Introduction

Make the most of your holiday on the Isle of Man and take the time to enjoy the unique vintage railways. Travel back in time over 40 miles of railways that will take you on an unforgettable journey through some of the most beautiful countryside in the British Isles. Each day you can be somewhere different. In fact you can plan your holiday so you get the best of travelling by steam train and electric tram. And when you choose to break your journey you'll find it easy going too; whether you stop off for lunch at a harbour side or country pub, or pack a picnic and find a quiet spot in one of the National glens.

The Isle of Man is one of the very few places in the world where you can travel on steam and electric railways, which are over a century old. To see some of the Island's stunning scenery, there's no better way than by stepping on board and back in time. The Isle of Man Steam Railway, founded in 1873, operates throughout the summer and runs from Douglas to Port Erin in the south, passing through some magnificent countryside.

In Douglas are the horse drawn trams - the oldest trams in the world - in continuous service, except for the war years since 1876. The Manx Electric Railway is one of Britain's longest vintage narrow gauge lines, and runs from Douglas to Ramsey. Two of the cars are originals, dating from 1893, and all are superbly restored.

The Snaefell Mountain Railway, the only such railway in the British Isles, celebrated its centenary in 1995 and runs to the summit of Snaefell Mountain, 2036 feet high, the highest point in the Isle of Man. The Groudle Glen Railway celebrated its centenary in 1996 - a narrow gauge system being lovingly restored by enthusiasts who provide a limited summer service along a scenic length of track just outside Douglas. The main train, electric tram and bus stations are in Douglas. The Steam Railway Station is situated at the end of North Quay and can be reached by bus. The Manx Electric Railway Station (known as Derby Castle) is at the Northern end of the promenade. Travel there by horse tram (they stop by request at tram stops along the promenade) or by bus. Alighting the Manx Electric Railway at Groudle Station and taking the short walk through the delightful Groudle Glen before reaching Lhen Coan Station you can reach Groudle Glen Railway. Step off the Manx Electric Railway at Laxey Station to take a tram to the Island's highest point on the Snaefell Mountain Railway. A comprehensive bus network covers the whole of the Isle of Man.

With breathtaking views outside the windows, it's hard to concentrate on the display of historical memorabilia, which describe the inception, and completion of this, the oldest operating mountain railway in the world. The whole process from start to finish took some seven months to complete and used the steam loco Caledonial to haul building materials to the summit.

The Summit Cafe is a welcome find as one alights from the Snaefell Mountain Railway which has just climbed through nearly 2,000 feet of rugged moorland revealing views of the Island across the Irish Sea.

Situated adjacent to Port Erin Station is the fascinating Steam Railway Museum which houses locomotives, carriages, memorabilia and relics going back to the opening of the Island's first passenger steam railway in 1873. The Museum is open daily in the main season and has an extensive souvenir shop too

The Great Laxey Mine Railway

In 1999, the Laxey and Lonan Heritage Trust began the restoration of the surface section of the former tramway. A bequest from the estate of the late Lt Col R S Glenn funded the building of two fully working replicas of the original Ant and Bee. The restored Great Laxey Mine Railway was officially opened on 25th September, 2004. Passengers can now ride in a tiny carriage along the line where loaded wagons of ore were once hauled from the mine. The railway, a quarter of a mile in length, runs up the valley from the former Washing Floors, now the Valley Gardens, to the main adit entrance where there is a picnic site, footpath and information boards explaining the mining features. The Laxey Wheel is only a short five minute walk away. The line runs beneath the main Laxey to Ramsey road and the Manx Electric Railway through the longest railway tunnel on the Island!