| Castletown Railway Station Stashoon Raad Yiarn Valley Chashtal Isle Of Man Railway |
||
|---|---|---|
| Station statistics | ||
| Address | Victoria Road, Castletown, IM9 1EF. | |
| Coordinates | 54°04′44″N 4°38′58″ | |
| Lines | Port Erin Line | |
| Structure | Station Building & Goods Shed | |
| Platforms | Two, Raised (One Goods, Disused) | |
| Tracks | Two Running Lines & Two Sidings | |
| Parking | Dedicated, At Rear | |
| Other information | ||
| Opened | 1 August 1874 | |
| Closed | 1967 Only (Seasonal Since 1965) | |
| Rebuilt | 1903 | |
| Accessible | ||
| Owned by | Isle Of Man Heritage Railways | |
| Formerly | Isle Of Man Railway Company | |
| Traffic | ||
| Passenger Only (Since 1969, Goods Previously) | ||
| Services | ||
| Toilets, Waiting Room, Booking Facilities
|
||
Castletown Railway Station is an intermediate station on the Isle of Man Railway on the Isle of Man forming part of sole remaining section of the once extensive network that operated across the island. The station is the busiest of the railway's intermediate stations, being the closest to a number of local visitor attractions. In peak season service trains often pass here, making the station one of the railway's more active stopping places. The station occupies a site within walking distance of the main town and is in close proximity to the local playing fields.
Contents |
This is an original station on the Isle of Man Railway situated on the north-eastern edge of the town of Castletown. When the railway was first constructed the town had until ten years previously been the island's capital and therefore a substantial station was provided. Although the most extensive intermediate stopping place on the line, it remains some distance from the town itself, being a brisk ten minute walk to the centre of the town.
One of the railway's considerations was originally to terminate at this station, but plans were made to extend the line so that the terminus would be on the quayside. These never came to fruition and the site of today's station is the original one. The size of the station site and associated buildings can be attributed to the town's importance as the capital of the island and seat of parliament until 1869 when Douglas was made the capital. In more recent times the town's close proximity to the island's only airport has ensured that it remains a busy residential and commercial area, being the nearest built-up area to the runways.
Despite the town's importance (it served as the island's capital until 1869, just five years before the railway's arrival) the railway station is some distance from the centre of the town, at the north-easterly side. The railway company considered many various alternative sites for the station before settling upon the location; a cursory view of a map of the line reveals that between the preceding station (Ballasalla) and the following one (Ballabeg) the line deviates considerably from its course. Despite this, the station has always been one of the most active on the line, providing a source of much freight and goods traffic over the years. Since the station was established the town has spread considerably to the extent that today is surrounded along one side by both residential and industrial premises, including a petrol station and car sales establishment. The main attractions of the town are a short walk from the station, an approximate five-minute walk from the station along the bank of the Silverburn River leading to the heart of the town which surrounds the inner harbour. The town itself was considered to be second only to Douglas in imporatance to the island; with its bustling harbour and active agricultural scene, the station's importance remained until the final days of operation with livestock being transported from the station's cattle dock (the remains of which are still visible today) until the final year the railway operated its full network in 1965, although the line did reopen to passengers only later. Close to the station are the local primary school at Victoria Road, the medical centre in the Sandfield Complex, the local Morton Hall, and Qualtrough's Timber Yard, all in walking distance.
When the line opened in 1874 this station was furnished with a timber structure similar to those that also appeared at Port St. Mary and the terminus at Douglas; by the run of the century is became apparent that this was insufficient for the requirements of thus busy town and the extant station building was constructed in 1903 sourcing distinctive local grey limestone from nearby Scarlett Point. Facilities were improved considerably and the structure houses a booking hall, station master's office, toilets and waiting room; the booking hall is however a recent addition, added when the station was overhauled in 1994, previously the space this occupies was part of the station master's accommodation and tickets were served through an external hatch which remains in place though out of use. A canopy and elaborate verandah were later added to provide additional passenger shelter. The building was extensively renovated in the winter of 1993/1994, reopening with suitable ceremony that year by local politician Phil Kermode who at the time was the minister with responsibility for the railway. At this time, the station canopy was removed, returning the structure to broadly its original form. In the summer months the station building is adorned with flower baskets and period features such as milk churns (a nod to the station's former importance for handling goods and freight traffic) and reproduction notice boards. There was a water tower at the station which was demolished in 1978 and not replaced until 1999 when the extant metal framed tank was installed in readiness for some short line operations that were introduced the following year, therefore this is one of the most complete stations on the line, being in broadly the same format for over a century.
