Port Soderick railway station
Encyclopedia
Port Soderick Railway Station is the first station on the Port Erin line of the Isle of Man Railway
and is located near the settlement of the same name on the Isle of Man
. It forms part of the sole remaining section of the railway which once served a 46 mile network across the island.
. Although largely derelict today, this resort was once a hugely popular destination for tourists
to a point above the beach; this tramway was established in 1896 and closed in 1939 upon the outbreak of war. A landslide on part of the route saw that it never opened again although the route was modified and operated by ominbuses for a number of years.
s and of course the railway. So popular was the place that the station boasts the only full-height platform at an intermediate station on the south line other than Port St. Mary which, at one time, was intended as the southern terminus.
which is visible from the land side of the passing train. It runs around the grounds of the house of the same name, and around a lake which is passed by train. The railway is not open to the public.
. It is an imposing large structure, more latterly replaced by two wooden shelters on each platform. The "down" platform was added in 2002 when much of the railway was re-laid as part of the IRIS
scheme.
van and remedial damage to the wooden buffer beam of the 1874-built locomotive that was involved. Local emergency services attended but train operations were continued later in the same day; a health and safety report has since been commissioned into the incident.
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...
and is located near the settlement of the same name 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 forms part of the sole remaining section of the railway which once served a 46 mile network across the island.
Access
The B23 road between Douglas and the village provides vehicular access to the station and passes through a tunnel underneath the line after which the station driveway is directly to the left of the road.Locale
To the eastern end of the station the railway passes over the main road by means of a large stone bridge; at the southerly end the line passes into Crogga Woods from where can be seen the large house and miniature railway.Development
The station was originally provided with a basic wooden building but by 1898 it had become clear that the popularity of the nearby resort demanded a more substantial building; to this end, the current grandiose station was erected and included station masters' residence, refreshment rooms and booking facilities; the latter has been retained as part of the private house but only as a feature and the station is no longer manned.Origins
The station was built primarily to serve the popular coastal resort which is a short walk from the station via one of the Manx National GlensManx National Glens
Manx National Glens is a collective term for a series of glens in the Isle of Man. The island country is renowned for its natural beauty and its "pocket sized" scenic natural glens....
. Although largely derelict today, this resort was once a hugely popular destination for tourists
Electric Tramway
The resort was also once served by the Douglas Head Marine Drive and Electric Tramway which took a spectacular coastal route from Douglas HeadDouglas Head
Douglas Head is a rocky point on the Isle of Man overlooking Douglas Bay and harbour. Views extend to include Snaefell Mountain and Laxey-General:...
to a point above the beach; this tramway was established in 1896 and closed in 1939 upon the outbreak of war. A landslide on part of the route saw that it never opened again although the route was modified and operated by ominbuses for a number of years.
Other Transport
Owing to the popularity of the venue it was also served by ferry boats, charabancCharabanc
A charabanc or "char-à-banc" is a type of horse-drawn vehicle or early motor coach, usually open-topped, common in Britain during the early part of the 20th century. It was especially popular for sight-seeing or "works outings" to the country or the seaside, organised by businesses once a year...
s and of course the railway. So popular was the place that the station boasts the only full-height platform at an intermediate station on the south line other than Port St. Mary which, at one time, was intended as the southern terminus.
Improvements
In 2002 all stations received platforms, and the little used passing loop at this station received another (seldom used) full-height platform on the "down" side, together with waiting shelter, indicative of the management policy to provide passenger facilities at each station, seemingly regardless of how well patronised the stations were.Crogga Railway
To the south of the station is a private miniature railwayCrogga House Railway
The Crogga Valley Railway is a privately owned miniature line immediately south of the Isle of Man Railway station at Port Soderick and is partly visible from the passing train. Not open to the public, the extensive line has been expanded in recent times to cover the grounds....
which is visible from the land side of the passing train. It runs around the grounds of the house of the same name, and around a lake which is passed by train. The railway is not open to the public.
Manx Nameboards
For the start of the 2008 season the station was adorned with new bi-lingual station nameboards; differing from all other stations on the line insofar as one side (the "up" platform) has the name in English, and the other (the "down" platform, which is rarely used) is in Manx, stating "Purt" as opposed to "Port"; the nameboards feature a yellowy-cream lettering with black shadowing on a maroon coloured back board, the now-standard livery of station nameboards on the line.Residents
The station building is still extant but in private ownership, having been converted from a derelict state in the 1980s. Previous owners included Alex Lloyd (racing driver)Alex Lloyd (racing driver)
Alex Stewart Lloyd is a British motor racing driver. He currently takes part in the IndyCar Series...
. It is an imposing large structure, more latterly replaced by two wooden shelters on each platform. The "down" platform was added in 2002 when much of the railway was re-laid as part of the IRIS
Iris
Iris commonly refers to:* Iris , part of the eye* Iris * Iris , a feminine given name* Iris , a Greek goddess* Iris , a genus of flowering plantsIris may also refer to:-Places:...
scheme.
Today
The station remains open but unmanned; there are two wooden shelters on the platforms and a further small hut at the easterly end of the station which provides accommodation for station staff at the rare times when the station is used for passing of trains.Incident
On 19 May 2008 there was an incident at the station involved a van and oncoming train which resulted in a collision of the two. The matter was widely reported in the media but as the train was travelling no faster than 5 miles per hour no injuries were sustained. There was however much damage to the VauxhallVauxhall
-Demography:Many Vauxhall residents live in social housing. There are several gentrified areas, and areas of terraced townhouses on streets such as Fentiman Road and Heyford Avenue have higher property values in the private market, however by far the most common type of housing stock within...
van and remedial damage to the wooden buffer beam of the 1874-built locomotive that was involved. Local emergency services attended but train operations were continued later in the same day; a health and safety report has since been commissioned into the incident.
Route
See also
- Isle of Man Railway stationsIsle of Man Railway stationsThis article details each of the lines operated by the Isle of Man Railway, including the original line to Peel in the west, opened in 1873, followed by the Port Erin line the following year , as well as the Manx Northern Railway's line between St John's and Ramsey and the Foxdale Railway's line...
- Port SoderickPort SoderickPort Soderick is a small hamlet to the south of Douglas, capital of the Isle of Man, once famed for its pleasure grounds and beach. In latter years there have been various attempts to rejuvenate the area, all of which have been unsuccessful to date...