Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne told the House of Keys he could not rule out foul play.
Questions about the reliability of the green machine, purchased from the US at a cost of £417,571, were raised in the Keys by Peter Karran (Lib Van, Onchan) who described it as a ‘disastrous purchase’.
‘How many times has it broken down and they’ve had to get the steam train out to get it?’ asked Mr Karran.
The Minister himself was not exactly effusive in his praise for the loco. ‘It’s not been an engine for growth, I will admit that!’ he told MHKs. ‘Yes, there has been the occasional break-down.’He said there had been an apparent misfire thought to have been possibly linked to a fuel injector problem. The unit is still under warranty and engine manufacturers Cummins were in the island this week to check it out, MHKs were told.
But during the preparations for Cummins’ visit, fuel contamination was discovered. Mr Gawne said he was not sure how that contamination had occurred.
Read more: http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/contaminated-fuel-blamed-for-loco-s-problems-1-7154642