| Lhen Coan Station Stashoon Lhen Coan Groudle Glen Railway |
|
|---|---|
| Station statistics | |
| Address | Groudle Glen, Isle Of Man |
| Structure | Various |
| Platforms | Ground Level |
| Tracks | Various |
| Parking | None |
| Other information | |
| Opened | 1896 (Reopened 1986) |
| Rebuilt | 1986-1998 |
| Owned by | I.o.M.S.R.S.A |
| Formerly | The Groudle Glen Co., Ltd. |
Lhen Coan Station is the landward terminus of the Groudle Glen Railway in the Isle of Man.
Contents |
The main terminus of the Groudle Glen Railway is located in the heart of the glen and named in the local Manx Gaelic which literally translated means "Lonely Valley" but is variously credited as meaning "Lovely, Valley", Lonely Glen", etc.
The station sits on a shelf on the northerly side of the valley and was originally served by a run-round loop, covered overall by a Swiss-Style canopy, with single-road locomotive shed and siding. There was also a souvenir shop which took hexagonal form in a style similar to those seen on the nearby Manx Electric Railway. This was the setup of the station for its entire existence, the locomotive shed being destroyed by a fallen tree in 1967 and the unsafe canopy being destroyed in 1979 leaving the site empty.
When the restoration of the line by the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association began in 1982 the site was merely a footpath and took considerable effort to reach with the new railhead. By 1986 however a new metal framed, three-road locomotive and carriage shed was opened, just forward of the site of the original, serving as the line's only covered area for stock.
By 1993 a replica of the distinctive station canopy was completed, and in the intervening years a number of small temporary huts had been erected beginning with a booking office (later moved and used as a store), a souvenir shop (now located under the canopy and at one time used as a tea room until the installation of facilities at the outer terminus), booking office, larger replacement souvenir shop and store room which double's as a grotto for the festive services. A further siding was added the locomotive yard in 2005 and a lean-to building created to store permanent way vehicles.
In 2007 the railway erected a two-road, purpose built locomotive shed in a similar style to the original, which necessitated the removal of the station siding and widening of the area; this shed is now in use, and a further siding is being laid in front of what is now the carriage shed for further permanent way stock storage. The station site is now considerably larger than it was in the days of the original line but the volunteers have been careful to not lose the feeling of the original station. In the early part of 2009 a new souvenir shop was erected, similar in style to the replica canopy; the station was also refurbished at this time in a lighter shade of brown and cream.
| Preceding station | Groudle Glen Railway | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terminus | I.o.M.S.R.S.A. | Lime Kiln Halt |