The Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association Ltd (I.o.M.S.R.S.A.) is a railway preservationist group dedicated to ensuring the continued operation of the Isle of Man Railway on the Isle of Man. Since its inception in 1966 the group has provided volunteer workers, acted in a watchdog role and undertaken the restoration of the Groudle Glen Railway on the island, as well as supporting projects on the railway and producing the journal, Manx Steam Railway News. They also carry out major rolling stock projects and in 2026 are marking their own diamond jubilee as part of the Manx Heritage Transport Festival.
History
The group merged with the Mannin Railway Group to form one association in 1966 when the future of the Isle of Man Railway hung in the balance; the railway did not operate any services in that year for the first time since the line to Peel was opened in 1873. In 1967 however, the full network (save for the Foxdale Railway which had closed back in 1940) was reopened owing to the intervention of the Marquess of Ailsa who ran services until September 1968; but then the lines to Peel and Ramsey were closed for good. This was a period of concern for the Supporters' Association but the future of the line to Port Erin was assured and trains ran on this line from 1969 onwards. The centenaries in 1973 and 1974 were celebrated by running special trains. In 1975 and 1976 services were curtailed between Port Erin and Castletown, then Port Erin and Ballasalla and the group became politically active in fighting for the retention of the full southern line. Following a major campaign trains returned to Douglas in 1977 and after nationalisation in 1978 the group took on more of a watchdog role, ultimately moving on to restore the Groudle Glen Railway whilst maintaining strong connections with the Isle of Man Railway into the twenty first century.
Volunteering
In its time the Supporters' Association has undertaken many supportive projects on the railway, from the basic painting and maintenance of level crossing gates (which were controversially replaced with automated barriers in 2001) to more menial matters such as the general tidying up of stations along the line, at one time their input ranged all the way up to providing volunteer operational staff such as station masters and train guards each summer during the 1970s. However, by 1978 when the railway was nationalised the role of the group decreased somewhat with volunteer-based workers causing difficulties within a government-run organisation. An ambitious attempt to fully restore a steam locomotive (No.9 Douglas, built by Beyer, Peacock & Company at its Gorton Foundry in 1896 and withdrawn from traffic in 1953) was aborted and so after much deliberation of other major projects (and having used some the intended funds to re-tube No. 11 Maitland in 1981) in 1982 the association began the ambitious restoration project of the Groudle Glen Railway which, since that time has been re-opened in its entirety and now operates at weekends and certain evenings in the summer months. The railway is owned entirely by the Supporters' Association and operated by volunteer labour. Since this time all the volunteer labour provided by the members of the group is concentrated on the railway at Groudle Glen and activities connected to the Isle of Man Railway have been predominantly fund-raising and/or provision of parts. A number of works have also been undertaken to stations along the line, notably at Castletown, Ballabeg, The Level and Port St. Mary as well as larger projects including cosmetic restoration of out-of-use locomotives.
Projects Since the organisation's inception it has had a pro-active role on the railway; prior to the nationalisation in 1978 they undertook tasks on the line such as the re-painting of station buildings, tending to flower beds at the stations, upkeep of the level crossing gates, etc. After the government took ownership the association took on more of watchdog role and ultimately took on their own major project in the resurrection of the Groudle Glen Railway in 1982;
The association has also been vocal in its support of the completion of the rebuild of the diesel railcars which (as at April 2024) are in store uncompleted at Douglas Station. Representatives of the association attend regular meetings with the relevant government department. In 2003 a preservation policy was put in place, thereby securing the future of the line in a way sympathetic to its origins, ensuring that they are consulted when any major projects are considered by the railway's management. Potential projects are discussed at board level on a regular basis, ensuring the group's continued commitment to the preservation of the railway and its historical stations and stock, reflected in the proposed items on the list above.
