been subjected to regular routine inspection and maintenance throughout the year, having covered 42,000 miles since it’s rebuild.

Apart from minor adjustments and the replacement of consumable parts the loco has had:- • The end of the steam ejector exhaust pipe has been replaced • Sealing of weeping boiler tubes • The suspension has been stripped for technical assessment prior to performing the same overhaul across the rest of the fleet. This resulted in modified lubrication arrangements being trialled on the compensating gear and hangers prior to fleet fitment

12 Dismantled and currently undergoing heavy overhaul in Douglas Workshops.
• The frames, bunker, tank, new boiler, new smokebox and wheelsets are in the Workshops. Wheelset profiling • Horn guides machined and fitted to the frames in preparation for axleboxes and bearings.
• Reverser and reach rods have been worked on. • Brake hangers are being machined

13 Following 2025 winter works, the loco has been subjected to regular routine inspection and maintenance throughout the year. Apart from minor adjustments and the replacement of consumable parts the loco has had:- • Pony truck changed out for investigation into water ingress into the bearings • Paintwork refreshed • Loose eccentric which needed rectification • The temporary fitment of special whistle

15 NMR4 Following 2025 winter works, the loco has been subjected to regular routine inspection and maintenance throughout the year. Apart from minor adjustments and the replacement of consumable parts the loco has had:- • Weak suspension springs early in the season and a cracked horn guide. The springs were replaced and the suspension hangers adjusted as necessary • Suffered a hot axlebox, resulting in remedial work to the bearing

16 Undergoing boiler and heavy overhaul work at Severn Valley Railway Holdings Ltd. Boiler being repaired and fitted to frames and loco being refurbished as a rolling chassis. Straightening of a twist in rear of frames
Manufacture of new smoke box to suit repaired boiler. Pony truck wheelset overhaul

21 Bogies removed for gearbox attention and replacement of cracked axle.
Wheelset and gearbox repair Re-assembly of wheelsets into bogies Loco lifted back onto bogies

What is the current operational status of each locomotive in the ownership of the Steam Railway / Isle of Man Government? Response As of 17/11/25 the operational status is No. Status 1 Museum duties 4 Pending December duties 5 Stored 6 Stored 8 Stored pending rebuild 9 Museum duties 10 Out of service, undergoing rebuild off Island 11 Undergoing maintenance work on suspension and Boiler inspection. 12 Out of service, undergoing rebuild 13 Pending annual boiler examination 15 (MNR 4) Pending annual boiler examination 16 Out of service, undergoing refurbishment 21 Out of service. Pending recommissioning plans

What locomotive work is planned in the 12 months and what is the budget for those works?

Response As of 17/11/25 the planned work for the next 12 months is as detailed. The budget for 2026 has not been approved by Tynwald. No. Work Planned Budget 1 None

4 Boiler inspection imminent. Running repairs and adjustments as a result of operational duties. Not fixed 5 None

6 None

8 Training of workshop staff in boiler-smithing skills Not fixed 9 None

10 Completion of chassis overhaul Tendering for upper-works rebuild

Not tendered
11 Completion of suspension work Boiler inspection. Running repairs and adjustments as a result of operational duties. Assessment of technical trials Not fixed 12 Continuation of loco overhaul and rebuild Not fixed 13 Boiler inspection
Due to wear the suspension components will be renewed ahead of the planned loco overhaul and resolution of the trials on #11 Maitland. Not fixed Running repairs and adjustments as a result of operational duties. Removal from traffic in late 2026 for boiler replacement and loco overhaul 15 (MNR 4) Boiler examination imminent Running repairs maintenance and adjustments as a result of operational duties.

Not fixed 16 Boiler renewal completion Loco to commence assembly as a rolling chassis Not fixed 21 Inspection of electrical and electronic equipment Recommissioning Not fixed

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 5034451 20 November 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 27 October 2025, which states:

"I seek the publication of the following information:

What work has been undertaken on the steam railway's locomotives, including the no.21 diesel and how much has been spent either A) on each locomotive or B) in total for these works?

What is the current operational status of each locomotive in the ownership of the Steam Railway/Isle of Man Government?

What locomotive work is planned in the 12 months and what is the budget for those works?"

Our response to your request is as follows: I have enclosed copies of the information that is being released to you.

Please note the budget for 2026 has not been approved by Tynwald so is not available.

Please quote the reference number 5034451 in any future communications.

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