Colby Station
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Station Name:
Date Opened:
Date Closed:
Lines Served:
Coordinates:
Postal Address:
Ex-Douglas:
Current Status:
Colby (No Manx Name)
2nd August 1874
15th November 1965
54°05′40″N 4°42′15″W
Station Road, Colby
13 Miles, 0 Chains
Open (Unmanned)
Serving the village of the same name, this was established as a crossing place for the opening of the south line in 1874 and had a timber third class station similar to that which remains at Santon Station today, there also being one at Ballasalla Station until 1985. The example at Colby was removed in 1980 and the station left with no passenger accommodation until 1988 when the refurbished building from Braddan Station was erected here. The long passing loop is retained today, but the two goods sidings were lifted in 1974, one of which served a small goods platform which was home to a grounded brake van body (from E.) the base for this remains extant.
The station now has an automated level crossing at its northern end, installed in 2013 as the latest new crossing and serving the access road to the new Colby Football Club and campsite beyond the station; this is activated by the train crews. For many years the station has been without semaphore signals and is rarely used to cross trains; usually photographic charters use the loop line, when two members of staff man the station, one on each set of points acting as flagmen in lieu of signals. Visibility from the southern approach is excellent as there is a long straight section to Kentraugh and beyond The Level.
Stations along the line were all fitted with bilingual running in boards from 2008 but those at Colby retain the single name, there being no Manx translation of the word; similarly those at Port Soderick Station were different, there being only one letter difference (Port/Purt) though these have been updated since then. The other exceptions are those at Castletown Station which have been replicated in an accurate period style without the Manx (Balley Cashtal) and Ballabeg Station, which similarly has a more traditional single language board since works were carried out by Association volunteers in 2021, this is in an effort to maintain a period feel. When originally installed, the former Braddan shelter had the running in board mounted on its roof, this has since been removed. The two full-height platforms were installed in 2001 but the seaward side is rarely used.
Two Full-Height Platform | Waiting Shelter | Pedestrian Crossing
The station as it is today with its passing loop and the waiting shelter from Braddan Station on the Peel Line.
View from the rear of a passing southbound train showing the long passing loop and full height platforms installed in 2001.
View from a southbound train with the original station in its latter days painted greed with a red oxide roof, demolished in 1980.
No.13 Kissack paused at the station in the spring of 1983, the carriages outshopped in the purple lake livery.
The waiting shelter from Braddan Station on the Peel Line which was restored and relocated here in 1988.
The station once boasted a timber structure with waiting shelter, station masters' office and store room, lost in 1980.
Showing detail of the original structure, with the variance in design above the office door, smaller than that at Santon Station.
The view from a southbound train as guard and Association stalwart Robert Tunnicliffe assists passengers in alighting.
A works train with No.5 Sprout stored at the station in April 2009 using the flail mounted on the well wagon.
the body from Manx Northern Railway brake van Er.8 as a grounded store on the goods platform at the station in 1966.
A view from, August 1958 showing the original station building to good effect with typical Swan Vesta and Petter advertisements.
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