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Isle of Man Railway Museum

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Coordinates: 54°05′06″N 4°45′29″W / 54.085°N 4.758°W / 54.085; -4.758
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Isle of Man Railway Museum
Raad-Yairn Vannin Thie Tashtee
Map
Established23 August 1975
LocationStation Road, Port Erin,
Rushen, Isle of Man, IM9 2RR
Coordinates54°05′06″N 4°45′29″W / 54.085°N 4.758°W / 54.085; -4.758
TypeRailway Museum
AccreditationRecommended Attraction
www.visitisleofman.com
Key holdingsNo.5 Mona
No.1 Sutherland
F.36 Royal Saloon
F.75 Ducal Saloon
Closed Van G.19
Carriage M.N.Ry. No.6
CollectionsVarious Contributors
VisitorsAnnually c.25,000
(Based On 2015 Figures)
OwnerIsle of Man Government
Department of Infrastructure
Public transit accessIsle of Man Railway
Bus Vannin
Nearest car parkStreet
Websitehttp://www.rail.im

The Isle of Man Railway Museum in the village of Port Erin in the Isle of Man is a small museum of the history of the Isle of Man Railway from its founding in 1873 to the present, including the now-closed lines that served Peel, Ramsey (Manx Northern Railway) and Foxdale, and the remaining open line between Douglas and Port Erin.

History

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The main exhibition hall in 2006 prior to the relocation of the Ducal Saloon which now occupies the area on the right with van G.19 and prior to the removal of No.16 Mannin visible in the distance; Royal Saloon F.36 can also be seen here

The museum opened in 1975 when the Isle of Man Road Services, a subsidiary of the railway company, relocated to their new garage, which still exists today at the foot of the main platform. At that time, the railway operated only between Port Erin and Castletown, in an experimental season with the goal of reducing running costs. The following year, services were extended to Ballasalla, then returned to Douglas in 1977, since when the full line has operated. The building originally consisting of a metal frame with asbestos cladding, was extensively rebuilt in 1999. A souvenir shop was subsequently added in the goods shed, where locomotives were originally kept overnight. Prior to the opening, the original locomotive shed was used to store unserviceable locomotives. When rebuilt, the locomotive shed was returned to its original use and the goods shed converted into a shop area and porch added.

Location

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Viewed from the opposite side of Station Road showing the 1999 gables replacing doors and carried out in keeping with the original railway buildings

The museum is next to Port Erin railway station, the southern (or western) terminus of the railway, on Station Road in the village. The main exhibition hall is housed in a converted bus garage that once belonged to Isle of Man Road Services, itself a division of the old railway company which was nationalised in 1976. Since the museum was extensively rebuilt in 1998–1999, part of the old goods shed has been incorporated into the complex, the other locomotive shed still being used as a workshop to maintain the locomotives and for overnight storage purposes. The museum is accessible from the station platform off the train, or from the nearby car park.

Facilities

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The square cab of No.16 Mannin viewed from the footplate of No.6 Peveril illustrating the contrasting design of the later locomotive; neither of these locomotives are presently exhibited in the museum
The approach pedestrian pathway to the museum prior to the development of the area as the "station plaza" which commenced in 2017 and saw the creation of sloped access directly from the railway platform to the main doorway

Shop

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The souvenir shop is in the entrance/exit area to the museum and is accessed via Station Road at the foot of the platform. The shop has a small range of memorabilia including books, postcards, stationery, ephemera, replica nameplates and generic souvenirs. The stock of the shop is now a fraction of what was available in the boom of the centenary seasons beginning with the Year of Railways in 1993 and extending to Steam 125 in 1998.

Drive the Diesel Simulator

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The gift shop is home to a diesel-electric locomotive simulator where participants can, for a small fee, "drive" the railway's latest locomotive No.21 for a short trip to Port St. Mary Station and return, for which they receive a commemorative certificate. The simulator takes the form of a cross-section mock up of the cab but is noticeably wider than the original.

Opening

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Opening dates and times tie in with the operational dates of the railway itself, usually between March and the beginning of November each year. The shop is in the old goods shed and features a station-type building as a staff/store room as well as old luggage trolleys and framed displays before entering the museum proper. There is a small admission charge for those without a valid railway ticket, those in possession of travel tickets and the popular Go cards are granted free access, as are members of the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association on production of a valid membership card.

