Isle of Man Guide - TRANSPORTATION, Steam Railway

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Open:	Summer Season: Apr 6th - Nov 1st 2009: Daily, See Rail Timetable
Price:	PRICES FOR 2009 Douglas to Ballasalla single £3.80 and return £6.10 Douglas to Castletown single £4.40 and return £7.40 Douglas to Port Erin single £5.90 and return £9.90 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. Explorer Tickets There are three different Explorer tickets available. 1 Day, £14.00 adult, £7.00 child 3 Day, £28.00 adult, £14.00 child 7 Day, £42.00 adult, £21.00 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.
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:	Thursday 30 July 2009 - Wednesday 05 August 2009
Description:	Manx Heritage Transport Festival. Railway Enthusiasts Week. Special events and photographic evenings. Various, DOUGLAS, 01624 663366.

Dates:	Tuesday 18 August 2009
Description:	Manx Cover Club. Club Auction of stamps, postcards and covers at Greens Restaurant (Douglas Steam Railway Station). Viewing from 7.30pm. There is no entry fee for this event. Greens Restaurant, Steam Railway Station, DOUGLAS.

Dates:	Saturday 05 September 2009 - Sunday 06 September 2009
Description:	Thomas The Tank Weekend. Thomas the Tank trains leave from Douglas Station. The fat controler will be at the station both days, plus street entertainment. and gifts for the children. Douglas Stream Railway, Douglas.
More>>
Event information supplied by the Isle of Man Department of Tourism & Leisure (01624 686766)

Related News Articles

Steam Railway - Collision at Port Soderick 20 May 2008
On Monday 19 May at 10. [More]

Railway on track following a successful season 8 January 2008
The Department of Tourism and Leisure’s Heritage Railways is pleased to announce an increase in the number of passengers travelling on both the steam and electric railways during 2007. [More]

Railway figures on track despite winter closure 9 December 2005
The Isle of Man Steam Railway operated its Santa Special trains last weekend being the end of operations on the railway until it re-opens for next Summer on 3rd April 2006. [More]

Steam Trains Go All the Way 29 April 2004
The Steam trains are scheduled to run all the way to Port Erin from Bank Holiday Monday (May 3). [More]

Passenger Views Sought 21 November 2003
The Department of Tourism and Leisure is commissioning a passenger satisfaction survey on the buses next month. [More]

More >>>

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