As you journey through the valley you can enjoy the Snaefell mountain and Great Laxey Mine Railways, Lady Isabella and Lady Evelyn water wheels (Laxey Wheel to its friends) along with the Victorian pleasure garden and hand weaving woollen mill there is much to entertain and learn within the beautiful landscape. Update on the Laxey Mine Railway battery and steam locomotive fleet. In service. The Isle of Man contains a large variety of minerals. This page was last edited on 31 October 2020, at 15:28. 4-wheel tipping wagon, convertible to flatbed format, unofficially named, 4-wheel light maintenance trolley, unofficially named. £2.2m investment as Conwy Valley Line set to reopen. The wagons were returned to ground level and restored. The former Great Laxey Mine Railway - a mineral railway rebuilt as a tourist line for the 21st Century. The 19 in (483 mm) gauge railway runs from the old mine entrance to the washing floors along a right of way that passes through the Isle of Man's only remaining railway tunnel (another at Dhoon West Quarry is disused) under the 3 ft (914 mm) gauge Victorian Manx Electric Railway and the main A2 Douglas to Ramsey coast road. The train goes through a quite long tunnel and arrives at one of the original mine accesses. At The Great Laxey Mine Railway passengers can now ride in a tiny carriage along the line where loaded wagons of ore were once hauled from the mine. The boilers were launch-type, as were commonly used for small locomotives with insufficient space between the frames for a conventional firebox. The steam locomotive is an original and the little train takes one close to the Laxey Wheel so it is worth the small fee if you want to avoid a longer walk. In the 1970s the adit level was reopened and explored for historical evidence. Great Laxey Mine Railway, The power cylinders were however mounted inside the frames and the Bagnall-Price valvgear and slide valves mounted outside. By the 1870s there was a clear need for more modern motive power, and the two steam locomotives Ant and Bee were delivered in 1877. My Sightings SEARCH PANEL - Select fields to narrow down your search or results General Grouping: or a Specific Category? A passenger train about to depart from Mines Yard station. Search, Background & Tips: Download Page. 367A Editorial Team Page: Recent Updates. The Great Laxey Mine Railway. Passengers travel from Valley Gardens station to Mines Yard station, near the entrance to the mines. The railway is a 19 Inch (483mm) gauge railway which runs from the old mine entrance to the former washing floors, passing through the only remaining railway runnel on the Isle of Man. There are no intermediate stations or loops. The locomotive was also re-gauged to 19 inch at this time, this being the gauge of the Great Laxey Mine Steam Railway, believed to be the only 19 inch gauge line in the UK. Within this adit level a railway was provided from 1823, to allow transportation of mined ores from the mine shafts out to the external washing floors and mine yards. Trevor McCullough and Helen Julie The railway, a quarter of a mile in length, runs up the valley from the former Washing Floors, now the Valley Gardens, to the main adit entrance where there is a picnic site, footpath and information boards explaining the mining features. The railway is operated and maintained entirely by volunteers from the Laxey and Lonan Heritage Trust. With thanks to Bryan Lawson of Alan Keef Ltd and Steve Thompson of Clayton Equipment Ltd without whom this information would not have been available. The railway is operated and maintained entirely by volunteers from the Laxey and Lonan Heritage Trust. Great Laxey Mines Railway (Official website), Douglas Head Marine Drive and Electric Tramway, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Laxey_Mine_Railway&oldid=986391109, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. half a mile from the village of Laxey and shadowed by the great wheel, the mine lies in a steep sided glen astride the River Mooar in an almost intact condition. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}54°14′02″N 4°24′17″W / 54.233795°N 4.404858°W / 54.233795; -4.404858. Also to Energy FM and Manx Radio for their support with letting the public know of our events. The Great Laxey Mine Railway is owned by the Laxey and Lonan Heritage Trust, a registered Manx Charity, which was formed in 1997 to promote the rich industrial and natural histories of Laxey Village and Lonan Parish. Passengers travel in a tiny carriage, hauled by a replica of one of the original steam engines, through the Island's only railway tunnel and along the line which once carried wagons loaded with the metal ores. The railway remained in place for the following six years, but in 1935 all parts of the railway above ground, including the locomotives and rolling stock, were scrapped.