Public transport manager Ian Longworth has told a UK railway magazine he wants to bring a unique locomotive back into service.

Mr Longworth gave an interview to Heritage Railway magazine when it recently visited the island.

The engine in question is number 16 Mannin. A non-standard locomotive built in 1926, she was the last one supplied to the island by Manchester-based manufacturer Beyer Peacock.

Mr Longworth told the magazine he is hoping to see the engine return to service in time for the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Douglas to Peel line in 2023.

He said: ’I expect Mannin will come out of the museum next winter. Its place will be taken by number one Sutherland - which is currently undergoing a cosmetic restoration.

’When we dismantle Mannin we will know whether the challenge is achievable.’

Part of the difficulty with doing this will come from the length of time since Mannin last moved.

Aside from a brief period in 1998-99 the locomotive has remained in the railway museum at Port Erin since it opened in 1975.

She also hasn’t been in service since 1964.

Mannin is a larger locomotive than the others on the line as she was built to haul the boat train from Port Erin, a job which previously took two engines.

Mr Longworth also told the magazine the railways have five boilers on order from Severn Valley Railway.

Boilers

He said these boilers are intended for no. 4 Loch; no. 10 GH Wood; no. 11 Maitland; no. 12 Hutchinson and no. 13 Kissack.

Mr Longworth added: ’Properly looked after we’ll get 40 years’ service out of them.’

Another topic of discussion with the magazine was the infamous number 21 diesel, nicknamed the Cabbage.

He said: ’When I first come here, they wanted a ’proper’ diesel. After reviewing it, we found there was a sound business case for one. We wanted a nice new shiny one with a guarantee.

’Unfortunately, we weren’t voted enough money to do that - we had £400,000, but wanted £700,000.

’In both political and professional terms, it may not have been a good decision.’

When asked about criticism of the diesel in the media, he claimed ’very little of it has been reported realistically and truthfully’.