On our first visit, 30 years ago, we stood at the gated entrance to the Queens Pier, and looked down the line that ran along it, out to sea. At the time, it all looked very complete, just closed. Hardly surprising, as the site had only been closed for three years at the time.
Since then, we'd seen the loco and carriage at the Jurby Transport museum, and to be honest, assumed that would be how things would stay. But no. In 2015, an agreement was reasched to start restoring the pier, and work commenced in 2020.
Now, five bays have been restored, with the steel for two more on site.
The loco and train have returned to their proper home, and efforts and being made to have these running so visitors can take a ride up and down the length of restored pier. The loco is a fantastic looking fake steam engine on a Planet Diesel chassis. I've taken shots that may one day allow me to build a model...
You can support the efforts of the volunteers, and keep up to date with progress, by visiting their Facebook page.
For once a steam outline body that actually looks vaguely like a steam engine; in comparison I'm currently researching a loco which once wore such a body which I'm sure was designed by someone who had never actually seen a steam engine!
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