Established 23 August 1975 | ||
 | ||
Location Station Road, Port Erin,
Rushen, Isle of Man, IM9 2RR Coordinates Ordnance Survey National Grid
54.085°N 4.758°W Type Railway Museum
History Museum Accreditation Recommended Attraction
www.visitisleofman.com Key holdings No. 6 Peveril
No. 16 Mannin
F.36 Royal Saloon
F.75 Governor's Saloon
Closed Van G.19 Owners Isle of Man Government, Department of Infrastructure Similar Isle of Man Railway, Port Erin railway station, Douglas railway station, Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Derby Castle terminus | ||
The Isle of Man Railway Museum in the village of Port Erin in the Isle of Man is a small display that shows the history of the Isle of Man Railway through exhibits and visual displays which chart the history of the railway from its opening in 1873 until the present day, covering the now-closed lines that served Peel, Ramsey and Foxdale as well as the remaining line to Port Erin to which it forms part of the southern terminus.
Contents
History
The museum was first opened in 1975 when the Isle of Man Road Services (a subsidiary of the railway company) relocated to their new garage which is still extant today at the foot of the main platform. At this time the railway only operated between Port Erin and Castletown in an experimental season attempting to reduce running costs; the following year services were extended to Ballasalla before finally returning to Douglas in 1977 since when the full line has operated. The building, consisted of metal frame and asbestos cladding and for this reason was extensively rebuilt in 1999, since which time it has included a souvenir shop which is housed in the former goods shed; prior to this, the locomotives were kept overnight in this goods shed, the original locomotive shed being used only to store unservicable locomotives; when the museum was modified the locomotive shed returned to its original use and the goods shed converted into a shop area with new porch added.
Location
The museum is situated beside the Port Erin railway station which is the southern terminus of the railway, on Station Road in the village, on its junction with Strand Road which leads to the beach. The original entrance was situated on the corner of these two roads, latterly made into a public seating area. The main exhibition hall is housed in a converted bus garage that once belonged to Isle of Man Road Services, itself a division of the old railway company which was nationalised in 1976. Since the museum was extensively rebuilt in 1998-1999 part of the old goods shed has been incorporated into the complex, the other locomotive shed still being used as a workshop to maintain the locomotives and for overnight storage purposes. The museum is accessible from the station platform off the train, or by car parking in the nearby car park.
Shop & Opening Times
The souvenir shop is in the entrance / exit area to the museum itself and is accessed via Station Road at the foot of the platform. The shop has a small range of memorabilia including books, postcards, stationery, ephemera, replica nameplates and generic souvenirs. The stock of the shop is now a fraction of what was available in the boom of the centenary seasons beginning with the Year of Railways in 1993 and extending to Steam 125 in 1998. A nominal admission price is charged for entry and the opening times tie in with the operational dates of the railway itself. The shop is in the old goods shed and features a station-type building as a staff/store room as well as old luggage trolleys and framed displays before entering the museum proper. The museum is open daily throughout the summer months, at the same time as the railway which is usually between March and the beginning of November each year. A small admission price is charged for entry for those not in possession of a valid railway ticket.
Exhibits
Since it originally opened in 1975, the railway museum has housed a variety of major exhibits. Exhibits in the museum include two engines and two coaches as well as other equipment from the railway. The royal carriages, as used by HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 1963 and by HM Queen Elizabeth II in 1972, are preserved in the museum. There is also a large display of photographs, posters and other memorabilia. In addition to the framed exhibits of old posters and the like, further displays are mounte on the walls of the station building itself in the waiting room and booking office. These were once part of the museum and donated by a preservationists group when the facility was first opened.
The current exhibit Mannin has been an attraction since the museum opened in 1975 and was only removed for one season in 1998–99 whilst the structure of the museum building received attention; since returning it has been turned to face chimney-first to Douglas and is no longer rail-connected. Prior to its restoration, funded by the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association No. 4 Loch of 1874 was a main exhibit, being replaced by No. 6 Peveril when the former was removed to be restored.