Douglas is the interchange between the Isle of Man steam railway and the Manx Electric Railway.  Before we venture down the electric line, we’ll spend a day at Douglas and visit the railway works.

The seaside….

The station…..

Steam to electric….

And the works….

The steam locomotives on display, all 2-4-0T’s, except the 0-6-0T ‘Caledonia’, built for the Manx Northern Railway.  Most of the 16 locomotives that served the island survive in various locations.

Coaching stock being restored and repaired…

A goods van with the distinctive IOMR diagonal planking, and the ex-County Donegal railcar – that spent more time running on the Isle of Man than it did in Ireland.

The machinery in the works is still belt driven from overhead lay shafts.  And the steam engine that originally powered it all has been preserved.

Next time, we really will go electric!