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We're reopening this weekend
Apr 29, 2021
The start of our 125th Anniversary Season!
The volunteers at Groudle Glen Railway are delighted to announce that the railway will reopen for its 125th anniversary year this coming Sunday and Monday; the May bank holiday weekend.
The railway was sadly unable to open for the Easter Bunny Trains for the second year running due to Covid restrictions and there were also major engineering works that had to be completed prior to re-opening, but these have now been completed.
“Our team of volunteers have pulled out all the stops working around the clock over the last couple of weeks to complete the major trackworks in our main station at Lhen Coan,” says Charity Chairman Trevor Nall, “these were essential works and part of our 125th Anniversary Legcay project, but we couldn’t open until all the works were completed… and now after some long days and late evenings down the glen, the railway is ready to run once again”
The railway and the cliff top tea rooms will be open this Sunday and Monday from 11am to 4:30pm offering families from across the island the chance for a day out on one of the Isle of Man’s cherished vintage railways and refreshments in one of the island’s beauty spots following weeks of recent lockdown. The line will then continue with its summer season operating every Sunday between 11am and 4:30pm plus Wednesday evenings from mid June and August from 7pm to 9pm.
On Sunday 23rd May the railway will officially celebrate its 125th Anniversary with a day of celebrations in the glen starting with a ceremony at 11am featuring the line’s original 1896 steam locomotive Sea Lion. Families acorss the island are invited to then take part in a Trainspotting Challenge in order to win an UHDTV generously donated by Waltons before enjoying music at the Cliff Top Tea Rooms from Truman Falls. Tickets are already available online for this special day online at www.ggr.org.uk .
“We are very proud of what has been achieved by our team of volunteers at the railway since restoration began in 1982, “ says Trevor, “however the work goes on and the 125 Legacy Project at Lhen Coan is only partially completed with a new platform & trackwork…a welcome centre and shop is in the planning and will be completed in time to welcome future visitors back to the railway by the end of the season.”
The railway is always looking for new volunteers to join the team to assist in running the line, the tea rooms and other various aspects including painting, catering, joinery, electrics, horticulture, marketing and engineering. If you feel you’d like to do something worthwhile with your Sundays, please get in touch via the website www.ggr.org.uk as you will be made most welcome.
The volunteers at Groudle Glen Railway wish to thank their generous supporters for their continued support of the railway, especially during these recent challenging times; including the Scheinberg family, The Manx Lottery Trust, The Alan Chinery Trust, The Elizabeth Clucas Trust and The Gough Ritchie Charitable Trust.
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.
