Busy Start to Transport Festival
27 July 2023
Manx Heritage Transport Festival - Busiest in living memory
The crowds have certainly made their presence known across the island at this year's Heritage Transport Festival celebrating the Year of the Railways.
The Island's railways have been running to capacity since the festival began last Sunday and Groudle is no exception.
For our Wednesday running from 11am to 9pm, we seen the busiest standard running day on record with Otter and Polar Bear in constant service will full trains.
There is more to come:
Saturday 29th July
11am to 4:30pm - Victorian Day: The rare chance to experience Sea Lion in service with her original Victorian rake of coaches.
Sunday 30th July
11am to 4:30pm - GALA DAY
- Everything that moves will be out. Up to 7 locomotives in service from steam to diesel and electric.
Along with our popular Cliff Top Tea rooms proving popular, our NEW for 2023 souvenir shops at Lhen Coan has proved popular with its range of Groudle clothing and also the largest collection of railway books and ephemera you will find on the Isle of Man, including a lot of rare second hand titles. So make sure you pay it a visit.
Annie Returns Home After Major Rebuild
Glorious spring sunshine and the unmistakable scent of steam set the scene for a truly memorable Easter celebration at the Groudle Glen Railway to start our 130th year, where families flocked in their hundreds to enjoy one of the Island’s most cherished seasonal traditions. From the first departure to the final train of the afternoon, the line was alive with laughter and anticipation as Sea Lion and Otter performed beautifully, their polished brass and billowing steam evoking the golden age of Manx tourism. Nestled within the blossom-filled glen, the railway offered a picture-perfect backdrop as visitors journeyed to Sea Lion Rocks, greeted at the terminus station by the cheerful presence of the Easter Bunny, who ensured no child went home empty-handed, distributing a delightful abundance of chocolate eggs. The ever-popular Easter egg hunt brought an extra layer of excitement, with clues hidden along the line leading to a range of coveted prizes. Winners were thrilled to receive rewards including travel opportunities from the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, an Afternoon tea for 4 at Milntown House, charming Easter Bunny gifts, and even a season pass to return again and again to the railway. Meanwhile, the café tearooms provided a warm and welcoming hub, offering complimentary tea, coffee and orange juice that kept spirits high throughout the day. With bustling platforms, full trains and a joyful atmosphere from start to finish, the event was widely hailed as a resounding success—capturing not just the spirit of Easter, but the enduring magic of the railway itself.
Since January 2026, volunteers at Groudle Glen Railway have been undertaking another ambitious permanent-way project : a major track relay from Blue Lagoon deep in the glen right up to the top of the hill below Lime Kiln Halt. Working as part of the railway’s dedicated track gang, volunteers have methodically dismantled the life-expired track, lifting old rails and sleepers before digging out the worn trackbed beneath. This demanding groundwork has paved the way for a completely renewed formation designed to secure the long-term future of the line. The scale of the work has been immense for our small team. New recycled plastic sleepers; each costing around £120 before bolts, fittings, rails, and ballast are even considered; have been carefully installed, followed by the reconstruction of the track itself. More than 40 tonnes of ballast have been barrowed, shovelled, levelled, and packed entirely by hand, before the rails were aligned and the track meticulously tamped to achieve the correct levels and geometry. It is tough, physical work, made all the more challenging by the Manx weather, yet the track gang turns out weekend after weekend regardless of rain, wind, or cold, driven by pride, commitment, and a strong sense of camaraderie. The railway is profoundly grateful to everyone involved in this project, and extends particular thanks to the Scheinberg Family , whose generous support has been instrumental in making this renewal possible and in safeguarding the sustainability of this much-loved railway. Projects of this scale are expensive, but they are essential if the Groudle Glen Railway is to continue operating safely for future generations. New volunteers are always welcome to join the track gang and experience the teamwork and satisfaction that comes with maintaining a living piece of heritage. Those who are able to donate, or who may wish to leave the railway a legacy, are warmly encouraged to get in touch or support the project through online donations: every contribution helps keep this little railway alive.