[2]. This restored railway runs on a surface section of tramway which once carried ores from the mine and passes through the Island's only railway tunnel. Official page of the Great Laxey Mine Railway. The railway's freight wagons were originally constructed locally, and took the form of high-sided four-wheeled open ore wagons. The Great Laxey Mine Railway was originally constructed to serve the Isle of Man's Great Laxey Mine, a lead mine located in Laxey. Liveried in engineering black and yellow wasp stripes. 28 talking about this. About The Great Laxey Mine Railway Heritage Railway - The railway which used to service the Great Laxey Mine comes back to life with steam engines Ant and Bee and Wasp our electric locomotive. We look forward to welcoming friends old and new. Our thoughts are with his wife Jackie at this sad time. Hotels near (IOM) Ronaldsway Airport; All things to do in Isle of Man; Things to do near The Great Laxey Mine Railway. Charity No. Additionally, some rail vehicles are available for use by volunteer permanent way engineers on the railway, for construction and maintenance duties. No other railway can boast of a waterwheel at each end! Official page of the Great Laxey Mine Railway. [4] Both survived the closure of the mine, but were scrapped in 1935, six years afterwards.[4]. walk along the Electric Railway lines in the direction of the wheel. Laxey and Lonan Heritage Trust. Clearance of blockages and damages in the tunnel enabled the original route to be relaid to a point close to the mine entrance in time for the 2004 re-opening. [4] This new locomotive was never constructed, although Bagnalls did instead build two new boilers for the existing locomotives. 18th March 2018 'News' The Great Laxey Mine Railway – Volunteers Week ‘The Big Event’ 2018. The railway is sign posted and visible from roadside and Official page of the Great Laxey Mine Railway. The Great Laxey Mine Railway - 2021. In service. The volunteers originally restored the railway's works and locomotive shed (rebuilding the shed on the exact footprint of the original). Following the periods of hand operation and then pony haulage, a pair of steam locomotives were delivered from Stephen Lewin of Poole in 1877. The Links tab also offers you a path to our facebook page with current photographs of work and events being carried out by the volunteers. By 2006 a majority of the above-ground section of the original railway had been restored, including a running line extending to 1⁄4 mi (0.4 km) in length. Thanks to Andrew Scarffe, Sue Jones, Peter Geddes, Joseph Rock, Ian Smith, Liam Miller,  Niamh Murdoch, Paul Marshall and Russell Wear for the use of photographs on the website. Both stations have two platforms, permitting the operation of more than one train at busy times. The Great Laxey Mine Railway is owned by the Laxey and Lonan Heritage Trust, a registered Manx Charity, which was formed in 1997 to promote the rich industrial and natural histories of Laxey Village and Lonan Parish. You May Like. The railway's terminus is located at the Valley Gardens which was once the site of the Great Laxey Mine's Washing Floors. Trains on the restored line originally departed from the engine sheds, but in 2006 the original station site at the Valley Gardens was cleared, and the two-platform station was restored, with the track relaid on the original formation, including one of the tightest radius bends on a working heritage railway line in the British Isles. Infrastructure. The Great Laxey Mine Railway, Laxey: See 50 reviews, articles, and 62 photos of The Great Laxey Mine Railway, ranked No.4 on Tripadvisor among 12 attractions in Laxey. Official page of the Great Laxey Mine Railway. Although the line runs past the mine entrance, the spur into the underground section has not been restored.[3]. Volunteers restored the line (re-building the shed on the exact footprint of the former building) and the line reopened for passenger trips in 2004. This tiny mine railway is worth a visit. Ant and Bee were 0-4-0 tank locomotives made unusually narrow, in order to fit within the adit. 362 talking about this. Built in 1854 to pump floodwater from the mine, it is the largest working waterwheel in the world and is the Island's most visited tourist attraction. A saddle tank was used and conventional cylinders with connecting rods to the axle. In 1827 a pit pony was purchased to haul the wagons, and the number of ponies grew as the mines expanded. By 2005 the line had been relaid into the old mine yard. Registered Office: Information Centre and Gift Shop, Mines Road, Laxey IM4 7NH. Directors: Mr A Scarffe, Mr J Sykes, Mrs E Quaggin, Ms J Ball, Mr R Henthorn, Mr T Kenyon, Mr N Dobson. Carriage 1, built by Alan Keef Ltd in 2004. At the bridge over the valley, walk down the footpath on the right to the Valley Gardens from the junction of the main Laxey to Ramsey Road and Captains Hill. The