Port Erin railway station
Encyclopedia
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...
in the village of Port Erin on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
; it is the sole remaining outer terminus of the railway but until 1968 there were termini at both Peel and Ramsey in the west and north of the island respectively.
Origins
This station was the second established terminus of the Isle of Man RailwayIsle 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...
, the first being Peel in 1873, the previous year. The railway initially considered extending its southern route only as far as Castletown, some five miles to the northwest, but the increasing tourism business on the island, especially the seaside resorts of Port Erin and the nearby Port St. Mary, ensured that the line was constructed the full stretch from Douglas, a distance of just under sixteen miles. The station soon established itself and became a focal point in the village and it maintains this status today. Facilities were added accordingly in the last part of the nineteenth century, the site expanding to its largest form prior to the commencement of the first world war.
Development
Following extensive refurbishment the station won an Ian Allan Heritage Railway award in 1990 but sadly since this time, only remedial work has been carried out to the station's intricate and distinctively carved wooden fascia boards and other paintwork. In 1999 the traditional "picket" style wooden fencing was removed from the platform area and replaced with tall metal security fencing (installed to protect the bus yard that is situated on the former platform area) which detracted from the picturesque nature of the setting.Nameboards
The station has historically carried a bi-lingual station nameboard reading "Purt Çhiarn"/Port Erin" attached to the side of the locomotive shed; in 2008 following new policy, the other nameboards are also bi-lingual but these have been painted maroon and cream as opposed to the green and cream livery applied to the station area, but in consistency with the rest of the line. In the fullness of time the station colour scheme is to be changed to maroon as part of a corporate makeover that will affect the whole railway.Crossings
The station is unique in having a public right of way dissecting the long platform and, in bygone days, longer trains (rarely seen today) would have to uncouple whilst loading prior to departure to ensure the right of way to the nearby Athol Park was not blocked. A the northerly end of the station is a level crossing (one of only two crossings still manned on the railway) crossing Droghadfayle Road. This duty is performed by a member of station staff. Until the yard trackwork was relaid in 2000 the locomotive crew had to open and close the gates whilst "running round" to couple onto the train for departure but rationalisation of this arrangement now means that this can be done without disturbing traffic.Buildings
The main station building is constructed of ruabonRuabon
Ruabon is a village and community in the county borough of Wrexham in Wales.More than 80% of the population of 2,400 were born in Wales with 13.6% speaking Welsh....
brick and was constructed in 1909 in the centre of the village, replacing a similar original version that was slightly smaller and made of local stone. This building is something of a focal point in the village and houses a booking office, a waiting room (which was once a ladies only facility and the Whistle Stop Cafe which is housed in the former porters' office. This building was added to in the mid twentieth century, this extension now being the mess room for locomotive crews, though it was built as a ticket office for Isle of Man Road Services
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...
, itself a subsidiary of the railway company. This extension which also forms part of the toilet facilities at the station has in the past been home to the local Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Royal National Lifeboat Institution
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charity that saves lives at sea around the coasts of Great Britain, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, as well as on selected inland waterways....
charity shop among others. There is also a substantial locomotive shed constructed from local stone adjoining an old bus garage which is home to the railway museum. A further shed which has been converted into the entrance and souvenir shop was once the goods shed for the station. A water tank serves the locomotive shed and this was built in 1998 replacing a much older version which had been destroyed in 1986 and not replaced. A small timber-built sentry box also guards the entrance to the station where it crosses the public highway at Droghadfayle Road and today this is used only for storage by the gatekeeper (this being one of very few manned gated crossings on the line). This structure replaced a much older version in 1998. A large spar-dashed building in the middle of the site is the southern bus depot of Bus Vannin
Bus Vannin
Bus Vannin is the title of the government owned and operated bus service on the Isle of Man. The name was adopted in June 2009 having previously been branded as Isle of Man Transport...
and this was erected in 1975 when the entire site was redeveloped. The station boasts a two-road carriage shed, also constructed in 1999, ensuring for the first time in the line's history that coaching stock stored overnight could be kept undercover.
