Tourists Courtesy of Isle of Man Transport
I might be that kind of age these days, but I’m not really into steam trains, trams and other vintage railways. Neither is Anna, but that didn’t prevent us from having fun as tourists on the Isle of Man courtesy of the various modes of transport provided by Isle of Man Transport.
To be honest, we don’t really consider ourselves tourists whilst visiting family on the Isle of Man either. In some ways we are, so why not make the most of it and do some touristy things whilst there? So, after a simple drive to Liverpool and a flight to the Isle of Man last Wednesday, we collected a hire car and headed to Anna’s Mums house where we were staying.
Dinner on a Steam Train
The first Isle of Man Transport activity was booked for Thursday. The three of us headed into Douglas where we boarded the Isle of Man Steam Railway for a journey to Castletown and back. This wasn’t just a train trip though, it included a Silver Service roast dinner too. Mmm Mmm.
It was a lovely sunny day and the train wasn’t too busy so we had plenty of time to relax, chat and watch the world go by. The railway line took us along the SE coast of the Island giving lovely views out over the sea as it weaved it’s way through the Spring-time countryside. Wild Garlic was verdant along the trackside, blackthorn was in blossom and the other trees were just beginning to come into leaf.
The dinner was very tasty and time perfectly so that we could have a stroll in Castletown between courses. During this pause, the steam train re-filled with water and manoeuvred into position to take us back to Douglas whilst a gaggle of men into such things watched on with cameras and excitement.
We had pudding on the way back and another pleasant trip through this part of the Isle of Man. A lovely day out.
A Day on the Trams
Anna and I decided to make use of the Isle of Man Transport services on Saturday as well, with a whole day exploring the NE of the island via tram and Steam train.
Once again, we drove into Douglas and this time parked at the Manx Electric Railway terminal at the far end of the prom. This was a transport hub with horse-drawn trams coming and going, along with the Manx Electric trams that we were about to board.
The Manx Electric Railway is a unique and historic railway that was opened in 1893 and is the oldest surviving electric railway in the world, running from Douglas to Ramsey along a scenic coastal route.
The railway is known for its historic rolling stock, with many of the original cars still in use today. They were certainly restored to a high standard.
In addition to its historic significance, the Manx Electric Railway also plays an important role in the transportation network of the Isle of Man, connecting many of the island’s towns and villages. The railway has been modernized over the years, with new rolling stock and infrastructure improvements, ensuring that it remains a reliable and efficient mode of transportation.
We bought day explorer tickets and started the day with a pleasant ride from Douglas up into the clifftop to Laxey. We passed some pretty impressive houses on the way out of Douglas and were soon climbing higher and higher as the tram weaved its way along the coast, crossing the road from time to time. We opted to sit outside on one of the open carriages as it was a lovely sunny day. This was a bit of a mistake as it was freezing once we got going. It was only about a half-hour ride though and we soon disembarked at another little transport hub in Laxey after crossing the impressive Laxey Viaduct.
The Laxey Viaduct, also known as the Glen Roy Viaduct, is an impressive feat of engineering that spans the Laxey Valley. It was completed in 1873 and at the time of its construction was one of the largest viaducts in the world.
The Laxey Viaduct was designed by the famous civil engineer Thomas Hawksley, who also designed the water supply system for the city of Liverpool. The viaduct stands at an impressive height of 150 feet, with a total length of 1,520 feet. It is constructed of local Manx stone and brick, and has been an iconic landmark on the Isle of Man for over a century.
The station here was a hive of activity but we didn’t hang around as we jumped straight onto the Snaefell Mountain Railway.
The Snaefell Mountain Railway
The Snaefell Mountain Railway was opened in 1895 and runs from Laxey to the summit of Snaefell, the highest point on the island. The railway is the only electric mountain railway in the British Isles and has been in operation for over a century.
This was another half hour trip that climbs steadily up the mountain following the Laxey Valley past the famous Laxey Wheel. Also known as Lady Isabella, the wheel was constructed in 1854 and was used to pump water from the lead mines that we passed later. At the time of its construction, the Laxey Wheel was the largest working waterwheel in the world standing at a height of 72 feet and has a diameter of 72 feet.
We passed a lovely waterfall and the mines as we climbed up to the top of the valley at ‘The Bungalow’ where we crossed the TT course. We were now onto the mountain of Snaefell as the railway climbed ever higher. Towards the top it makes an almost complete circuit of the summit as it spirals around the top of the mountain. As it did so we could clearly see Ireland out across the sea to the West. Next various parts of Sctoland came into site to the North. The Lake District in England could be seen to the East and we think we caught a glimpse of Anglesey in Wales to the South as well.
At the top we got off the train and headed the short distance to the trig point at the summit before heading into the cafe for tea and cakes.
We caught the next train back down to Laxey.
The Great Laxey Mines Railway
Our ‘Explorer’ ticket gave us access to trips on any Isle of Man Transport services today, so once back in Laxey we jumped onto the Great Laxey Mines Railway. This is a restored narrow gauge railway that runs along the surface section of the tramway which once carried lead and zinc ores from deep inside the Great Laxey Mine. Apparently, it is the only working 19″ gauge railway in the UK.
It didn’t take us very far but was a fun little trip. Rather than catch the train back we strolled back through the sunny streets of Laxey to the main station where we ate our picnic lunch and soon boarded yet another Electric Tram.
On to Glen Dhoon
This time we headed further north on the section that goes from Laxey to Douglas. We didn’t go all the way but instead opted to get off at Glen Dhoon for a walk down to the sea. It turned into quite a ‘stroll’ thanks to diversions in the path and a steep-sided valley full of waterfalls. We made it to the beach and then had a slightly sweaty climb back to the top where we caught the Electric Railway all the way back to Douglas.
Yes, it was a little touristy but it was a fun day out and we felt as though we’d done quite a bit. Here’s a quick video to sum it all up.
1 Response
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
What a lovely few days !