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Busiest Christmas on Record
28 December 2020
Record numbers visit Santa
Following a very challenging year caused by the global COVID situation keeping the Isle of Man's borders closed to tourists, thankfully local families turned out in force to support the railway this Christmas.
The Santa Trains are always the most popular dates in the railway's calendar after Easter, but this year saw record numbers attend the railway for the unique festive atmosphere, the fun and festivities and to visit the man in the red suit.
The railway ran an intensive service for Santa trains over four days with a further Mince Pie Train day on Boxing Day.
trains departed approximately every ten minutes,.. 'top and tailed' by two locomotives which were either Sea Lion & Brown Bear or Sea Lion and Otter.
We will continue to explore ways to continue to improve the experience for guests next year, including ensuring the event is pre-booking only for 2021 to manage numbers at peak times.
The volunteers at the railway are extremely grateful for the support from local families and wish you all the best for new year and beyond.
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!
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.
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.
