A map of the railway
The Culdee Fell Railway (CFR), nicknamed "The Mountain Railway" is a narrow guage (2ft 7½in) rack and pinion mountain railway on the Island of Sodor, running for 8 miles from, Kirk Machan to the Summit of Culdee Fell, the highest peak on Sodor.
History[]
Conception and Early History[]
Post-War History[]
A turning point for the Railway came in 1956, when Lord William's son, Henry Barrane, was appointed to the Board as Finance Director. A modern man, he immediately pushed for modernization programmes to improve the railway's service, starting with the rebuilding of its old semi-open coaches to enclosed saloons. With the approval of his father, he also began headhunting a new General Manager, eventually selecting Walter Richards, latterly District Superintendent of the NWR's Norramby Branch Line.
By 1960, it had become apparent that the Railway's four engines were struggling under heavy traffic and in need of heavy repair. Having visited the Snowdon Mountain Railway and seen its newer engines, Lord Harry resolved that the CFR needed modern superheated engines. Inquiries were made with the Swiss Locomotive & Machine Works if they could build the engines, however it transpired they had ceased building steam locomotives some ten years prior - however were willing to provide the drawings to another builder. Sir Charles Topham Hatt of the North Western Railway stepped in, and offered to build the engines at the NWR's Crovan's Gate Works.
Modern History[]
Operations and Stations[]
Starting from the station at Kirk Machan, the line climbs up to the summit, calling at Shiloh, then runs along the wildlife sanctuary at Poll-ny-Chrink. After that it makes stops at Skarloey Road, "Devil's Back", and Culdee Fell, the summit of the line. The line is open from Easter to Michaelmas, with winter being when repairs are made to the line.
Management[]
General Manager[]
| General Managers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Tenure | Notes | ||
| 1 | Frederick Mack (1828-1918) |
1865 - 1904 | |||
| 2 | Robert Sam (1860-1942) |
1904 - 1936 | |||
| 3 | Peter Sam (1881-1971) |
1936 - 1951 | Director (1951-1968) | ||
| 4 | Roger Sam (1915-2007) |
1951 - 1980 | Director (1980-2000) | ||
| 5 | Peregrine Percival (born 1948) |
1980 - 2014 | Director (2014 onwards) | ||
| 6 | Peter Percival (born 1978) |
2014 onwards | |||
Chairman of the Board[]
| Chairmen of the Board | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Tenure | Notes | ||
| 1 | Peter, Lord Barrane (1851-1927) | 1896 - 1927 | |||
| 2 | William, Lord Barrane (1886-1960) |
1927 - 1960 | |||
| 3 | Henry, Lord Barrane (1921-2013) |
1960 - 2000 | Bought railway in 1909 | ||
| 4 | Walter, Lord Barrane (born 1953) |
2000 - present | |||
Chief Engineer[]
| Chief Engineers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Tenure | Notes | ||
| 1 | Robert Merrick (1827-1904) |
1866 - 1890 | |||
| 2 | Owen Johns (1854-1942) |
1886 - 1919 | |||
| 3 | David Hugh I (1882-1968) |
1919 - 1950 | |||
| 4 | Ivo Hugh (1921-2016) |
1951 - 1991 | |||
| 5 | David Hugh II (born 1950) |
1991 - 2021 | Designer of Ivo Hugh | ||
| 6 | David Hugh III (born 1982) |
Taking office 2021 | |||
Rolling Stock[]
Locomotives[]
Trivia[]
- It is one of only two rack railways in the UK, the other being the Snowdon Mountain Railway.
| Culdee Fell Railway |
|---|
| Godred • Shen Ven • Ernest • Wilfred • Culdee • Shane Dooiney • Patrick • Alaric • Eric • Polly |
| Culdee Fell Railway rolling stock |
|---|
| Elaine • Lillian • Olwyn • Catherine • Bronwen • Amélie • Gaëlle • "The Trucks" |