Isle of Man Railway Museum

Isle of Man Railway Museum
Isle of Man
Main Exhibition Hall of the Isle of Man Railway Museum
Type:	museum
Location
Grid reference:	SC196689
Location:	54°5’6"N, 4°45’29"W
History
	museum
Information
Owned by:	Department of Infrastructure
Website:	http://www.rail.im

The Isle of Man Railway Museum in the village of Port Erin on 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 that served Peel, Ramsey and Foxdale as well as the remaining line to Port Erin, where the line’s southern terminus stood.

History

The museum was first opened in 1975 when the Isle of Man Road Services (a subsidiary of the railway company) relocated to their new garage which is still extant today at the foot of the main platform. At this time the railway only operated between Port Erin and Castletown in an experimental season attempting to reduce running costs; the following year services were extended to Ballasalla before finally returning to Douglas in 1977 since when the full line has operated. The building, consisted of metal frame and asbestos cladding and for this reason was extensively rebuilt in 1999, since which time it has included a souvenir shop which is housed in the former goods shed; prior to this, the locomotives were kept overnight in this goods shed, the original locomotive shed being used only to store unservicable locomotives; when the museum was modified the locomotive shed returned to its original use and the goods shed converted into a shop area with new porch added.

Location

The museum is situated beside the Port Erin railway station, which is the southern terminus of the railway, on Station Road in the village, on its junction with Strand Road which leads to the beach. The original entrance was situated on the corner of these two roads, latterly made into a public seating area. 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 by car parking in the nearby car park.

Exhibits

No. 6 Peveril
(Beyer Peacock, 1875)

Governor's Saloon F.75
Bodies Built 1873
Chassis-Mounted 1923

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 coaches as well as other equipment from the railway. The royal carriages, as used by HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 1963 and by HM 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.

• No.1 Sutherland of 1873 (Arrived 1976, Removed 1997)
• No.4 Loch of 1874, Arrived 1997, Removed 2001)
• No. 6 Peveril of 1875 (Arrived 2002, Extant)
• No. 16 Mannin of 1926 (Arrived 1975, Extant)
• F. 75 The Governor's Saloon (Arrived 1975, Extant)
• F.36 The Queen's Coach (Arrived 1976, Extant)
• N.42 Six-Wheeled Coach (Arrived 1976, Removed 1998)
• Van Gr.12 of 1879 (Arrived 1976, Removed 1998)
• Van G.19 of 1921 (Arrived 2013, Extant
• Wood-Turning Lathe (Arrived 1988, Extant)
• Original (1873) Carriage Door (Arrived 2004, Extant)
• Mock-Up Station Masters' Office (Created 1999, Extant)
• Permanent Way Diorama Display (Created 2013, Extant)

The current exhibit Mannin has been an attraction since the museum opened in 1975 and was only removed for one season in 1998–99 whilst the structure of the museum building received attention; since returning it has been turned to face chimney-first to Douglas and is no longer rail-connected. Prior to its restoration, funded by the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association No. 4 Loch of 1874 was a main exhibit, being replaced by No. 6 Peveril when the former was removed to be restored.

Displays

Station Office Diorama

• Framed Original Ticket Displays
• Photographs Of All Locomotives
• Old Planes & Lathes From Workshops
• Recreation Of Station Master's Office
• An Old Snow Plough From The Line
• Visual Display Boards Charting Histories

Gallery

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Isle of Man Railway Museum)

References

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