Museum
Housed in a former bus garage the Port Erin Railway MuseumPort Erin railway museum
The Port Erin Railway Museum in the village of Port Erin in the Isle of Man is a small display that shows the history of the Isle of Man Railway through exhibits and visual displays which chart the history of the railway from its opening in 1873 until the present day, covering the now-closed lines...
was opened in 1975 and houses a number of exhibits charting the history of the railway from its beginnings to the present day; prior to its opening the goods shed (which today houses the associated souvenir shop and entrance hall) had acted as locomotive shed for several years, whilst two out of service locomotives (Nos. 8 Fenella
Isle of Man Railway locomotives
The locomotives of the Isle of Man Railway were provided exclusively by Beyer, Peacock and Company of Manchester, England between 1873 and 1926; other locomotives that appear on this list were inherited as part of the take-over of the Manx Northern Railway and Foxdale Railway which happened in 1905...
and 9 Douglas
Isle of Man Railway locomotives
The locomotives of the Isle of Man Railway were provided exclusively by Beyer, Peacock and Company of Manchester, England between 1873 and 1926; other locomotives that appear on this list were inherited as part of the take-over of the Manx Northern Railway and Foxdale Railway which happened in 1905...
were stored in the original locomotive shed. The museum was originally accessed via a purpose-built porch on the adjoining Station Road but when the facility was extensively refurbished in 1999 as part of modifications that involved the entire site. Today the museum houses the railway's last lococmotive, No. 16 Mannin
Isle of Man Railway locomotives
The locomotives of the Isle of Man Railway were provided exclusively by Beyer, Peacock and Company of Manchester, England between 1873 and 1926; other locomotives that appear on this list were inherited as part of the take-over of the Manx Northern Railway and Foxdale Railway which happened in 1905...
supplied in 1926 as well as No. 6 Peveril
Isle of Man Railway locomotives
The locomotives of the Isle of Man Railway were provided exclusively by Beyer, Peacock and Company of Manchester, England between 1873 and 1926; other locomotives that appear on this list were inherited as part of the take-over of the Manx Northern Railway and Foxdale Railway which happened in 1905...
of 1875 and two carriages as well as a number of framed displays including tickets, memorabilia and historical documentation.
Rail access to the building is via the locomotive shed to the rear. The building itself was built to house the buses of Isle of Man Road Services
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...
, itself a subsidiary of the railway company. When the museum opened an alternative bus storage garage was erected on the site of the former bay platforms in 1975. In the past the line's original locomotive No. 1 Sutherland
Isle of Man Railway locomotives
The locomotives of the Isle of Man Railway were provided exclusively by Beyer, Peacock and Company of Manchester, England between 1873 and 1926; other locomotives that appear on this list were inherited as part of the take-over of the Manx Northern Railway and Foxdale Railway which happened in 1905...
has been housed here together with the unique Manx Northern Railway
Manx Northern Railway
The Manx Northern Railway was the second common carrier railway built in the Isle of Man. It operated as an independent concern only from 1879 to 1905.- History :...
locomotive No. 4 Caledonia
Isle of Man Railway locomotives
The locomotives of the Isle of Man Railway were provided exclusively by Beyer, Peacock and Company of Manchester, England between 1873 and 1926; other locomotives that appear on this list were inherited as part of the take-over of the Manx Northern Railway and Foxdale Railway which happened in 1905...
and an unusual six-wheeled coach dating from 1879 though the latter (which is privately owned) is currently in storage elsewhere. An original four-wheeled freight van, Gr.12, was also housed here until 1998 and this has since been restored and sees limited use as part of transport festivals annually.
Environs
The station is located in the heart of the village and many of the nearby points of interest radiate out from this point; across the road from the station lies the Station Hotel and local chip shop, together with a row of shops including a general hardware store, toy shop, newsagents and Cooperative store as well as an outlet of the Manx Electricity Authority and a florists and the local branch of the Isle of Man Bank. To the westerly side of the station lies Athol Park which includes a small play park for children and playing fields and these are both accessed by crossing an ungated pedestrian pathway that bisects the main platform. Beyond this are residential areas and to the southerly end of the station the old police station leads to the lower promenade where can be found ice cream shops, cafes and the sandy beach for which the village is famous, all in the shadow of Bradda Head which dominates the village.What was once the bay platform and carriage sidings within the station are now devoted to the storing of Bus Vannin
Bus Vannin
Bus Vannin is the title of the government owned and operated bus service on the Isle of Man. The name was adopted in June 2009 having previously been branded as Isle of Man Transport...
vehicles between duties. Another hostelry, The Haven lies on the site of the former bus station and a petrol station beyond it. An aparthotel, the Cherry Orchard lies beyond this, being one of few accommodation facilities in the area, there once being a great many more in the heyday of tourism. At the far perimeter of the station is the local fire station, easily identifiable by its tower, the local branch of the Royal British Legion and a large car park which is also used for housing coaches in the summer months. The new police station abuts this car park also.