The Isle Of Man Railway Museum
Opening Times
9.30am - 5.00pm
WHEN THE RAILWAY
IS IN OPERATION
Gift Shop
SOUVENIRS & WIDE RANGE
OF RAILWAY ITEMS
OPEN WHEN THE MUSEUM IS OPEN
Admission Charges
£2.00 ADULTS
£1.00 CHILDREN
FREE ADMISSION WITH VALID RAILWAY TICKET
Established in 1975 in the former Isle of Man Road Services bus depot adjacent to Port Erin Station, the Isle of Man Railway Museum is home to a number of locomotives and items of rolling stock as well as many smaller exhibits aplenty. It is open when the railway is in operation and accessed via the gift shop which is housed in the former goods shed with an entrance on Station Road at the foot of the platform.
On opening in the summer of 1975 it was home to M.N.Ry. No.4 Caledonia at the head of a Manx Northern Railway train consisting of Six-Wheeler N.41 and closed van Gr.12 and No.16 Mannin and the Royal Saloon F.36 and Governors’ Saloon F.75, joined the following year by No.1 Sutherland which was plinthed on an isolated section of track. There have been a number of changes to the exhibits over the years.
No.4 Loch was displayed prior to her return to traffic following a successful appeal by the Association from 1998, her place being taken by No.6 Peveril. A partial refurbishment by our volunteers took place in the winter of 2013/2014. No.5 Mona entered the museum in the summer of 2023 and is now joined by restored six-wheeler M.N.Ry. No.6 as well as a selection of wagons and vans including G.1, G.19, H.1 and M.78, all restored by the Association.
Dates:-
1976-1998; 2020-Date
1975-1998; 2000-Date
1975-1998 (Off-Island)
1999-2023 ( Stored)
2014-Date
1975-1998; 2000-2023
Occasional
1975-2020 (Restored)
Occasional
Joined 2023
Occasional
Occasional
1975-1993, Restored
Volunteers : Happy In Our Work!
Above: Association volunteers cleaning No.6 Peveril in readiness for the start of the anniversary season in March 2023; peripheral jobs such as this are one of many happily carried out by our workforce to assist our very good friends at Isle of Man Railways. Work is always ongoing refreshing the interpretive displays around the main exhibition hall.
(Photo: Dave Booth)
Complimenting the large exhibits are a number of laminated photographs, items of ephemera, tickets, workshops equipment, interpretive displays provided by the Association and old posters. There are also a large number of smaller exhibits including point levers, signal arms, destination boards, lathes and equipment, staff and ticket boxes, permanent way items, scale models, replica nameplates, hand lamps, carriage heaters, headlamps, level crossing gates, tinplate advertisements and much more.
No.1 Sutherland plinthed at the rear of the hall in the summer of 1989, it would later be removed for restoration in 1997.
Created for a transport festival event in 2015, a pseudo Kirk Michael running-In board displayed in the museum for a period.
No.1 Sutherland and No.6 Peveril in the summer of 2022 showing the overall layout with Ducal Saloon F.75 in the distance.
Among the smaller exhibits in the museum are a selection of lamps, the larger one being of Dutton origin from Douglas Station.
A selection of period luggage illustrating the Luggage In Advance service operated using the two Empress Vans, F.27 and F.28.
The former Station Master's office diorama seen shortly before relocation to the entrance hall during the winter of 2012.
Joining the exhibits in 2023, No.5 Mona has been cosmetically restored by volunteers from the Association into the spring green livery.
Cosmetically restored and entering the museum in 2021, No.1 Sutherland carries the brunswick or holly green livery.
The permanent way diorama created by Association volunteers during renovation works in the winter of 2013-2014.
The office diorama in its new location at the entrance hall to the gift shop with one of the original Douglas Station ticket hatches.
Ducal Saloon F.75 and closed van G.19 shortly after being placed on the purpose built plinth by Association volunteers.
M.N.Ry. No.4 Caledonia in the exhibition hall in the summer of 1991; two years later it was removed for restoration to service.
For a short time in 2023 Royal Saloon F.36 took the place of No.6 Peveril during the transport festival making for this view.
Lettering detail on closed van G.19 which has been in the museum since 2014 and is in need over complete restoration.
Drop-Side Wagon M.78 seen in 2021 carrying a load which includes a brass locomotive dome cover, also showing the photo displays.
Closed van G.19 with the Ducal Saloon F.75 plinthed during renovation works by volunteers from the Association in 2014.
The workshops scale model and display created by Association member the late Robin Winter inside the souvenir shop.
No.16 Mannin shortly before being moved from the exhibition hall for feasibility studies which led to the start of her restoration.
Work in progress by Association volunteers creating a new plinth for Ducal Saloon F.75 and closed van G.19 in November 2013.
During a shuffle of various exhibits in 2023 the rail-connected track was cleared making for this relatively unusual scene.