Access

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Sloped access to the shop and exhibition hall is available, however there is an upper viewing platform which accesses photographic displays and gives access to some carriage compartments and the cab of one of the locomotive, this is only accessible at present via a series of small timber steps. The main floor does provide wheelchair access to the majority of exhibits and displays, though there are plans to improve access to the upper level and potentially provide a further mezzanine floor in the central part of the hall.

Exhibits

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Major (previous & present)

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The following represents and main exhibits of locomotives and rolling stock contained in the museum since its opening in 1975; during events periods and photographic charters certain items of stock are removed and alternatives take their places where available; since 2014 F.75 and G.19 have been plinthed on an isolated section of track, joined on another plinth in 2020 by No.1 Sutherland. Remaining items are rail connected via the station's locomotive shed. It is common for these items to be swapped as required, with F.36 being removed for restoration in 2023 and its place taken by a variety of wagons for example.

No. Name Builders Year Exhibited
No.1 Sutherland Beyer, Peacock & Co., Ltd. 1873 1976–1997, 2020–
No.4 Loch Beyer, Peacock & Co., Ltd. 1874 1997–2001, in traffic 2024
No.5 Mona Beyer, Peacock & Co., Ltd. 1874 2023–present I.o.M.S.R.S.A.
No.6 Peveril Beyer, Peacock & Co., Ltd. 1875 1997–2020, 2022–2023
No.9 Douglas Beyer, Peacock & Co., Ltd. 1896 I.o.M.S.R.S.A., due 2025
No.15 Caledonia Dübs & Co., Ltd., Glasgow 1885 1975–1993, in traffic 2024
No.16 Mannin Beyer, Peacock & Co., Ltd. 1926 1975–1998, 1999–2020
F.36 Royal Saloon Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon 1905 1975–1998, 1999–2023
F.75 Ducal Saloon Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon 1873 1975–1998, 2000-
N.42 Six-Wheeler Swansea Carriage & Wagon 1879 1975–1999, now off-island
N.45 Six-Wheeler Swansea Carriage & Wagon 1879 2023–present, privately restored
M.78 Drop-Side Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon 1925 2000–present, between uses in traffic
H.1 Three-Plank Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon 2000 2000–present, between uses in traffic
G.1 Closed Van Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon 1873 2023–present, I.o.M.S.R.S.A.
Gr.12 Closed Van Swansea Carriage & Wagon 1879 1975–1998, 1999–2023

Since it originally opened in 1975, the railway museum has housed a variety of major exhibits. Exhibits in the museum include two engines and two carriages as well as other equipment from the railway. The royal saloon, as used by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 1963 and by Queen Elizabeth II in 1972, are preserved in the museum. There is also a large display of photographs, posters and other memorabilia. In addition to the framed exhibits of old posters and the like, further displays are mounted on the walls of the station building itself in the waiting room and booking office. These were once part of the museum and donated by a preservationists group when the facility was first opened.

Minor (previous & present)

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  • Workshops' Wood-Turning Lathe
  • Original (1873) Carriage Door
  • Mock-Up Station Masters' Office
  • Permanent Way Diorama Display
  • Framed Original Ticket Displays
  • Photographs of All Locomotives
  • Old Planes & Lathes From Workshops
  • Recreation of Station Master's Office
  • Old Snow Plough from the Line
  • Visual Display Boards Charting Histories
  • Past & Present Headboards
  • Anniversary Commemoration Displays
  • Knockaloe Internment Camp Displays
  • Glen Wyllin Pleasure Ground Display
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See also

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References

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  • James I. C. Boyd (1996). Isle of Man Railway. Volume 3: The Routes & Rolling Stock. ISBN 0-85361-479-2.
  • A. M. Goodwyn (1995). Manx Transport Kaleidoscope, 2nd Edition.
  • Robert Hendry (1993). Rails in the Isle of Man: A Colour Celebration. ISBN 1-85780-009-5.
  • Norman Jones (1994). Scenes from the Past: Isle of Man Railway. ISBN 1-870119-22-3.
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