Isle of Amor Light Railway
The Isle of Amor Light Railway (IALR) was established by the Northern & Eastern Railway in 1887 to capitalise on coal and fish traffic that was loacated on the island. It was opened as a seperate company owning the engine and the track but the stock was provided by the N&ER. Eleven years after opening, the line was fully taken over by the N&ER. The line was incorporated into the GN&SR in 1912 after the N&ER was purchased.
The locomotive that the company owned was a Manning WARDLE "Old L" Class that had been used by the contractor L. Durand to build the line. It was later renumbered to 102 by the GN&SR before being sold to the Locksley Harbour & Dock Co. to work at Locksley Colliery, latterley being used for spare parts.
In 1919 like most railways the GN&SR (Including the IALR) were amalgimated into Etorean National Railways (ENR). The light railway order that the line was built under restricted the speed to 18mph over certain sections so in 1934 the ENR took the opportunity to relay the line to bypass the the order including widening the radius of some bends and the construction of a new bridge to the island. In 1949, the ENR used an old 0-4-0 electric shunter (built by William Wheatley in 1898) and two wagons (one of wich was previously used on the line, No. 27, now departmental stock with bolsters removed) and a 4 wheeled passenger coach to electrify the line to improve efficiency. The line was the third to be electrified in the country. One year prior, the Amor Railway Improvement Commission (ARIC) was established to plan the electrification, temporary line closures and replacement services for the line.
After electrification, two Siemens 0-4-0WE electric locomotives (ENR Class 03) were purchased to run the line and (mainly caused by the single track and run - around loops) two 6 Wheeled coaches were used as the passenger stock for the line, with two updated 6 - Wheelers and the two Siemens locos still in use today.
The only surviving piece of original stock is Bolster No. 27 having been sold into private use on the island in 1953, being purchased for preservation in 1996. Coach No. 59 (A sister coach to No. 57) was converted to a Brake 3rd from an All 3rd in 1899, latterly being sold to the Locksley Harbour & Dock Co. as "Cashier's Coach No. 1". This also means that (although there are body modifications) it is almost intact with the original chassis and the only unoriginal parts being dumb buffers that were fitted and an axle box on one side. The interior has been restored to LH&D Condition at the Etorean Mining Museum.
The locomotive that the company owned was a Manning WARDLE "Old L" Class that had been used by the contractor L. Durand to build the line. It was later renumbered to 102 by the GN&SR before being sold to the Locksley Harbour & Dock Co. to work at Locksley Colliery, latterley being used for spare parts.
In 1919 like most railways the GN&SR (Including the IALR) were amalgimated into Etorean National Railways (ENR). The light railway order that the line was built under restricted the speed to 18mph over certain sections so in 1934 the ENR took the opportunity to relay the line to bypass the the order including widening the radius of some bends and the construction of a new bridge to the island. In 1949, the ENR used an old 0-4-0 electric shunter (built by William Wheatley in 1898) and two wagons (one of wich was previously used on the line, No. 27, now departmental stock with bolsters removed) and a 4 wheeled passenger coach to electrify the line to improve efficiency. The line was the third to be electrified in the country. One year prior, the Amor Railway Improvement Commission (ARIC) was established to plan the electrification, temporary line closures and replacement services for the line.
After electrification, two Siemens 0-4-0WE electric locomotives (ENR Class 03) were purchased to run the line and (mainly caused by the single track and run - around loops) two 6 Wheeled coaches were used as the passenger stock for the line, with two updated 6 - Wheelers and the two Siemens locos still in use today.
The only surviving piece of original stock is Bolster No. 27 having been sold into private use on the island in 1953, being purchased for preservation in 1996. Coach No. 59 (A sister coach to No. 57) was converted to a Brake 3rd from an All 3rd in 1899, latterly being sold to the Locksley Harbour & Dock Co. as "Cashier's Coach No. 1". This also means that (although there are body modifications) it is almost intact with the original chassis and the only unoriginal parts being dumb buffers that were fitted and an axle box on one side. The interior has been restored to LH&D Condition at the Etorean Mining Museum.
Assets
The company owned a singular locomotive with the coaches and wagons being provided by the N&ER.
| Origin: | Type: | Name: | Number (GN&SR): | Details: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manning Wardle | "Old" L Class | "Ceridwen" | 102 | Weatherboard only until 1879. |
Coaches:
- 4 Wheel Brake 3rd N&ER No. 82
- 4 Wheel Brake Composite N&ER No. 57
- 4 Wheel 3rd N&ER No. 136
Wagons:
- Diag. 13 10T metal-bodied brake van (4 Wheeled) No. 49
- Diag. 17 8T Wooden bodied van No. 18
- Diag. 17 8T Wooden bodied van No. 23
- Diag. 9 Single Bolster Wagons Nos. 27 & 32
- Diag. 20 Fish Van No. 36
- 3x 7 Plank Private Owner Coal Wagons (Various Companies)
- Slat Sided Ale Wagon
- Diag. 3 Locomotive Coal Wagon No. 2
Disbandment
Parent company merged with GN&SR, Track relayed in 1934 to bypass the light railway order restrictions.
DISBANDED/DISSOLVED
Type
Corporation, Transportation
Successor Organization
Founders
Parent Organization
Comments