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Save Our Mercury Arc Rectifiers


jim

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How about a compromise between old and modern: turn the Victorian railways from slow moving systems to being high speed rollercosters. Change the railway tracks so the trains do 360 degree turns in the air and stuff like that.

 

And with added flames:

 

Fire crews have dealt with three grass and gorse fires today.

 

This morning, firefighters tackled a blaze on a railway embankment near Keristal in Santon which involved around 40 metres of gorse.

 

This afternoon, crews from Ramsey were called to a grass fire near Andreas airfield which saw flames across 30 square metres of grass.

 

And this evening, crews from Castletown dealt with another railway fire - this time near Blackboards.

 

(If Mr Watterson is so concerned about stopping fires starting in the countryside, maybe he should do something about machines that throw out burning material).

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How about a compromise between old and modern: turn the Victorian railways from slow moving systems to being high speed rollercosters. Change the railway tracks so the trains do 360 degree turns in the air and stuff like that.

 

And with added flames:

 

>Fire crews have dealt with three grass and gorse fires today.

 

This morning, firefighters tackled a blaze on a railway embankment near Keristal in Santon which involved around 40 metres of gorse.

 

This afternoon, crews from Ramsey were called to a grass fire near Andreas airfield which saw flames across 30 square metres of grass.

 

And this evening, crews from Castletown dealt with another railway fire - this time near Blackboards.

 

(If Mr Watterson is so concerned about stopping fires starting in the countryside, maybe he should do something about machines that throw out burning material).

 

Or maybe you should actually find out more on the subject before you start posting nonsense.

 

Isle Of Man Transport operate fire trains to stop line side fires caused by sparks.

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There is a petition for the Rectifiers to be saved, at http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-the-laxey-manx-electric-railway-mercury-arc-rectifier-sub-station.html

 

A couple of videos, for anyone who has not been down to see them in action. They really are splendid pieces of equipment.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjMZ5qtyCUc on a day when the trams were drawing a lot of current.

 

on a quiet day, but with a bit more information.

 

There is apparently one still in operation on the other side of the world, in Auckland Museum, powering their preserved trams, but real working examples seem to be almost impossible to find. They're just not the same when switched off. You can't imagine how they work from a "dead" one.

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But that wasn't what LDV was saying was it? He said you wouldn't get any more visitors over. We already get all the visitors over who are interested in our vintage transport and industrial archaeology infrastructure. How many more are going to come to look at mercury arc rectifiers then look at conservation costs and on going running, staffing and maintenance costs and see if it adds up

 

Don't throw away part of your train set, otherwise you won't have a full train set. Just imagine if Dr Beeching had left us alone!

 

I think this (and other conservation projects) could be staffed and run by unpaid enthusiastic amateurs under the guidance of retired industry workers. Witness the canal restorations in England and heritage railway systems around the world. Why do we always assume everything here needs to cost a fortune and add to the army of government workers?

 

Many years ago there was an offer from Blackpool Corporation of their old tram system. A group of engineers here wanted to re-instate the Peel to Douglas line and run it as a commuter service. Sadly, the powers that be saw it off.

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But that wasn't what LDV was saying was it? He said you wouldn't get any more visitors over. We already get all the visitors over who are interested in our vintage transport and industrial archaeology infrastructure. How many more are going to come to look at mercury arc rectifiers then look at conservation costs and on going running, staffing and maintenance costs and see if it adds up

 

Don't throw away part of your train set, otherwise you won't have a full train set. Just imagine if Dr Beeching had left us alone!

 

I think this (and other conservation projects) could be staffed and run by unpaid enthusiastic amateurs under the guidance of retired industry workers. Witness the canal restorations in England and heritage railway systems around the world. Why do we always assume everything here needs to cost a fortune and add to the army of government workers?

 

Many years ago there was an offer from Blackpool Corporation of their old tram system. A group of engineers here wanted to re-instate the Peel to Douglas line and run it as a commuter service. Sadly, the powers that be saw it off.

Agree WB, it is evident that there are many enthusiastic amateurs who are only too pleased to work under the guidance of retired expert worker in restoring and running facilities at no cost to central or local government (e.g. Groudle Railway , miniature railway at Wildlife Park as are the individuals who are pleased to display their collections of vintage motorcycles).

 

If there are folk who would be willing to take on this 'rectifier' and maintain it and allow the public access I think it would be an additional heritage attraction.

 

Perhaps it would be useful to see if anyone else would be willing to take it on and provide a bit of funding before the government acting in indecent haste vandalising a national asset.

 

As an aside I found it curious that the old prison was demolished when it could have been used as accommodation during TT as it had all the facilities and guests could have left with a "certificate" of their stay (detailing their cell no). Don't get me started on the accommodation on the Calf being 'encouraged' to decay rather than being utilised.

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The prison would have taken some work though. I went round before they auctioned all the stuff off, and you really wouldn't want to stay there. It was glorious sunshine outside, and the temperature dropped about ten degrees the moment you walked in the door. Not sure the novelty factor would have got you over that hurdle

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@Paswt, not sure the accommodation on the Calf is being left to decay it wasn't long back that the spent a lot of money on on instaling a brand new stainless steel commercial quality kitchen over at the farm house. The modernish light house building could be put to better use possibly if its not already.

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