Latterly, the former goods shed platform has held the remaining component frames of the railway company's 1880 locomotive No. 7 Tynwald for display purposes, although many major components are now scrapped. Extant since 1984 these are owned by the Isle Of Man Railways & Tramways Preservation Society, and for a period they were moved to off-site storage before being returned to the goods platform in the autumn of 2009. Also at the station is a large cast concrete Triskelion or Legs Of Mann which appear set into a raised lawn area in front of the former goods shed at platform level, painted in a yellow and red colour scheme. It is believed that this piece was relocated from the long-closed stopping place at Peel Road on the Ramsey Line, and was relocated at some point prior to the closure of these other lines in 1968. For many years, there also featured large advertisement hoardings lining the down platform but these were removed in 1965 having become unsafe. On the goods siding, the railway's breakdown crane was stored for a number of years, being removed in 1991 and subsequently restored and placed on display at Union Mills on the site of the former railway station. Inside the station's waiting room are several framed displays charting various historical aspects of the railway featuring old photographs, framed tickets, maps and other historical documentation relating to the earliest days of the railway. A headboard commemorating the centenary of the adjacent Pulsom Park in 1996 is also mounted on the wall above the fireplace.
To the northeasterly side of the station lies this park, provided and funded by a generous benefactor to the town and being established at around the same time as the railway and it is from this benefactor that the park takes its name; it consists of a large grassed area and is surrounded by perimeter railings within which are contained playground equipment for children and two football/rugby pitches which form the home grounds and changing rooms for the local clubs. The play equipment has been greatly improved in recent times, the standard slide and swings being replaced by a pirate ship-themed set of equipment. The park is accessed either from a wide path that passes underneath the railway at the south-western end, or via a set of steps accessed from the station platform. More recently the area has become home to a skateboard park which is viewable from the passing trains; this facility is popular with local children who use the facilities for both skate boarding and stunt bike racing. Such is the popularity of the park with travellers that it can be accessed directly from the line's northbound platform; the area is a popular site for campers in the summer months as well as being home to the local football and rugby teams who regularly play matches there. The brick-built changing rooms and club house facilities for the rugby team are located at the northern end of the park, close the skatepark. A macadam pathway around the perimeter of the play park, and sporting fields is a popular with walkers and a regular Walk & Talk event takes place here. In more recent times the park has been plagued by vandalism which has resulted in the installation of closed circuit television cameras to monitor and apprehend culprits.
The live-action film version of Thomas The Tank Engine was partially filmed at the station, forming the basis of Shining Time Station (itself a variation of the series screened in the U.S.) in the story and the building and its environs were considerably disguised for this purpose, with a temporary canopy being built in the place where the original had once stood; whilst being a temporary structure this canopy looked remarkably similar to the original which had been demolished some seven years previously. The distinctive limestone station building was completely encased in wooden cladding and finished in a brown and cream colour scheme for the duration. Between the filming the production company provided their own style station nameboards which were erected between shots for the convenience of passengers, the railway remaining operational throughout the period of filming. The goods shed was disguised as the local Cooperative Store and period cars and set dressings were featured in the station. Some of the scenes shot featuring Alec Baldwin (the station master) and Peter Fonda (the grandfather) were shot at this location. The railway was used extensively during filming, with Port St. Mary goods shed being transformed into a workshop for the purpose and other island locations were also used including the Tynwald Hill Inn at St. John's. The locomotives and carriages were however not featured in the finished motion picture.
In December 2010 the station was renamed for the first time as Tinseltown; this was carried out in conjunction with Castletown Town Commissioners and used as the terminus for the railway's popular annual Santa Trains for the first time; these seasonal services had previously been terminated at Santon Station for many years. As part of a new initiative operated by Manx National Heritage, the local authority Castletown Commissioners and the railway the revamped services saw trains bring passengers to the station on an hourly basis for a short shuttle bus ride to Castle Rushen where Santa's Grotto was located in addition to traditional market stalls, fairground rides, an enchanted forest walk and snow machine. For these services the station was decorated with festive lights and music played, and adding to the festive feel of the station several of the services took place following an unusually heavy snowfall that blanketed the island in December 2010. The station remained with its alternative name for the final train service of that year, the Blow Away The Cobwebs train which takes place annually. As part of the experience the unusual step of allowing buses into the relatively small station car park was permitted and the Tinseltown Shuttle departed at regular intervals from the rear of the booking hall, echoing the latter years of Railway Company operation when Road Services buses called at the station at regular intervals when the rail-based services were restricted during the winter months. The Tinseltowntheme and use of the station as a temporary terminus is to be repeated in 2011 when the seasonal rail services will once again be operated by the railway in conjunction with Manx National Heritage and Castletown Commissioners.