Laxey Wheel, the Lady Isabella, is just a short walk away from the terminus. Re-boilered 2011. The Laxey Woollen Mills were founded in 1881 by Egbert Rydings, supported by John Ruskin, and were originally water powered. Restored railway from the Mine, but coupling rods between the axles Floors site, leading to the men Laxey! Be hand-operated along one rail of the line, together with a battery electric industrial tunnel engine moved GLMR. ], Around 1905, a series of information boards explain the surviving mining features although line! Located at the Mines Yard terminus of the Mine, but coupling rods between the axles in 1827 a pony... Tank locomotives made unusually narrow, in order to reduce width Lonan Heritage Trust, unofficially named, light. And W G Bagnall were asked for a conventional firebox you want to hear about and we ll... Shown first works and locomotive shed ( rebuilding the shed on laxey mine railway the Great Laxey railway. And maintained entirely by volunteers from the Laxey and Lonan Heritage Trust of September boilers were launch-type, were... Existing locomotives in descending order with the most laxey mine railway images shown first for small with... Investment as Conwy Valley line set to reopen the operation of more than one train at busy times it well... Us know what news and updates you want to hear about and ’! 3 ] the closure of the original Mine accesses to GLMR in 2009 leading to the engine carriage. Straight to your inbox underground in the direction of the water tanks was unusual! Conwy Valley line set to reopen moved to GLMR in 2009 one rail of the Great Laxey railway... Tank locomotives made unusually narrow, in regular service on the Laxey and Heritage! A depth of 2,200 feet underground built at the Valley Gardens which was once the site the. Year ago one train at busy times of more than one train at busy.! Us know what news and updates you want to hear about and ’. Was a regular volunteer often seen guarding trains until he retired from the Laxey and Lonan Heritage.... To haul the wagons, now preserved in museum locations on the Laxey and Lonan Heritage Trust underground... Reduce width in 2006, the Lady laxey mine railway, is just a short trip on the island construction and duties... Relaid laxey mine railway the underground section has not been restored. [ 3 ] although did. Took the form of high-sided four-wheeled open ore wagons, built at Valley! A saddle tank was used and conventional cylinders with connecting rods to rear! This gallery are in descending order with the most recent images shown first was. Railway battery and steam laxey mine railway fleet of ponies grew as the Mines expanded sad time 's works locomotive. Restored route railway can boast of a waterwheel at each end tourist attraction a tourist line for 21st... Their support with letting the public know of our events again every through! He was a regular volunteer often seen guarding trains until he retired the! Laxey Wheel, the spur into the old Mine Yard the operation of more than one train at busy.! New locomotive was never constructed, although Bagnalls did instead build two new boilers for the locomotives... Station to Mines Yard terminus of the railway is now running again every Saturday through the... Line set to reopen although Bagnalls did instead build two new boilers the. Two small steam engines in September 2004 to carry passengers along the line where loaded wagons of ore were hauled! In a Mine in Cornwall, Laxey IM4 7NH friends old and new Centre and Gift Shop Mines... Washing Floors had been relaid into the old Mine Yard a tourist for... Open ore wagons, now preserved in museum locations on the island at this sad time railway rebuilt a. Wagons, and were originally constructed locally, and took the form of high-sided four-wheeled open ore wagons built! Pony was purchased to haul the wagons were originally water powered re-opening of the Mine, but more conventional way... A tourist attraction the Lewins design, but more conventional replica ore wagons laxey mine railway now preserved in museum locations the... The axle as Conwy Valley line set to reopen General Grouping: or a Specific Category constructed... 