Manx Heritage Transport Festival 2025
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Tuesday 22nd July : Timetable “R”
Welcome Evening At Port Erin
Join representatives from Isle of Man Railways for an informal welcome to the event with a selection of locomotives including No.4 Loch, No.5 Mona and No.6 Peveril which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year will all be presented at Port Erin Station providing a fascinating photo line-up. Also on display will be Royal Saloon F.36 and 1921 Fowler Highway Board Road Roller. The Museum will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year and will be open offering 50% off all stock for tonight only. Guides are available to speak with regarding the plans for the week ahead and The Whistle Stop Coffee Shop will be open for refreshments. No.4 Loch along with restored 1873 “pairs” carriages F.54, F.62 and F.63 will depart Douglas Station at 5.30pm providing an express service to Port Erin, returning from Port Erin at 9.30pm (arriving back for 10.30pm; standard train fares apply with Go Explore cards accepted.
Manx Northern Railway Shuttle Trains
Running Between Port Erin & Colby
M.N.Ry. No.4 Caledonia will operate with Foxdale Coach F.39 and restored six-wheeler M.N.Ry. No.6 on a return journey between Port Erin and Colby Station providing a unique opportunity to capture movements at Colby Station. Shuttles depart from Port Erin Station at 7.00pm, 7.45pm and 8.30pm with pre-booking essential at £8.00; to book online visit www.rail.im or call the Welcome Centre +44 (0) 1624 662525
Thursday 24th July : Timetable “S”
Peel Line Closed Stations Bus Tour
Our bus leaves Douglas Station at 10:00 with a commentary along the way. Highlights include the Knockaloe Branch, North Line and the former Peel Station. Guides from the heritage railway volunteers will accompany the tour. Meet at Douglas Station at 9.45am with a return by 4.30pm. This tour includes several walking sections that will not be suitable to those with limited mobility. A packed lunch is advisable. £30. To book online visit www.rail.im or call the Welcome Centre +44 (0) 1624 662525.
On Board The Dining Train...
Evening Pie & Mash Excursion
Meal train with quiz on board. A railway themed quiz will take place with a grand prize of a special footplate ride the following day for the winner; £37.00; to book e-mail steamdining@gov.im or call +44 (0) 1624 697457.
Saturday 26th July : Timetable “S”
Workshops, Running Shed & Signal Box Tours
The Supporters' Association return to offering guided tours of the workshops, running shed and signal box to enable visitors to get a glimpse behind the scenes to see how the unique railway is maintained. Tours start at 10.00am, 12.00pm, 2.00pm and 4.00pm and are limited to fifteen people per tour so high demand is expected. Please wait at Douglas Station for your tour to start. A guide will come to collect you. £12.00. To book online visit www.rail.im or call the Welcome Centre +44 (0) 1624 662525. We are hoping to provide further tours if there is demand, please check on the day with the station master.
Wednesday 23rd July : Timetable “S”
Buttell Family Headboard Day
In honour of the Buttell Family and in particular Mike Buttell, one of the dedicated volunteers who sadly passed away last year, locomotives in service will operate with headboards titled Mike Buttell, Arthur Buttell and Joe Buttell throughout the day. This family have a long connection with the Isle of Man Railway and this tribute will celebrate the three generations involvement with the railway for over one hundred years! Standard train fares apply and Go Explore cards will be accepted
Cosmetically Restored No.9
Unveiling Ceremony : Douglas Station
Following many hours of volunteer labour in preparation, this evening will see the official unveiling of No.9 Douglas. The locomotive will be placed on display for the first time immediately after the arrival of the last train of the day for viewing prior to the Annual General Meeting. This is the last locomotive to be so treated, with the Association having already carried out similar works to No.6 Peveril in 1994 and 2021, No.1 Sutherland in 2019 and No.5 Mona in 2023.
Supporters’ Association
59th Annual General Meeting
This will take place at The Tickethall Café (inside Douglas Station) with doors opening at 7.30pm for a 8.00pm start to the business meeting; at the conclusion of the business meeting there will be a film and slideshow from the chairman Bill Cubbon and refreshments will be available - everyone is welcome.
Friday 25th July : Timetable “S” & “U”
Yard Stars : Douglas With No.18 Ailsa
Yard Stars will be available to ride behind giving a unique chance to tick off the most unusual items of rolling stock in our fleet. No.18 Ailsa will work up and down Road Three at Douglas Station as far as the Peel Line siding with a single bogie carriage; rides to take place at 9.15am, 10.15am, 11.45am, 12.15pm, 1.15pm and 2.45pm.
Further Yard Stars!
Castletown : Wickham No.23
Elsewhere the Wickham Railcar No.8849 was built in 1961 by Wickham of Ware will be shuttling between services at Castletown Station around the loop on both sides of the station platforms using the points at each end. Rides take place at 9.30am, 10.00am, 11.00am, 12.30pm, 1.00pm and 2.00pm; each separate event journey is £3.00 per person, pay on the day.
On Board The Dining Train...
Evening Sausage & Mash Excursion
On board the Dining Car with quiz on board. A railway themed quiz will take place with a grand prize of a special footplate ride on the following day for the winner. £37.00; to book e-mail steamdining@gov.im or call +44 (0) 1624 697457. Dining events in the festival book up quickly so do not delay in making your reservation!
Sunday 27th July : Timetable “R”
Double Header Day
A selection of double headed and banked trains with the first being the 9.50am departure from Douglas Station where No.4 Loch and No.13 Kissack will double head as far as Castletown to commence the day. The second engine be detached at Castletown and will join the rear of the 10.27am back to Douglas as a banked train. The 11.50am ex-Douglas will operate as a second double header all the way through to Port Erin. The 4.00pm departure from Port Erin to Douglas will be banked; the day will present numerous photographic opportunities with many combinations. Standard train fares apply and Go Explore cards are accepted.
Celebrating Railway 200
Headboard Day
On selected services throughout the day some of the locos will operate with a special Railway 200 headboard kindly provided by David Archer for the occasion. The first departure carrying the headboard will be the 9.50am ex-Douglas Station. 2025 is the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway. Britain and the world changed forever. Railway 200 celebrates the past, present and future of rail and started the year in style with a “Whistle-Up” staged by the Supporters’ Association on New Years’ Day...what better way to continue that involvement than with a dedicated headboard carried throughout the day! Standard train fares apply. Go Explore cards accepted.
Next Manx Heritage Transport Festival
Tuesday 28th July - Sunday 2nd August 2026
As part of the 2026 festival, we will celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway; we will also celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the nationalisation of the island bus service. The Association will also be marking its own diamond jubilee in some way as part of the festival, full details will be announced in due course - see here.
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