Isle of Man Steam Railway

Address: Transport Headquarters, Douglas, Isle of Man
1MI 5PT
Telephone: 01624 663366 
Email: info@busandrail.dtl.gov.im
Line Length: 15¼ miles  Gauge: 3ft
Route: Douglas to Port Erin  Journey Time: 60 minutes
Service: March 26, 27, 30, 31/ April every day except 1, 8 / May every day except 9, 16, 23 / June, July, August every day / September every day except 12, 19, 20, 26, 27 / October every day except 3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 14, 17,18, 21, 31 / November 1-3, 5, 6
Tickets: Adult £15.00  Child £7.00 adult tickets include one child free, unlimited travel on day
of issue
Parking: Douglas Station
Website: www.iomguide.com    YouTubevideo  

Port Erin Station: Refreshments

New management was brought in to run the railway in 1967, under the the direction of the Marquis of Ailsa. All lines were working with a frequent service. Unfortunately it was not to last, the Marquis of Ailsa relinquished control after only two years.

After this trains operated for a few years from Port Erin to Castletown only, later the full service to Douglas was reinstated. Both the Peel and Ramsey lines were shut after 1968, with the trackbed lifted in 1974. The Manx Government nationalised the railway in 1977.

Seven steam engines are in use with up to three in steam on busy days. The majority of the locomotives were built by Beyer Peacock & Co. of Manchester between 1873 and 1926 and are 2-4-0 side tank type.

Ribble Steam Railway

Preston Riverside Station: Refreshments, gift shop, museum, workshop

Steamport was formed in 1971 as a railway and transport museum. Opened to the public in 1974 the museum leased the Motive Power Depot in Southport which had not been used by British Railways since 1966. Eventually the cost of the premises threatened the viability of Steamport so the decision was made to move to a new location in Preston Docks.

Built by the Northern Union Railway in 1849 the line to Victoria Quay on the River Ribble transported goods to the main line with a connection close to Preston station. An extension to Preston Docks opened in 1882 and continued to carry freight until 1995.

At the Preston Docks site a workshop, museum, railway platform and visitor centre have been built. Completed in 2004 the museum houses the majority of the exhibits transferred from Steamport.  This includes over 40 standard gauge industrial locomotives, dating from 1865 up to 1970s powered by a variety of energy sources including steam, diesel, petrol, battery and electric.

The Ribble Steam Railway began passenger services on 17 September 2005 from the museum station called Preston Riverside to Strand Road Crossing. Trains travel past the River Ribble over the Navigation Way swing bridge via a short section of road and along Preston Docks.

East Lancashire Railway

Bury Bolton Street Station: Refreshments, shop, picnic area

Rawtenstall Station: Refreshments

In 1846 the original East Lancashire Railway (ELR) opened with two lines, one went southwards to Manchester and the other westwards to Liverpool and Preston. As the area became industrialised the railway prospered, transporting goods from factories and mines. An increasing population meant a high demand for passenger services as well.

The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway became the owners in 1857, they were then merged into the London and North Western Railway in 1922 before finally becoming a part of the London Midland and Scottish Railway. Another change came in 1948 when the railway system was nationalised turning into British Railways.

There was a steady decline in traffic with freight increasingly being moved by road and people using cars. In 1972 the last passenger train ran on the Bury-Rawtenstall route, the goods service was withdrawn in December 1980.

The East Lancashire Railway Preservation Society was formed in 1968 with the aim of acquiring  a section of line near Helmshore, but this project did not materialise.  When the track from Bury-Rawtenstall closed in 1980 the Society turned its attention to saving this.

With help from the local authorities all the railway infrastructure was purchased from British Rail. Seven years elapsed before trains again ran on the ELR. A service began in July 1987 from Bury to Ramsbottom, a distance of four miles. In April 1991 the track was extended the four miles to Rawtenstall, in September 2003 Heywood was reached giving the railway its present length of 12 miles.

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