A four day celebration of Isle of Man Railways will be staged over the Easter weekend.
Highlights of the Rush Hour on the Railways event this year include taking a steam train to a brewery tour and a vintage bus tour of closed lines.
There are also rare photograph opportunities – run pasts and shunting movements using rarely seen vintage passenger and goods stock – with participants urged to share their photographs with Isle of Man Railways for use on social media.
More information and online bookings at www.rail.im or by calling the Welcome Centre on 662525.
More details about each day can be found below. Advance booking is advised to avoid disappointment.
Good Friday, 25 March 2016
Peel (East) ‘n’ a pint
Take the steam train from Douglas Station to Peel East. Alight at the Hooded Ram Brewery to immerse yourself in nostalgia and fine local ale with a brewery tour.
Ticket includes train fare, two pints of ale at the brewery and a bottle to take home.
Departs Douglas 18:00 and 20:00. Each tour limited to 25 persons.
Tickets ?15 including brewery tour and train. To book online visit www.rail.im or call the Welcome Centre 01624 662525.
Easter Saturday, 26 March 2016
Intensive Steam Railway service between Douglas and Port Erin.
Easter Sunday, 27 March 2016
Intensive MER Service between Douglas and Laxey.
Vintage bus tour of the closed steam lines
Join guides from IOM Railway Walks on a 1960s Road Services PD3 calling at long closed stations on the old Peel line. This year the tour also includes Foxdale. Stop at Peel for lunch then continue along the former Manx Northern route to Ramsey, calling at all stations except Lezayre. Artist Michael Starkey will be exhibiting his MNR pictures in the old goods shed at Ballaugh, access to the interior of Kirk Michael Station, a look around the grounds of the two Sulby Stations plus a steam hauled ride on the Orchid Line at the Wildlife Park.
Meet at Douglas Railway Station at 10:00. Return by 18:30.
Tickets ?15. To book online visit www.rail.im or call the Welcome Centre 01624 662525 (capacity 50).
MER Photography Evening
Come and join us for an evening of photography at the Derby Castle yards with MER cars shunting and posed from 19:00 to 21:00. MER Museum open for teas and coffees. To book online visit www.rail.im or call the Welcome Centre 01624 662525
ARCH 2016
Easter Monday, 28 March 2016
Photographs and Memories
A very special day, based entirely around Douglas Station and on the remaining part of the former Peel line, which closed in 1968. Relive the days of departures and arrivals on the Port Erin and Peel lines, with rarely granted photographic opportunities, run pasts and shunting movements with vintage passenger and goods stock. A Peel and Ramsey combined double headed departure will be part of the specially staged event. Bring along your cameras, fill your memory cards and wallow in nostalgia.
Event starts at 11:00, concludes with arrival of last trains from Peel and Port Erin.
Meet at Douglas Railway Station at 11:00. Tickets ?16.
To book online visit www.rail.im or call 662525.
The Department of Infrastructure would love to see some of your photographs of the event. Please email photographs to Anji.street@gov.im with permission to post to their Facebook page.
