With the retraction of the Isle of Man Railway operation, and cost involved, there was little need to overhaul a number of life-expired engines, with the network being operated by a handful of core locomotives. Consequently several engines remained stored on railway property. To provide an added attraction, initially at St John's station, then Douglas, the Ailsa operation displayed these engines to the public stimulating much interest. With little cost involved to the railway it was an effective way of creating 'that little extra'. Sadly this innovation was to prove relatively short-lived and by nationalisation of the line, all but forgotten. Such displays of stored engines/carriages seldom feature even during enthusiast events today.
Heading the line of eight engines in 1971, when Mike Hams took this photo is 8 FENELLA, followed by 15 CALEDONIA - ironically two locomotives now back in use.
