Isle of Mull Railway

The Isle of Mull Railway is a 10¼" (260mm) gauge line, 1¼ miles long, from the ferry terminal at Craignure to Torosay Castle, on the Isle of Mull in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. Originally it was known as the Mull and West Highland Railway.

This tourist attraction was Scotland's original island passenger railway.

History

In 1975, the then-owner of Torosay Castle, David James decided to open the house and gardens to the public. Local businessman Graham Ellis, a railway enthusiast, suggested that a narrow-gauge railway might be the ideal way to transport visitors from the ferry terminal a mile and a half away, whilst also becoming a tourist attraction in its own right.

Although Planning permission was granted in 1975, it was not until April 1982 that construction got under way. The line was completed in May 1983, with the first test run taking place on the 22nd of that month. The first experimental service started on the 18th of August 1983 with the official opening of the line taking place on 22nd of June the following year. [http://www.mullrail.co.uk/railhistorymore.htm Isle of Mull Railway] ]

tations

* Craignure NM 724 369 Coord|56.469710|-5.694774|display=inline|format=dms

* Torosay Castle NM 732 355 Coord|56.457542|-5.680599|display=inline|format=dms

Locomotives

There are six locomotives on the line. [http://www.mullrail.co.uk/railhistory.htm Isle of Mull Railway] ]

team

*Lady of the Isles 2-6-4T built 1981. Was used on the Suffolk Miniature Railway at Kessingland, Suffolk before entering service on the Isle of Mull Railway.
* Victoria 2-6-2T built by Mouse Boiler Works in 1993. Based on Baldwin class NA locomotives used on the Puffing Billy Railway, Australia.
* "Waverley 4-4-2 built by David Curwen in 1948. Was originally named "Black Prince" and originally used on a railway in Weymouth, Dorset. Waverley is now at Rudyard Lake Steam Railway, in Staffordshire, on permanent loan, currently undergoing a major overhaul in October 2007 - onwards, she will emerge in 2008 painted LNER apple green"

Diesel

* Frances, BB wheel arrangement. built 1999 by Mouse Boiler Works. Powered by a Perkins 1000 diesel engine, hydraulic transmission. Weight 2 tonnes.
* Glen Audlyn, BB wheel arrangement. Built on Mull by Bob Davies in 1986. Powered by a Perkins 4108 diesel engine from a Commer van. Mechanical transmission.
* The Green Diesel, formerly operated at the Great Central Railway, Loughborough. Based on a Class 26 locomotive. Powered by a Morris Minor engine with mechanical transmission giving four forward and four reverse gears.

Rolling Stock.

There are 12 bogie coaches and three ballast wagons.

Television

The Isle of Mull Railway featured in an episode of the second series of the CBeebies TV programme "Balamory". Filming took place in the Autumn of 2002. [http://www.mullrail.co.uk/balamory.htm Isle of Mull Railway] ] [http://www.tobermory.co.uk/balamory/balamory_express.htm Tobermory] ]

References.

External links

* [http://www.mullrail.co.uk/welcome.htm The railway's website]