Derby Castle railway station
Encyclopedia
Derby Castle Terminus is the southern terminus of the Manx Electric Railway
, serving the northerly end of the town of Douglas, Isle of Man
. It is located on the north side of Douglas and is not the only railway station in the town, Douglas Station
on the Isle of Man Railway
is located on the south side of town, with this station being termed "Derby Castle" to differentiate between the two.
which also terminates here; the canopy originally featured detailed and intricate metalwork culminating in a central clock tower, distinctive on many early views, but latterly this was removed and a plain roof replaced it.
was housed on the siding to the side of the station and this functioned as a waiting area until it was removed for off-site storage some time later, and now the station offers no cover for waiting passengers other than the incongruous modern shelter. For a short time, a horse car from the nearby bay tramway was used as a shelter in the 1980s but this did not last for long.
and "Shining By The Sea" for Royal Ramsey
among the posters. The station is always covered with informative signage. A framed manually operated clock face attached to a traction pole shows the time of the next departure. For the line's centenary in 1993 large planters were added to the site.
Manx Electric Railway
The Manx Electric Railway is an electric inter-urban tramway connecting Douglas, Laxey and Ramsey in the Isle of Man. It connects with the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway at its southern terminus at Derby Castle at the northern end of the promenade in Douglas, and with the Snaefell Mountain Railway at...
, serving the northerly end of the town of Douglas, Isle of Man
Douglas, Isle of Man
right|thumb|250px|Douglas Promenade, which runs nearly the entire length of beachfront in Douglasright|thumb|250px|Sea terminal in DouglasDouglas is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man, with a population of 26,218 people . It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, and a sweeping...
. It is located on the north side of Douglas and is not the only railway station in the town, Douglas Station
Douglas railway station
Douglas Railway Station is the main terminus of the Isle of Man Railway and is located at the landward end of the quay in Douglas, the capital of the Isle of Man...
on the Isle of Man Railway
Isle of Man Railway
The Isle of Man Railway is a narrow gauge steam-operated railway connecting Douglas with Castletown and Port Erin in the Isle of Man. The line is built to gauge and is long...
is located on the south side of town, with this station being termed "Derby Castle" to differentiate between the two.
Beginnings
The site that now forms the station at Derby Castle is so called because the area to the north at that time housed the vast entertainment complex of the same name. The enterprising railway company owned the entire site, including the row of houses at Strathallan Crescent and the horse tram sheds and offices above. Behind this building lay the Calvary Glen which too was the property of the company until 1934. The houses of the crescent were sold off in 1978 when the entire railway network became government owned, and the railway's offices took up residence in the building atop the horse tram sheds at this time also. This office is now in the ownership of the local authority and renamed the "Strathallan Suite". This area has been the terminus of the line since it opened in 1893. At the northerly end of the site was the main entrance to the ballroom complex, and later the car park for the now-demolished Aquadrome Swimming Pool & Sauna which was part of the Summerland complex.Booking Office
The station remarkably it retains the original station booking office dating from 1897 which is constructed in a distinctive "rustic" style with half-log cladding, and steep alpine roofing. For a major terminus of a once-busy line, the facilities remain basic and small the office measuring only 12' 6" by 8' and only providing accommodation for station master and crew; the station has never had its own toilets for instance, sharing facilities with the nearby Strathallan Hotel (latterly renamed "Terminus Tavern" owing to is proximity with both this and the horse tram terminus). Aside from the tarmacadam surfacing and modern shelter the site remains unchanged since opening.Strathallan Hotel
The public house to the rear of the station, now called the "Terminus Tavern" was constructed in 1890 as the Strathallan Lodge, later becoming a hostelry and remained so until 1982 when it was given its current name. It was railway owned until nationalisation in 1957, having been taken over by the local brewery at that time. it still forms an integral part of the station, the walls being lined with numerous photographs of the line and other handbills, posters, etc., and it plays host to off-duty railway workers still today.Canopy
In addition to the humble booking office, there was a large open roof known as the "Great Canopy" that survived until 1979 when it was deemed unsafe and removed. The stansions for this canopy are now used as flag poles and/or lampposts and it can clearly be seen where this once was. The canopy, although erected by the railway's owners, actually provided cover the tramcars of the Douglas Bay Horse TramwayDouglas Bay Horse Tramway
The Douglas Bay Horse Tramway is a horse-drawn tramway in Douglas on the Isle of Man. The route runs along the seafront promenade for approximately , from a southern terminus at the Victoria Pier, adjacent to the Sea Terminal to a northern terminus at Derby Castle, the southern terminus of the Manx...
which also terminates here; the canopy originally featured detailed and intricate metalwork culminating in a central clock tower, distinctive on many early views, but latterly this was removed and a plain roof replaced it.
Other structures
In 1999 a long shelter was added with suitable signage so denote that it was for use in connection with both the electric railway and bus services. Prior to this a defunct tramcar purchased from Lisbon, PortugalTrams in Lisbon
The Lisbon tramway network serves the municipality of Lisbon, capital city of Portugal. In operation since 1873, it presently comprises five urban lines, and is primarily a tourist attraction.-History:...
was housed on the siding to the side of the station and this functioned as a waiting area until it was removed for off-site storage some time later, and now the station offers no cover for waiting passengers other than the incongruous modern shelter. For a short time, a horse car from the nearby bay tramway was used as a shelter in the 1980s but this did not last for long.
Features
The station is well-known for its many and varied advertising signages, with many any varied styles in evidence denoting "The Highspot Of Your Holiday" in connection with a trip on the Snaefell Mountain RailwaySnaefell Mountain Railway
The Snaefell Mountain Railway is an electric mountain railway on the Isle of Man in Europe. It joins the town of Laxey with the summit of Snaefell, at above sea level the highest point on the island. It connects with the Manx Electric Railway in Laxey. The line is long, built to gauge and...
and "Shining By The Sea" for Royal Ramsey
Ramsey, Isle of Man
Ramsey is a town in the north of the Isle of Man. It is the second largest town on the island after Douglas. Its population is 7,309 according to the 2006 census . It has one of the biggest harbours on the island, and has a prominent derelict pier, called the Queen's Pier. It was formerly one of...
among the posters. The station is always covered with informative signage. A framed manually operated clock face attached to a traction pole shows the time of the next departure. For the line's centenary in 1993 large planters were added to the site.