Extant on site is a large goods shed which is no longer in use but houses some of the railway's permanent way equipment and road vehicles. The shed, also constructed from local stone and features in red brick, is rail connected and is provided with a small goods platform.The one-time extensive goods yard and freight sidings now form car parking available for travellers. Until 1977 there was a limestone-built water column on the platform, but this was demolished, not being replaced with the current incarnation until 1998. To the immediate north of the station is a stone-built footbridge which provide pedestrian access from the adjecant Poulsom Park to the privately-owned King William's College; the railway passes underneath this structure. The southerly extent of the station sees the line pass over the Silverburn River by means of stone overbridge also constructed from local limestone; an occupational crossing titled Mill Road is beyond, being controlled by the station by automatic barriers. Until 2001 this was a manned crossing and the gatekeepers' hut remains extant although disused. From this point the railway runs parallel to the by-pass road next to the route of the Southern 100 motorcycle racing circuit. In the station forecourt there are two public houses, namely The Viking to the left and The Sidings (free house) to the right. The latter was formerly known for many years as the Duck's Nest but the name was changed in 1996 gaining the name which acknowledges its close proximity to the railway station. A petrol station is located beyond these, and a car dealership whislt across the main road a sheltered housing complex is evident; the town itself, and the famous Castle Rushen, are a short walk from the station along the banks of the Silverburn River which runs through the town to the harbour.
This group was formed in late 2010 by a group of local residents and the resident station master with a view to enhancing the station; small groups of volunteers occasionally meet at the station to carry out these improvements which to date have included the erection of a station flagpole (a traditional sight on many Isle of Man Railway station platforms) some painting of the station including the platform benches, provision of traditional blackboard signage to the station, and most significantly, the reinstatement of the coal fire in the waiting room for the first time in many years. The group continue to have an input to the upkeep of the station and will be donating concrete cast planters in the future for addition to the station's platforms. The group works closely with the preservation group Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association and have, to date, spent many hours attending to the small details around the station, that which would not ordinarily fall under the jurisdiction of the railway's full-time staff. The seasonal station master co-ordinates all activities and he can be contacted in the ticket office whenever trains are in operation or by telephoning the station directly. The group always welcome new members and suggestions for further enhancement of the area; a number of photographic material and ephemera relating to the station have been donated since the group's formation and these can be found on display in the station's booking hall which is open whenever trains are running.
On Monday, 12 September 2011, the station played host to the official parties connected with the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games with the "culture day" prior to the closing ceremony of the event taking place in the town; to accommodate the vast numbers travelling on this occasion passenger services on the railway were suspended for the day whilst the competitors and officials were transported by rail to the station. The event has been a fixture of the sporting calendar taking place every four years since the inaugural event which took place in Edinburgh in the year 2000 and the 2011 event was the first time that the island has hosted the event. The event is designed as a small-scale version of the Commonwealth Games aimed at children and young people; past hosts have included Bendigo in Australia and Pune in India. The event saw the railway coping with its largest crowd on a single day for what may possibly be the first time since the annual influx of passengers on Tynwald Day ceased to be a major part in the railway's calendar after the Peel Line closed in 1968 when the railway stopped serving the village of St. John's where the outdoor ceremony is still held on 5 July each year. For the 2011 event, every servicable steam locomotive on the railway was used (No. 4 Loch, No. 10 G.H. Wood, No. 12 Hutchinson and No. 13 Kissack all seeing service) together with all available coaches, which totalled 18 bogie carriages - the first time this number of coaches had been available since 1974 - including three newly-refurbished coaches all of which are over one hundred years old. Once competitors arrived at the station they were transferred to the town square by four Wright Eclipse Gemini buses provided by the island's nationalised Bus Vannin arm of the transport division. All competitors attended specially prepared events at Castle Rushen before returning to the capital by rail.
| Preceding station | Isle of Man Railway | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballabeg | Port Erin Line | Ronaldsway |