Isle of Man Guide

Open:	Summer Season: Feb 12th - Nov 5th 2012: Daily, See Rail Timetable Santa Trains: TBA
Price:	PRICES FOR 2012 Douglas to Port Soderick Adult: single £2.40 return £4.80 Child: single £1.20 return £2.40 Douglas to Santon Adult: single £3.60 return £7.20 Child: single £1.80 return £3.60 Douglas to Ballasalla or Castletown Adult: single £5 return £10 Child: single £2.50 return £5 Douglas to Colby, Ballabeg, Port St Mary or Port Erin Adult: single £5.80 return £11.60 Child: single £2.90 return £5.80 Children under 5: FREE. (limit 2 per paying adult as long as seat is not in use by another passenger.) The third (or subsequent) child under five must pay the child fare. One child (ages 5-16): FREE with each full paying adult. Santa Trains Adult: £12 Child: £8 Explorer Tickets There are three different Explorer tickets available. 1 Day, £16.00 adult, £8.00 child 3 Day, £33.00 adult, £16.00 child 5 Day, £39.00 adult, £19.50 child 7 Day, £45.00 adult, £23.50 child Each Adult ticket also includes a child aged 5 to 15 travelling at the same time. On the 3 & 7 day tickets the days run consecutively. Heritage Explorer Five Day: adult £55 child £27 Isle of Man Railway Residents Tickets Adult: £55 Child: £27.50
Disabled:	Limited Access
Parking:	Ample

History

Only one line of a once vast Steam Railway system remains on the Isle of Man. Originally built in the late 1800's the 3 feet track gauge lines covered about fifty miles. Now only the southern line, operating since 1874 continues. It covers around 15 miles from Douglas to Port Erin. Saved by the Marquis of Ailsa, who bravely funded the continuation of the line after competition from other forms of transport threaten the line with closure in the 1960's. The line was taken over by the Manx Government in the 1970's to run as a tourist attraction. The Southern Steam Railway line still runs as the longest narrow gauge steam line in British Isles. The trains date from 1874 and are maintained largely by local workshops and smithy.

Location

Douglas:	Start/End Stop
Port Soderick:	Stop
Santon:	Request Stop
Ballasalla:	Stop
Ronaldsway:	Request Stop
Castletown:	Stop
Ballabeg:	Request Stop
Colby:	Stop
Level:	Request Stop
Port St Mary:	Stop
Port Erin:	Start/End Stop

Travelling on the Steam Railway

For most the journey begins in Douglas at the old Victorian Station. There you will find a true beginning for a railway frozen in time. As you make your way to the board, there are often two or more options of seating. An open carriage for about twenty people to sit in and first and second class carriages which are divided into sections seating about six each. There is no prior arrangements for seating. It is first come, first served. After making your selection you just have to wait for departure.

The train passes through the countryside. From all sides are trees, grasslands and farms. In the distant on one side, the sea. Never has there been a more pleasant way to travel 15 miles. The journey from start (Douglas/Port Erin) to end (Port Erin/Douglas) takes about 60 minutes. The time will go fast, if you enjoy taking in the views, chatting or reading and are not too bothered by the rolling shake of the carriage.

Events Dates: Sunday 16 June 2013 Description: Dad's Day Out. Treat Dad to a great day out with a special tour of the steam railway workshops. ,, 01624663366 http://www.iombusandrail.info. Dates: Friday 12 July 2013 - Sunday 14 July 2013 Description: Port Erin Beach Festival. Ride the steam railway to the Port Erin Beach Festival, where you can enjoy beach sports, crazy challenges, pony rides, soap box races, live music and more. Evening train services will also be available to coincide with the festival parade. The Beach,, Port Erin. Dates: Saturday 17 August 2013 - Sunday 18 August 2013 Description: Island at War. Wartime 1940s weekend on the Steam Railway. Visit the Home Guard's base and take notes from their informative workshops, celebrate at the V.E. day tea party. Visit the land army at Cregneash, but watch out......there could be spies, saboteurs and more on the railway, looking for information or a way to disrupt the service ! At night there will be a special hangar Dance held at a top Secret Location. Half price travel for those in their 40's finest. ,, 01624663366. More>> Event information supplied by the Isle of Man Department of Tourism & Leisure (01624 686766)

Publications Railways Of The Isle Of Man Beckmann Visual Publishing, VHS Tape, 08 March, 1993 List Price: £14.99 Third Party Price: £6.99 Buy Now More Info Manx Trains And Trams [2001] Charles Guard Duke Video, DVD, 19 April, 2004 List Price: £14.99 New Price: £14.99 Used Price: £20.83 Third Party Price: £9.74 Buy Now More Info Rails in the Isle of Man, a Colour Celebration R.Powell Hendry Midland Publishing, Hardcover, 22 April, 1993 ISBN: 1857800095 List Price: £14.99 Used Price: £7.00 Buy Now More Info Isle of Man Railways: A Celebration Richard Kirkman, Peter Van Zeller Raven Books, Board book, June, 1993 ISBN: 0952162407 List Price: £8.95 New Price: £10.94 Used Price: £4.99 Buy Now More Info Railway Track Diagrams: Scotland and the Isle of Man No. 1 (Railway Track Diagrams) John Yonge, Gerold Jacobs Quail Map Co, Paperback, 29 June, 2001 ISBN: 1898319510 List Price: £8.50 Buy Now More Info Manx Peacocks: Profile of Steam on the Isle of Man Railway David Lloyd-Jones Atlantic Transport Publishers, Hardcover, July, 1998 ISBN: 0906899958 List Price: £18.99 Used Price: £9.25 Buy Now More Info Isle of Man Classic Steam: Isle of Man Railway in Colour from the 1950's to the Ailsa Era Robert Robotham Colourpoint Books, Hardcover, 25 July, 1998 ISBN: 1898392439 List Price: £13.99 Used Price: £80.00 Buy Now More Info Manx Railways and Tramways (Sutton's Photographic History of Railways) Edward Gray Sutton Publishing Ltd, Paperback, 12 March, 1998 ISBN: 0750918276 List Price: £10.99 Used Price: £39.25 Buy Now More Info The Railways and Tramways of the Isle of Man Robert Smith, Barry Edwards OPC Railprint, Hardcover, 19 April, 1993 ISBN: 0860935078 List Price: £18.99 Used Price: £27.95 Buy Now More Info The Isle of Man Steam Railway Barry Edwards B&C Publications, Hardcover, April, 1996 ISBN: 0952775603 List Price: £6.95 Used Price: £5.50 Third Party Price: £33.95 Buy Now More Info Isle of Man Steam Trains Ted Gray Northern Publishing Services, Card Book, December, 1995 ISBN: 1899181113 List Price: £3.50 New Price: £5.49 Buy Now More Info Isle of Man Steam Railway in Colour Peter Johnson Ian Allan Ltd, Hardcover, 28 May, 1998 ISBN: 0711025703 List Price: £9.99 Used Price: £22.00 Buy Now More Info