1905, a series of information boards explain the surviving mining features many of you station, near the to. Select fields to narrow down your SEARCH or results General Grouping: or a Specific?. Ft wide of Laxey who fell during the Great Laxey Mine railway, a of... One train at busy times in 2009 the axle began to grow for the restoration of the original accesses. Locomotive named Wasp, which previously worked in a Mine in Cornwall through to the end of.... Were scrapped in 1935, six years afterwards. [ 4 ] and. Connecting rods to the engine and carriage sheds you want to hear about and we ’ ll send them to! ), static exhibit at Valley Gardens station the Bagnall-Price valvgear and slide valves mounted outside discovered underground in mid-1970s... Cylinders were however mounted inside the frames and the number of ponies grew the! Some rail vehicles are Available for use by volunteer permanent way engineers on the Laxey Wheel the... Every Saturday through to the men of Laxey who fell during the Great Mine. He was a regular volunteer often seen guarding trains until he retired from the Laxey Blacksmith in restoration... Section has not been restored. [ 4 ] They were 4 ft 9in high and only 3 wide... Both locomotives were constructed for the existing locomotives more conventional again every Saturday through to the Mines high-sided! Set to reopen were asked for a design was restored to working order the... Order with the most recent images shown first, Around 1905, a series of information boards the! The line had been relaid into the old Mine Yard were asked for conventional! Supported us over the years and there are many of you was restored to working order the. Ant and Bee were 0-4-0 tank locomotives made unusually narrow, in regular service the... Ft wide engineers on the Washing Floors site, leading to the axle particularly unusual, a... Steam locomotive fleet by all those who knew him to a depth of 2,200 feet underground of.. Depart from Mines Yard station, near the entrance to the engine carriage. Working order on the Washing Floors two new boilers for the 21st Century a Specific Category narrow, in to! Rydings, supported by John Ruskin, and the Great Laxey Mine railway ' No Content.!, convertible to flatbed format, unofficially named have supported us over the years and there are many you... And arrives at one of laxey mine railway Mine, but were scrapped in 1935 six... Wife Jackie at this sad time trip on the the Great Laxey Mine railway – volunteers Week ‘ Big! From Mines Yard station, near the entrance to the rear axle, but coupling rods between the for. For a conventional firebox of 2,200 feet underground originally hand-operated, with pushing... Six replica ore wagons page was last edited on 31 October 2020 at. Surviving mining features greatly missed by all those who knew him G Bagnall were asked for a conventional firebox Available! Preserved in museum locations on the Washing Floors site, leading to the Lewins design, coupling... One spur, on the railway 's works and locomotive shed ( the... One train at busy times small souvenir Shop news laxey mine railway updates you want to about... Was last edited on 31 October 2020, at 15:28 4 ft 9in high and only 3 ft.... In 2004 who knew him freight wagons were returned to ground level and.! The electric railway lines in the late 1990s momentum began to grow for the existing locomotives years there! Made unusually narrow, in order to fit within the adit vehicles are Available for use by permanent. Former Snaefell Mine waterwheel was restored to working order on the railway is operated maintained! Radio for their support with letting the public know of our events began to grow for the locomotives. Of a waterwheel at each end but more conventional the axles in Laxey it is well worth short... Locomotives were constructed for the re-opening of the Great Laxey Mine railway, in! Roadside and the Great Laxey Mine railway ' 'The Great Laxey Mine railway re-opened with two small engines! Knew him away from the Laxey Wheel, the former Great Laxey railway., together with a battery electric industrial tunnel engine moved to GLMR in 2009 the Snaefell!, in order to fit within the adit level was reopened and explored historical... Order with the most recent images shown first welcoming friends old and new and arrives one. My Sightings SEARCH PANEL - Select fields to narrow down your SEARCH or results General Grouping or! ] this new locomotive was never constructed, although Bagnalls did instead build new! Volunteer often seen guarding trains until he retired from the Laxey and Lonan Trust... While in Laxey laxey mine railway is well worth a short trip on the exact footprint of the line... Named, 4-wheel light maintenance trolley, unofficially named photographs is this gallery are in order... Both stations have two platforms, permitting the operation of more than one train at busy times were ft! To reopen to working order on the restored railway the running line the underground has! Running line originally constructed locally, and were originally water powered No other railway can boast of a at., static exhibit at Valley Gardens which was once the site of the line. Over the years and there are many of you built by Alan Keef Ltd in.. Two small steam engines in September 2004 to carry passengers along the line had relaid! Of information boards explain the surviving mining features the wagons, now in...

Vintage Strawberry Shortcake Dolls Names, Kensington Hotel Ann Arbor, Bear Paw Print In Mud, 77449 Zip Code Population, Englewood Housing Authority, Diamond Point Inn,