Rail transport in the Isle of Man
Encyclopedia
The Isle of Man
has a rich transport heritage and boasts the largest narrow gauge railway network in the British Isles
with several historic railways and tram
ways still in operation. These operate largely to what is known as "Manx Standard Gauge" of 3' 0" and together they comprise about 65 miles (104.6 km) of Victorian railways and tramways. A railway museum
in Port Erin allows people to find out more about the history of the Manx
railways and was, until the late 1990s accompanied by a similar museum in Ramsey
dedicated to the history of the electric line but this was closed and converted into a youth club. The steam railway to the south of the island, electric to the north and mountain line to the summit of the island's only mountain are all government-owned and operated until the title "Isle Of Man Railways" as a division of the island's Department Of Tourism & Leisure. The lines at Groudle Glen and the Wild Life Park
are both privately owned but open to the public.
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...
has a rich transport heritage and boasts the largest narrow gauge railway network in the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
with several historic railways and tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
ways still in operation. These operate largely to what is known as "Manx Standard Gauge" of 3' 0" and together they comprise about 65 miles (104.6 km) of Victorian railways and tramways. A railway museum
Port 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...
in Port Erin allows people to find out more about the history of the Manx
Manx
Manx is an adjective describing things or people related to the Isle of Man:* Manx people**Manx surnames* Isle of ManIt may also refer to:-Languages:...
railways and was, until the late 1990s accompanied by a similar museum in Ramsey
Ramsey
Ramsey may refer to:In places in the United Kingdom:* Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, small market town in England* Ramsey, Essex, a village near Harwich, England* Ramsey Abbey, historic ecclesiastical centre near Ramsey, Cambridgeshire...
dedicated to the history of the electric line but this was closed and converted into a youth club. The steam railway to the south of the island, electric to the north and mountain line to the summit of the island's only mountain are all government-owned and operated until the title "Isle Of Man Railways" as a division of the island's Department Of Tourism & Leisure. The lines at Groudle Glen and the Wild Life Park
Curraghs Wildlife Park
Curraghs Wildlife Park is a Wildlife Park, located in The Curraghs, , an area of wetland in the north-west of the Isle of Man....
are both privately owned but open to the public.
Lines
- Snaefell Mountain RailwaySnaefell Mountain RailwayThe 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...
, since 1895, 3'6" (1,067 mm) - Groudle Glen RailwayGroudle Glen RailwayThe Groudle Glen Railway is a narrow gauge railway north of Douglas in the Isle of Man which is owned and operated by members of the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association and operates on summer Sundays; May to September and Wednesday evenings in July and August along with a number of...
, since 1896, 2'0" (610 mm) - Manx Electric RailwayManx Electric RailwayThe 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...
, since 1893, 3'0" (914 mm) - Isle of Man RailwayIsle of Man RailwayThe 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...
, since 1873, 3'0" (914 mm) - Douglas Bay Horse TramwayDouglas Bay Horse TramwayThe 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...
, since 1876, 3'0" (914 mm) - Great Laxey Mine RailwayGreat Laxey Mine RailwayThe Great Laxey Mine Railway was originally constructed to serve the Isle of Man's Great Laxey Mine, a lead mine located in Laxey. The gauge railway runs from the old mine entrance to the washing floors along a right of way that passes through the Isle of Man's only railway tunnel under the gauge...
, since 1877, 19" (550 mm) - The Orchid LineThe Orchid LineThe Orchid Line is a multi-gauge miniature railway operating within the Curraghs Wildlife Park in the north of the Isle of Man and is operated by the Manx Model Engineering Society...
, since 1992, various gauges - Upper Douglas Cable TramwayUpper Douglas Cable TramwayThe Upper Douglas Cable Tramway was a tram line serving all points between the southern end of the promenade and the upper part of the town of Douglas in the Isle of Man...
, until 1929, 3'0" (914 mm)
See also
- Mountain railwayMountain railwayA mountain railway is a railway that ascends and descends a mountain slope that has a steep grade. Such railways can use a number of different technologies to overcome the steepness of the grade...
- List of heritage railways
- Isle of ManIsle of ManThe 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...
- Transport in the Isle of Man