The Isle of Man Railway between Douglas and
Ramsey via St. John's. In this final selection of photographs
from the Isle of Man (see also here, here
and here), Robin Summerhill explores the
Ramsey line north of St. John's. |
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Above:
This bucolic scene is actually Peel Road station, formerly
Poortown, which was situated at grid reference SC 265832 where the
Manx Northern Railway passed under what is now the A20 via the bridge
visible in the distance beyond the trees. If you look carefully,
you will see that the photograph depicts two separate levels: the
trackbed in the centre, with the slightly raised platform to its
left. Grass and cow parsley mark the platform edge. July 2014. (Robin
Summerhill) |
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Above:
The next station north of Peel Road was St. Germains, seen
here in a photograph which is very similar to that supplied by Neil
Hebborn in Photo Gallery 93, only the weather
in July 2014 was even hazier than that experienced by Neil a month
earlier. The station's attractive cottage style is repeated at Kirk
Michael. July 2014. (Robin Summerhill) |
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Above:
North of St. Germains, the old line runs above the cliffs
on the west side of the island, affording views over the North Sea
such as seen here in the vicinity of the short-lived halt at Gob y
Deigan. The modern footpath, with its neat rows of fence posts either
side, still has something of the look of a railway about it. This
exposed section on the western side of the island led the railway
company to install a carriage turntable at St John’s so that
the weathering on each side of its coaches could be equalised! July
2014. (Robin Summerhill) |
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Above:
For most railway enthusiasts, their biggest regret on this
line will be the loss of the viaducts on the line, although it must
be admitted that they were removed before rail trails were as popular
as they are now, and possibly maintenance costs and safety issues
were concerns. These are the steps on the north side of Glen Mooar
Viaduct that lead down from trackbed level into the glen. July 2014.
(Robin Summerhill) |
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Left:
These are the steps on the west side of Glen Wyllin,
just south of Kirk Michael, where a second viaduct has been
removed. In the 1890s, the glen was developed as a pleasure
ground and a footpath installed from Kirk Michael station.
. The glen was popular destination by rail and, in 1935,
the railway purchased it and made further improvements including
a boating lake, tennis courts, bowling greens and an area
for dancing. July
2014. (Robin Summerhill)
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Above:
Climbing out of the glen on the east side of Glen Wyllin,
the piers of the viaduct are still clearly visible, although the further
one is now cloaked in ivy. At the bottom left of the photograph, the
pedestrian footbridge which crosses the Ballalona River river is clearly
visible. July 2014. (Robin Summerhill) |
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Above:
Glen Wyllin Viaduct in better days. Note how far the ivy
has climbed up the pier on the right, and compare with the photograph
above. Ex-County Donegal Railway diesel railcars number 19 and 20
cross the viaduct with a service to Ramsey. August 1964. (Dr. Neil
Clifton, used under the terms of this creative
commons licence) |
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Above:
Our final photograph from the Isle of Man shows the attractive
station at Kirk Michael, which now serves as Kirk Michael Fire Station.
The line closed completely on 13th November 1965 but re-opened for
passengers in 1967, only to close again on 6th September 1968. A freight
service of oil tankers continued but, when that was withdrawn in October
1969, the line finally closed for good with the rails being lifted
in 1974. July 2014. (Robin Summerhill) |