Port Erin railway station

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Port Erin

Locomotive No. 11 "Maitland" between duties outside the locomotive shed at Port Erin during the summer of 2002.

Location

Place

Port Erin

Local authority

Rushen

Operations

Managed by

Isle of Man Steam Railway

Platforms in use

History

Key dates

Opened 1874

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Port Erin railway station is the southern terminus of the Isle of Man Steam Railway in the village ofPort Erin. There is a railway museum situated next to the station, adjoining a locomotive shed. The station building is constructed of ruabon brick and was constructed in 1909 in the centre of the village, and is something of a focal point. The building houses a ticket office, waiting room and cafe for refreshments in the former porters' office. Following extensive refurbishment the station won an Ian Allen Heritage Railway award in 1990 but sadly since this time, only remedial work has been carried out to the station's intricate and distinctively carved wooden fascia boards and other paintwork. In 1999 the traditional "picket" style wooden fencing was removed from the platform area and replaced with tall metal security fencing (installed to protect the bus yard that is situated on the former platform area) which detracted from the picturesque nature of the setting.

The station is unique in having a public right of way dissecting the long platform and, in bygone days, longer trains (rarely seen today) would have to uncouple whilst loading prior to departure to ensure the right of way to the nearby Athol Park was not blocked. The station boasts a two-road carriage shed, also constructed in 1999, ensuring for the first time in the line's history that coaching stock stored overnight could be kept undercover. At the northerly end of the station is a level crossing (one of only two crossings still manned on the railway) crossing Droghadfayle Road. This duty is performed by a member of station staff. Until the yard trackwork was relaid in 2000 the locomotive crew had to open and close the gates whilst "running round" to couple onto the train for departure but rationalisation of this arrangement now means that this can be done without disturbing traffic.

The station has historially always carried a bi-lingual station nameboard reading "Purt Chairn"/Port Erin" attached to the side of the locomotive shed; in 2008 following new policy, the other nameboards are also bi-lingual but these have been painted maroon and cream as opposed to the green and cream livery applied to the station area, but in consistency with the rest of the line. The former goods shed of the station now houses the souvenir shop attached to the museum; prior to this the goods shed had acted as locomotive shed for several years, whilst two out of service locomotives (Nos. 8 "Fenella" and 9 "Douglas" were stored in the original locomotive shed. These changes took place in 1999 are part of an extensive refurbishment of the museum building. Parking is available nearby, as is a regular bus service to Douglas.