Port St Mary railway station
Encyclopedia
Port St. Mary Railway Station is a station in Port St Mary in the south of the Isle of Man
and is served by the Isle of Man Railway
, having first opened in 1874 when the line to nearby Port Erin was completed. It forms part of the sole remaining section of the railway which once covered a network of some 46 miles across the island.
but at around the turn of the century this was replaced.
The station, despite having no passing/run-round facilities, does boast a substantial goods shed served by a dedicated siding which was lifted in the 1970s but reinstated in 2002. When reinstated, the siding was not connected to the imposing goods shed, however in the winter of 2007/2008 rail connections were restored.
along with several other railway locations, the engines of the Isle of Man Railway
however did not appear in the film.
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...
and is served by 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...
, having first opened in 1874 when the line to nearby Port Erin was completed. It forms part of the sole remaining section of the railway which once covered a network of some 46 miles across the island.
Origins
When first opened the station was complemented by a wooden station structure with corrugated iron roof similar to the original station building at the terminus of DouglasDouglas, 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...
but at around the turn of the century this was replaced.
The Building
The impressive two-storey station building would lead the casual observer to think it to be the railway's terminus which is in fact just under a mile away at Port Erin. It is the only "proper" station on the line to not have a passing loop, owing to its close location to the southern terminus. The station remains under the ownership of the railway but has been largely out of use.Trailblazers
In 1980 the station was converted for use in conjunction with the "Campamarina" holiday company and was used as a hostel. At this time the railway passed over the use of the whole building, and the station staff were subsequently housed in a garden shed-type structure on the platform.Modifications
When the usage change, the canopy structure that runs parallel to the platform was bricked in and remains so today, although latterly the station master is once again housed in the building itself.Station Environs
Hollywood
The goods shed was used as a set for the filming of Thomas and the Magic RailroadThomas and the Magic Railroad
Thomas and the Magic Railroad is a 2000 British/American film based on the well-known TV series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends and the United States TV series Shining Time Station. The film was co-produced by Gullane Entertainment and the Isle of Man Film Commission. It was written, produced...
along with several other railway locations, the engines of 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...
however did not appear in the film.