YearTasksRecipientNotes1967Cosmetic RestorationNo.1, No.6 & No.14Displayed St. John's Station1968CosmeticRestorationNo.5 & No.15Displayed St. John's Station1969CosmeticRestorationNo.3 & No.9Displayed Douglas Station1969VolunteerGatekeepersThe South LineThrough until the 1975 season1975CosmeticRestorationNo.16 ManninDisplayed Isle of Man Railway Museum1981RestorationOperationGroudle Glen RailwayStandalone company since 20121981Supply NewBoiler TubesNo.11 MaitlandCompleted, returned to service1994CosmeticRestorationNo.6 PeverilDisplayed Isle of Man Railway Museum1994Fund NewWater TanksNo.15 CaledoniaReturned to regular operation1997CompleteRestorationDrop-Side M.78Returned to periodic operation/display2000Un-LochYour CashNo.4 LochNew boiler and returned to regular operation2000ReplicaFabricationThree-Plank H.1Returned to periodic operation/display2002New WaterInjectorsNo.4 LochFitted and now in regular operation2003New WaterInjectorsNo.13 KissackFitted and now in regular operation2006NewSteam TurretNo.15 CaledoniaFitted and now in regular operation2009Travellers'CompanionGuide Book Stocked in all retail outlets2010Fund NewInjectorsNo.4 LochFitted and now in regular operation2012New SeatMoquetteSaloon F.29Fitted and back into regular operation2012SlottedPost SignalCastletown StationErected and remains in regular operation2013RestorationWorkThe LevelCompleted and regular maintenance since2013RestorationWorkFour RoadsCompleted and regular maintenance since2016Running-InBoardUnion Mills StationCompleted and regular maintenance since2016Running-InBoardPeel StationCompleted and regular maintenance since2017CompleteRestorationMill Road LodgeCompleted and regular maintenance since2023CompleteRestorationClosed Van G.1Completed and returned to periodic use2018-VolunteerManningBallasalla StationRegularly manned and maintained since2020SecondRestorationThe LevelCompleted and regular maintenance since2020RestorationWork Ballabeg StationCompleted and regular maintenance since2021RestorationWorkBallasalla GatehouseStructure also on protecting buildings register2022PurchaseNameplatesNo.5 MonaCompleted and fitted to restored locomotive2021CosmeticRestorationNo.6 PeverilRevisiting original 1994 project2023CosmeticRestorationNo.5 MonaCompleted and launched for transport festival2024CosmeticRestorationNo.9 DouglasCompleted and launched for transport festival2024PurchaseNameplatesNo.9 DouglasCompleted and fitted to restored locomotive2024Running-InBoardPeel Road StationCompleted and regular maintenance since2024SecuringRepatriation Carriage F.37Returned to railway for restoration2025Purchase &RestoreCarriage F.6Full restoration ongoing2023CosmeticRestorationNo.9 DouglasCompleted and unveiled July 20252026Running-InBoardBallaugh StationPending consideration and funding2023AnniversaryDisplaysNo.1 SutherlandCompleted2026Running-InBoardsSt. John's StationPending consideration and funding2023PlatformFurnitureVarious StationsPhase one completed, second batch pending 2023CarriageRepatriationM.N.Ry. No.3Appeal launched and pending funding/agreement2025CarriageRestorationCarriage F.6Appeal launched and work commenced2026Running-InBoardFoxdale StationPending consideration and funding2026Restoration& DisplayCrane "No.4"Pending completion and installation2024InformationPanelsVarious StationsSanton Station, Ballasalla Station,Ballabeg Station, The Level and Port St. Mary Station2026CattleDockCastletown StationInstalled and completed for affiliated Friends Of... volunteer group
Groudle Glen Railway
Since the nationalisation of the Isle of Man Railway secured its future, the main thrust of the group has been the restoration of the Groudle Glen Railway, commencing in 1982, and the line continues today. The line had been reduced to a footpath, but the line was relaid to its full length for the first time since 1939, and it was officially opened in 1992. The original steam locomotive Sea Lion returned to service in 1987. Various replica station buildings were built, starting with the station canopy in 1993, and the improvement of the line as one of the island's tourist attractions has continued; this has included the added attraction of visiting steam locomotives, gala days in conjunction with Isle of Man Heritage Railways and popular off-season events such as Santa Trains at Christmas and Bunny Trains each Easter weekend. In more recent times there have also been Jester Express days and promotions in connection with Father's Day. Operations on New Year's Day were introduced in 2011. Additionally, Driver Experience Days are also offered: members of the public can pay to spend the day on the footplate of a steam locomotive and drive trains. The railway is now a stand-alone charity and operates seasonally, whilst the volunteers of the Supporters' Association continue to maintain strong ties with the Isle of Man Railway albeit in a watchdog role, and provision of project items. The group maintains a strong working relationship with the management and attends regular meetings to ensure the development.
Area Groups
At the time the group was formed there was much support for the retention of the railway both on and off the island and area groups quickly sprouted up across the country, with members of the island committee regularly travelling to meetings on the mainland to provide updates, slide shows, film shows and get-togethers. Groups existed in Greater London, Manchester, Liverpool/Merseyside, Northern Ireland and the Midlands at one time or another but latterly, there was just one, the "Mainland Area Group". It was this group that were responsible for the building of two wagons for the railway. The "M" class of wagon numbered nearly 80 and were part of the Isle of Man Railway's stock of goods vehicles; by the time of nationalisation of the line in 1978 when the Isle of Man Government took responsibility, there were very few examples left in existence; one (numbered M.70) had been left to rot for many years and was resident in a siding at Santon station for many years. It was this vehicle that was used as a template for a project undertaken by the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association in 1997, resulting in the presentation to the railway of M.78. This wagon is now part of the railway's historic fleet of vehicles and bears plaques denoting its origins. Together with H.1 (the next project by the group) these two wagons now form the Troublesome Trucks for the Friends of Thomas weekend that takes place on the railway annually.