The railway opened its first line to Peel Station in 1873 followed by the south route the following year; by 1879 the northern route operated by the Manx Northern Railway had joined, and in 1881 the Foxdale Line was established bringing the railways to their maximum size save for the short Knockaloe Line which was operated from 1919 and not timetabled.

There follows a selection of the earliest timetables which were published on a weekly basis in the Manx Sun, Weekly Times and Mona's Herald.  It was commonplace in the earliest of days to issue monthly timetables in the press, generally at the beginning of the calendar month with any amendments.  In the case of 1873 there were five issued, all of which are reproduced.