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14 ISLE OF MAN EXAMINER www.iomtoday.co.im Tuesday, May 1, 2018 BUILDINGS AT RISK Water tanks: keeping the railway steaming along The Buildings at Risk series covers buildings and structures currently at risk, lost and saved. This week, James Maddrell of the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters’ Associa- tion looks at a seldom-noticed but absolutely crucial set of buildings/structures associated with the Isle of Man Railways. n its day, the steam railway was vital to life and the economy – pos- sibly approaching as important as perhaps the internet is today. IThe railways were trans- porting many of the workers, holiday makers, goods and minerals such as sand and lead ore around the Island, and rapidly proved a real boon to the island. The Manx railway network developed quite quickly, and needed infrastructure to func- tion. As well as the permanent way (track, viaducts etc.) and facilities for handling the passenger and freight cargo, sheds were built to stable and maintain the engines. All of those buildings and struc- tures are well known by those on the island – but you can’t run a steam railway unless the engine has the supplies to power it. We’re all familiar with coal bunkers and the image of the fireman on the footplate, shov- elling coal to raise the steam. However, less well known is that a steam locomotive can get through as much water as coal, if not even more. The water is turned to steam in the boiler and al- lowed to expand in the cylin- ders to move the engine, the exhausted steam and conden- sation is then discharged back into the atmosphere, drawing the fire as it goes. Engine No. 5 Mona taking water at Castletown in 1967 (Picture: E.J. Mitchell) The Isle of Man railway company chose to use a well- but that’s over two tons of wa- sey. This meant a water sup- Peel brick or random rubble, but in locations with more They were made by Ran- tested locomotive design, first ter, and, depending on the ply was required in far more built to a high standard as the tracks, such as Douglas, there somes and Rapier of Ipswich, used in Norway; the same de- train composition and load, locations around the island’s tanks contained a considera- were large station tank(s) and including all the pipe work sign was kept until the last you will use a lot of it just go- network, exploiting local wa- ble weight of water. The tanks then several water cranes or and water columns around locomotive was delivered in ing from Douglas to Port Erin. ter sources depending on the themselves were usually sup- columns between the tracks Douglas station. 1926 albeit enlarged and modi- The buildings and struc- location. ported on old rails laid across – effectively large standpipes. The tanks at Ramsey and fied through the years. tures to provide this boiler Steam engines only earn the top of the tower; the Rail- Tank construction the first ones at St John’s and These locomotives are water are the subject of this for their operators whilst they way company used old rails for The tanks all varied in size Foxdale were constructed of built to a 3 foot narrow-gauge article. are actually hauling trains, so lintels all over the railway and depending on how much de- the best well-seasoned Eng- design and have a limited Supplying water to the minimising delays whilst re- many buildings still extant mand was expected of them, lish or American oak. The amount of storage for fuel. engines filling an engine’s water tanks, have rail lintels to this day. for example Port Erin, as a joints between the planks The railway has never had Compared to water, the especially mid-journey, is crit- Whilst most tanks were terminus where a full refill would have been caulked tenders fitted to any locomo- engines’ consumption of coal ical. supported on masonry, in- would be needed, was a large ship style, and they had large tives, but the engines’ bunkers was modest and could be sup- To assure a reliable supply, cluding that at the north end structure; whereas locations steel straps around the tank to could carry about ¾ of a ton plied by having depots of the and enable it to be delivered of Castletown station, there like Castletown where only a brace the timber planks. of coal - sufficient for a round imported coal at a small num- into the engines’ tanks quick- are suggestions that an ear- top-up was required were rela- Peel tank was unique on trip from Douglas to Port Er- ber of terminus stations which ly, the railway erected a net- lier tank at the other end of tively small. the railway, being made out in, or a trip from Douglas to could be supplied by seaports. work of track-side tanks. Castletown station by the Sil- The materials the tanks of large slate slabs probably Ramsey. Similarly, the engines al- These tanks were mount- verburn river bridge was sup- themselves are constructed sourced from Wales. However, water was a dif- ways took on water at the ed on elevated towers or plat- ported solely on a frame made of varied too. The slate was drilled and ferent matter. A pair of side terminus stations such as forms so the water could be of old rails. Douglas has two large cast metal tie rods fixed the slabs tanks - recognisable as the Douglas, Port Erin, Ramsey fed to the engines by gravity, In rural locations, where iron tanks which fed three wa- together, and the joints point- components that have the and Peel; but they could also just like the header tank or cis- the engine could run right ter columns around the yard; ed or caulked like the wooden name plates attached to them need topping-up before or af- tern in modern houses – but alongside the tower, the wa- two of these columns are still tanks. - hold around 480 gallons in ter long gradients, or en-route on a larger scale. ter was delivered directly from in use today; and although the There were other examples total. if they made a long trip such as Most of the tank bases the tank to the engine via a six tanks are now out of use they of domestic slate water tanks That doesn’t sound a lot, Douglas via St John’s to Ram- were constructed of either inch diameter leather hose; are still water tight. in Peel and around the island Tuesday, May 1, 2018 www.iomtoday.co.im ISLE OF MAN EXAMINER 15 BUILDINGS AT RISK A hand-pump used to fill the track-side tanks; and the arrangements to transfer the contents to the engine. A long chain is pulled downwards which in turn lifts a big brass plunger in the bottom of the tank - like a bath plug - allowing Engine No. 8 Fenella alongside the unique slate water tank at Peel to celebrate the 140th anniversary in 2013 the water out of the tank and into the locomotive (Picture: Sunnycroft collection) (Picture: John Maddrell) The riveted tank at Port Erin 1965 (Picture: John Maddrell) At Douglas station – Ransomes and Rapier water tanks filled by pumping An original water crane or column which is still in use at Douglas station One of the wooden tanks at Ramsey 1978 (Picture: Sunnycroft collection) river water until early 1980s (Picture above and left: John Maddrell) – indeed a part of a tank can It is key to have a supply of brackish salt water from the on the scene in 1879 - this in- couldn’t use a well and was til 1986 and was eventually re- be found re-used in the grave- pure water, and the most re- harbour – similar to Malta’s cluded two steel tanks and a supplied by the Ramsey wa- placed by a smaller stone clad stone at Lonan that Archibald liable source was often a pri- current-day plight with over- water column. To augment ter company from the Ballure building and new tank in 1998. Knox designed for his friend vate well. extraction from the aquifers the well and reduce pumping reservoir. Castletown water tower was Cannon Quine. that supply their drinking wa- costs, a header tank fed by a Other stations such as demolished in 1978 to be re- The other tanks on the ouglas railway ter leading to seawater being lade or pipe was added, which Ballasalla, Kirk Michael and placed with a utilitarian steel railway were made up of steel station and drawn in. in turn fed the station tanks. Foxdale all had tanks and frame and tank. Fortunately, plates riveted together. Clinch’s brew- By the 1890s, Douglas was Identifying the original wa- tube wells with the water be- the water towers at Douglas, This could have been done ery were some forced to abstract water from ter source for Port Erin station ing hand pumped by some Peel and Ballasalla have sur- by the railway’s own boiler of the first sites the river upstream of the har- has proved the most elusive. unfortunate member of staff vived intact; sadly only Balla- makers, or contracted out to on the island to use ‘Abyssin- bour; switching latterly to The most likely candidate - probably the most junior! - at salla is now in use. firms such as Knox’s engineer- Dian’ tube wells. Tube wells ‘mains’ supply to replenish is the stream which rises on maybe 5 gallons/minute (com- Ballasalla water tower was ing or Gellings in Douglas, or had been invented in America the engines.

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