A few familiar faces were on Motor Vessel Manannan on our way from Liverpool for what we hoped would be a good weekend. This was the first of four minor railway fixtures on the Isle of Man and the relatively late 16.30 start allowed for travel from most places on the day.

In the village of Laxey, on the eastern coast of the IOM, the restored Great Laxey Mine Railway runs along the surface section of the tramway which once carried lead and zinc ores from deep inside the Great Laxey Mine. Valley Gardens (Laxey village end) terminus was once the site of Great Laxey Mine's Washing Floors. The Railway includes the Island's only operational railway tunnel. At the other terminus (Mines Yard) information boards explain the surviving mining features. The Laxey Wheel, the Lady Isabella, is just a short walk away. Built in 1854 to pump floodwater from the mine, it is the largest working waterwheel in the world with a diameter of 72' 6'' and the Island's most visited tourist attraction. The wheel was encased in scaffolding and plastic as it is undergoing restoration. In 2006, the former Snaefell Mine waterwheel was restored to working order at Valley Gardens so the Railway has a waterwheel at each end. The Railway is owned by the Laxey & Lonan Heritage Trust, a registered Manx Charity, formed in 1997 to promote the rich industrial and natural histories of Laxey Village and Lonan Parish. The railway is operated and maintained entirely by volunteers from the Trust.

With Manx Electric Railway services only running between Laxey to Ramsey because of a dewirement two days earlier (BLN 1406.1963), the regular Manx 'Bus Vannin' service was taken from Douglas Lord Street bus station direct to Laxey. The railway is a short stroll from the bus stop and on arrival two train private running was underway for us, traversing the shed and station area roads to the limits. Public running is normally Saturdays, Easter until the end of Sep. Each train is a manrider vehicle with seating along one side. Traction was provided by steam loco ANT on one set and battery loco WASP on the other. BEE, the other steam loco on site, was in the loco shed and clearly out of service for now.

With the first set of trips complete and ladies riding too, a second run was made with the option to change trains if desired. Once our 18 participants had covered all the station and shed lines the tunnel was cleared of stabled wagons which were hand shunted into the station siding by the volunteer staff. A propelling move through the 77yd long tunnel was followed by arrival into the Mines Yard siding at the other end of line. The second train shortly ran into the platform road where, again, it was possible to change sets for haulage. One train did both lines for our Hull bidirectionalist on this unusual 19'' gauge railway which has a public run of 400 yards. Another unusual feature is that during running a 'leaky hose' fixed to the middle of the track spays water on the rails of the sharp 90o bend between Valley Gardens station and the east tunnel portal, an environmentally friendly flange lubrication.

All that remained was to return to the main station area and complete our coverage of the rest of the loco and carriage shed tracks. Duly completed, the closing move was to propel one of the manrider vehicles into the carriage shed thereby red penning the two metres of line previously occupied by the locomotive leading. An excellent visit with welcoming volunteers and comprehensive track coverage. This railway is well worth visiting. Thanks to Jenny and John Williamson for all the arrangements.

Some of our participants leaving Liverpool for Douglas on MV Manannan passing New Brighton.
[© Howard Harrison 2022]

Great Laxey Mine Railway (it was great as well) WASP and a personrider in Mines Yard Platform Road; our distinctive Jill Everitt is evident.
[© Stuart Hicks 2022]

Mines Yard looking towards the end of line; left is the shorter siding with steam loco ANT and right is the Platform Road with battery loco WASP.
[© Stuart Hicks 2022]

The carriage shed branch, bidirectionalist Alan Sheppard emerges. Far right is half a Chairman (who didn't have far to travel), he gets everywhere.
[© Stuart Hicks 2022]

The loco shed line
[© Stuart Hicks 2022]

The end of line at Valley Gardens station. The various green poles in the pictures are, of course, on the Manx Electric Railway.
[© Stuart Hicks 2022]

Snow is quite rare on the IOM, but it was nearly a White Christmas in 2020; Great Laxey Mine Railway, Valley Gardens station. Far right centre is that sharp curve, with leaky hose water lubrication, round to the tunnel off left behind the building (30 Dec 2020).
[© Jenny Williamson 2020]

Motor Vessel (MV) Ben-my-Chree, flagship of the IOM Steam Packet Company, on the Monday morning sailing to Heysham (1 Aug 2022).
[© Stuart Hicks 2022]