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40th Anniversary Christmas Trains a huge success

Jan 01, 2024

40th Anniversary of the first Santa trains in 1983

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The initial terminus of the Santa Trains - the starting point of the restoration - The Headland! Santa's Grotto was located in the temporary wooden engine shed seen on the right in the first image. Plus images of the early years of the Santa Trains in the 1980s. Things have come a long way!


2023 proved to be another hugely successful festive season at the railway with record bookings for our Santa Trains and Boxing Day Mince Pie trains as they continue to grow in popularity. Over the various operating days all three steam locomotives; Sea Lion, Brown Bear and Otter were in service operating intensive shuttle services. We continue to improve the events bit by bit every year from reducing queing with the ticketing system, to improvements in decorations, a newly refurbished grotto for our guest from the North Pole and the new addition of the snowmen photo seat nicknamed 'Boris & Doris!'


2023 was also the 40th anniversary of the Santa Trains, the first services being a simple affair operated only a year after the restoration of the railway had been started in 1982, primarily as a much needed fundraiser.

Since then they have continued to grow in popularity and also in term of complexity and standards.

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Prior to the Santa trains on Sunday 17th December 2023 volunteers past and present gathered to mark the 40th Anniversary of the Santa Trains at Groudle. 
The three original volunteers Bill, Colin and Richard gave a short speech recalling the first service back in 1983 using wagons, diesel loco Walrus and a short stretch out onto the clifftops. They had manyfunny tales to tell of those early services; music being provided from a car stereo that had been ripped out of someone's car, seats for the passengers which were old sleepers wrapped in carpet and stacked in bomb wagon trucks...And it was only 50p!! Then a cake was cut for the occasion and absent friends were toasted. 
Here’s to the next 40 years!

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Spooktacular Sell out

28 Oct, 2024
For the second year running families turned out in their hundreds to enjoy the family friendly spooky atmosphere at Groudle over the weekend. Sea Lion & Otter were in service hauling busy trains from Broomstick Halt where passengers had been met by Mr Pumpkin, a spooky trip through the glen passing some of our cheerful ghoulish friends then arriving at Witches Hollow. As well as the warm and spooktacular atmosphere, families visited Jinny the Witch in her lair to receive a frightfully fun gift, enjoyed sweets from her friends and refreshments including hot chocolate with cream and marsh mellows and spooky doughnuts! Our thanks to not only everyone who visited us, but also the volunteers who helped make the event so special and for the support of Bus Vannin for the provision of the shuttle bus to the railway. Next stop....CHRISTMAS!

Busy Steam Gala

20 Sept, 2024
The weather eventually played ball for our September Steam Gala as the day started damp and overcast, but by midday the sun was thankfully shining and the railway was very busy with all three steam locomotives in service with two trains passing at the headland loop. Visitors relished the opportunity to see all three locomotives; Sea Lion, Brown Bear and Otter in service together all day operating an intensive service. Sunday services now continuing into October. Our next special event is the Hop Tu Naa Trains at the end of October which is booking only. Tickets available online.

Warm Sunshine & Crowds for Cliff Top Concerts

12 Aug, 2024
We are lost for words for just how well received our Cliff Top Concerts event was this year. Considering 2024 has not been the best of summers on the Isle of Man weather wise, the sun certainly shone on Groudle for this year's event. It was a day of wall to wall sunshine and people flocked to the cliff tops at Sea Lion Rocks to enjoy the free concerts from some of the island's most talented musicians. This year they were treated to performances from Callum Rowe, Mine's a Shanty, Biskee Brisht, The Reveilettes and our traditional finale group; The Shenannigans Band. A three coach shuttle service was operated with Sea Lion and Brown Bear topping and tailing the service all day.
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