Busy Steam Gala
20 September 2024
Three steam locomotives, two trains, one great day!
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.
As the years pass by we notice a steady increase in the interest in our relatively modern locomotives... the 1920s Battery Electric Polar Bear and the 1940s / 1950s diesel locomotives. As volunteers we always look forward to the annual Diesel Electric day which helps kick start the summer season in early May. Our Hudson Hunslet diesel locomotive Walrus of 1952 was missing this year as she is under full rebuild, but her sister Dolphin saw passenger service alongside the Baguley diesel locomotive of 1947 Maltby (known as the Hi-De-Hi locomotive.) Our replica Battery Electric locomotive Polar Bear is always a popular locomotive, especially with her Groudle heritage... and we didn't want to disappoint steam fans, so the day saw Sea Lion operating aswell to offer a two train service passing at the loop and providing a great comparison between the different types of motive power.
Always a great kick start to the season after the long winter months... the welcome arrival of the Easter Bunny at Groudle Glen. The weather played ball for pretty much all of the 2025 event (we'll ignore first thing Monday morning!) Sea Lion and Brown Bear were in service operating an intensive three coach service on both Easter Sunday and Monday between 10am and 4:30pm taking families from the secluded glen, along the line to help spot some of the Easter Bunny's eggs hidden along the line out to Sea Lion Rocks Tea Rooms. Upon arrival the Easter Bunny had chocolate eggs for all the children and had time for everyone to have a souvenir photo taken aswell before enjoying free tea, coffee and orange juice in the cafe with lots of other sumptuous delights on offer. Congratulations to Mat, Zack and Elijah who were picked at random from all the correct entries to win the Easter Egg Hunt prizes which included a £100 voucher from the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, a £100 voucher from Walton's Direct, a £50 Tynwald Mills voucher a big Easter Bunny teddy and a free family pass for the railway for the season. Steam Trains and the tea rooms are now operating every Sunday from 11am to 4:30pm.
Santa paid his annual visit to Groudle Glen Railway in the two weekends prior to Christmas and brought a festive winter wonderland with him with record numbers of families visiting to make magical memories. Sea Lion, Brown Bear and Otter were in service over both weekends, with the new Tinsel Trams operating for the first time this year brining people from Douglas and the free Bus Vannin shuttle bus transporting people to North Pole Halt at Groudle Beach. Also for the first time visitors were able to have their photo taken with Santa's Elves and download it specifically in high quality from a QR code. Hot Chocolate, cookies, tea, coffee, orange juice, mulled punch and mince pies were also available in abundance, but the big man in the red suit was the main attraction and he distributed quality gifts to hundreds of children ahead of the big day. On Boxing Day when the excesses of Christmas were over, hundred of visitors attended the Mince Pie Trains to blow the cobwebs away and enjoy the festive atmosphere when Santa and his team had retired to the North Pole for a rest. The railway now looks ahead to 2025... with tickets being on sale shortly for our popular Easter Bunny Trains and the popular steam teas already available for booking for the 2025 season.
