The Isle of Man, famous for kippers, cats with no tails and the TT races, was once the destination for thousands of holidaymakers from Ulster. But the Island is also home to a unique collection of vintage railways.

John Bennett visited the Island to sample the delights, travelling on trains and trams powered by steam, electric and even a horse!

(Photo left: John waits for his first Manx train – on the Isle of Man Steam Railway – at Ronaldsway Halt, just a few minutes walk from the airport terminal.)

Listen to Steve Haworth

And his journey began almost as soon as he stepped out of the airport terminal door, because a short walk brought John to Ronaldsway halt, about half way along on the steam railway which runs from the seaside town of Port Erin to the Island’s capital, Douglas. From Ronaldsway John took the steam train to Douglas, chatting to the guard Steve Haworth and driver John Smith along the way.

Listen to John Smith

From Douglas railway station, John walked along the quay to the sea terminal, which is also the terminus for the horse trams, where he met Peter Kelly, founder of the Isle of Man Victorian Society. John travelled the length of the promenade by horse tram with Peter and they chatted about the changing scene along the promenade and recalled the heyday of the Island’s tourist industry.

John chats to Peter Kelly on board one of the famous Douglas horse trams

Listen to Peter Kelly

The northern terminus of the horse tram at Derby Castle is also the terminus of the Manx Electric Railway. It was beside the Summerland complex which was demolished earlier this year. The MER links Douglas with Laxey and Ramsey, plus a few other unique railways! John took the electric tram as far as Groudle in the company of Charles Guard of the Manx Heritage Foundation.

“Loch” prepares to depart from Douglas on the return run to Port Erin

Listen to Charles Guard

At Groudle, John left the tram and walked down into the glen for a trip on the Groudle Glen Railway. There he chatted to Tony Beard of the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters’ Association who run this delightful train.

Listen to Tony Beard

Manx Electric Railway car no. 22

Having enjoyed refreshments at the Sea Lion Rocks terminus, John took the train back and walked back up to the MER station at Groudle. There he was lucky to travel on car no. 1, one of the two oldest electric tramcars in the world (the other being MER no. 2!), and he spoke to motorman Roy Marshall.

Listen to Roy Marshall