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Bumper weekend on the Isle of Man’s railways 4 May 2011 The Rush Hour on the Railways event lived up to its name with train loads of visitors enjoying the Island’s heritage railways over the Easter weekend.  Almost 500 people took a mountain tram to Snaefell summit on Easter Sunday while more than 1,000 departed from Douglas over the bank holiday.
Hon David Cretney MHK, Minister for Community, Culture and Leisure, said: ‘The Railways have enjoyed a bumper weekend. It was the first time since 1995 that the Snaefell Mountain Railway started operating at Easter, as opposed to May, and the number of passengers taking the opportunity to visit the newly refurbished Summit seems to vindicate that. Almost 900 people travelled on our trains over the weekend, half of them on Easter Sunday making the most of the beautiful, panoramic views and the delicious Sunday lunch at the summit. On top of that many received chocolate eggs from the Easter Bunny at Laxey. ‘We were obviously fortunate with the fine weather but I am sure that raising the profile of the Island’s railways is really making a difference.’ Other special events in the Rush Hour programme were equally popular with the three Crogga visits on Saturday selling out despite the rain. The Department is hugely grateful to the owners of this historic property for allowing public access to their miniature railway and boating lake. The Rail Ale train to Castletown was full with only a handful of tickets unsold. The Peel line photo opportunities and hog roast in the steam workshop also sold out with customers saying how much they enjoyed these trips.  The next special event on the Snaefell Mountain Railway takes place this weekend (6-7 May) with the first Pie In The Sky event hosted by the Isle of Man Astronomical Society. Priced at £29 per person, which includes return tram rides from Laxey and supper at the Summit Restaurant, it is timed to enable participants to view Saturn.
Minister Cretney added: ‘Given the success of the Easter specials I would urge anyone wanting to enjoy Pie In The Sky to book early.’  Alternatively, Sunset Dinners at the Summit take place on Wednesdays and Fridays from 15 June to 9 September, price £29 Wednesdays and £34 Fridays. Tickets for all special events on Snaefell are available from Douglas Railway Station. Telephone 673623 to book.
More information at www.iombusandrail.info Photographs: 1. Trains leave Douglas for both Port Erin and Peel (now Peel East) during the Rush Hour event. Recreating a pre 1968 photo opportunity 2. Enthusiasts at play 3. Train on Peel line with passengers preparing to photograph More stories >>>
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