Isle Of Man Steam Railway

Me and a friend have just booked the IoM Driver Experience. £500 each for all day on an original loco hauling original stock on the line they were built for. How can one refuse?! Going to make a 4-day trip of it, drive the TT track and then also get the Electric Railway in, Laxey Mine, Snaefell & hopefully Groudle Glen. Would also like to try the brunch train if times suit.

 

Great to hear this, I am sure you will have a wonderful time.
The Dining Car brochure is available at http://www.ticket-hall.com/wp-conte...e-Dining-Car-Brochure-March-November-2017.pdf

We have been out on this quite a few times and have very much enjoyed it, last time was in between Christmas and New Year for the Breakfast on a Shovel on board train

 

Just checked that. We arrive Monday go home Thursday. Oh well, maybe next time!

 

Ha, not to worry, you can do the Firemans Breakfast every day in the cafe at the station, probably the best breakfast on the island.

 

Easyjet are to start flying to the island from Luton at the end of March. Shame it's only 3 times a week and in the afternoon, but it's a start. Their Gatwick flights always seem to be busy.

 

Easyjet's Luton - Isle of Man service commences on the 27th on a Mon/Wed/Fri basis. Fares starting at 29..99 from LTN and 23.99 from IOM are available now - bargain! Services on the Steam Railway started today so, if you've been thinking of visiting us but have been put off by the cost of getting here maybe now is the time to book. Our special event Rush Hour on the Railways over Easter now includes road steam as well.
Ray.

 

Updated online brochures for the main events on the Steam Railway
As usual we will be providing volunteers for workshop and shed tours, guided walks along the closed lines, Vintage Bus trip following the Peel and Ramsey lines, museum guides and Talking Train commentary.
There are a few special events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the reopening under the Ailsa Regime, with, notably, a "Named Train" on the Thursday of the Transport Festival, with the 09:50 service carrying the specially commissioned headboard and shield in honour of the "Marquess of Ailsa"
Rush Hour /Festival of Steam
https://www.gov.im/media/1355085/rush-hour-festival-of-stream-2017-dl-16pp-web.pdf

Heritage Transport Festival
https://www.gov.im/media/1355827/iom-railway-2017-transport-festival-dl-12pp-web-final.pdf

Dining Experiences
https://www.gov.im/media/1355063/iom-railways-the-dining-car.pdf

 

This looks like a 'must do', to be filled into my calendar. One of our best holidays was back in 2014 at Douglas; there is something for everyone on the I.o.M. and this really is the icing on the cake!

John

 

I have posted some pictures from the Easter 2017 Rush Hour Events on to my Railway Walks Facebook page, we had a great weekend despite very changeable weather. Its an open page so anyone interested should be able to see the photographs, there are four days worth, including workshop tours, photographers event and the Vintage Bus Tour of the closed stations on the old Peel and Ramsey lines
https://www.facebook.com/Isle-of-Man-Railway-Walks-370461246422515/

 

Just got back from visiting the IoM for the weekend and used the aforementioned easyjet flight from Luton which was pretty full and excellent value considering it was a bank holiday.

Really enjoyed my visit to the railway. Considering that there has been so much alleged background upset and strife over the years the railway seems to be in excellent shape. The architecture is very impresssive with two beautiful brick built victorian stations at Douglas and Port Erin. The track seemed in good condition with no detectable rough patches. Everyone was friendy. I hired a car (expensive) but really didn't need to as there are excellent buses and the famous and historic 'Go' tickets allow travel on all buses and heritage rail and trams including to the summit of Snaefell. I also loved the long historic tram journeys that in some sections seem to meander almost through peoples gardens and along the top of the steep cliffs.

It is such a shame that Peel has no rail or tramcar service, it seems so shortsighted that the rail route to there was closed as it seems to be the only major town without any rail transport. No doubt it has gone for good?

I am definitely returning.

 

Just booked a flight over in July, last went when Sutherland in traffic -is Ronalsway Halt still in use, as doesn't appear in timetable and is changing trains at ballasalla onto the one from Port Erin possible please?

 

I hope you enjoy your visit. I'm not sure about Ronaldsway Halt so its probably worth checking by phone or e-mail but it doesn't take much longer to walk to Ballasalla (or a couple of mins on the bus) from the Airport. Trains now cross at Castletown but be sure to tell the guard that you wish to change trains and he'll hold it for you. If you want to change from the PE bound train to the Douglas bound one at Ballasalla you'll have about a 15 min wait. The 1,3,5 or 7 Go cards offer good value if you're going to travel around and now include Groudle, Laxey Mine, and Douglas Horse trams as well as all IoM Rlys and buses. You don't say when in July but the Manx Heritage Transport Festival runs from 26th to 30th with lots of special events when we try to get "all the toys out of the box". Hope this helps.
Ray.

 

Ronaldsway is in use as a request. My brother and sister requested today at Douglas and were forgotten about. That answers the other q - it is possible to go south change at Castletown and get an northbound.

You do need to be speedy though.

Today there were 4 engines in steam. Kissack on the morning from Douglas, 8 on driver experience with a MNR carriage, Hutchinson in reserve at Douglas and one other in green (GH Wood) running from Port Erin.




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Just back from a short trip to the Island and my first serious visit to the railway. Day one was great...a lot of riding and photography and day two...well it tipped down all day, so just riding! The 'go explore' cards are great value @ £32 for three days (plus a one off £2 charge for the card itself), particularly as they are valid on most of the Islands public transport!

Will definitely return next year for a longer stay to explore all of the heritage transport on offer! Below is my fav image from the trip. 'Kissack' on the evening dining train (20/07/17) stepping smartly away from Castletown toward the setting sun.

 

Nice shot! You need to submit that to the Railway for inclusion in the calendar, drop me a pm for the address.
Glad you had a good trip and are planning a return, we are just getting into Festival mode here now as the Heritage Transport Festival kicks off on Wednesday.
We will be at most of the events on the Steam over the five days

 

Thanks Mike, kind of you to say

 

Well had my visit, interesting to say the least!

Monday/Tuesday the weather was gorgeous, and Monday saw us drive the TT circuit / visit Peel / tour the Northern half of the island.
Tuesday saw us tour all the MER, and do Snaefell in full sun too!
Wednesday was the Footplate day, and whilst enjoyable in the main it did come across as a little disorganed and more catered for people not of an enthusiast background. However the crews were spot on, and in addition to driving No8 they sorted out rides on N0s 10/13 for us. The evening saw a visit to Groudle Glen, where of all places we bumped into members of the 4253 group from KESR!
Thursday saw a drive to Calf of Man, followed by a visit to Foxdale and then sitting at Port Soderick to watch the diner cross with the service train before the ferry home.

Overall a good week, and would be interested to return. But with regards to the driving experience, there is more enthusiast based courses available on the mainland so a bit more thought could be done for this.

 

Anyone able to advise what's currently running/expected in traffic on Sunday please?

 

Numbers 10&13 out of Douglas and No 12 out of Port Erin today. Likely the same tomorrow. No8 also available, not in steam today but will be staged with the others this evening for the photo session. 17.30 to P.E. cancelled so the dining train will go out later with the P.E based coaches attached and double- headed. Today's trains have been quite busy with 6 coaches on the Douglas based set. All the HTF activities such as the shed/workshop tours were well patronised and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.
Cheers,
Ray.

 

Looking forward to the dining train on 31st Aug. (and Groudel Glen), but not the midges whilst marshalling at Laurel Bank 2.