Isle of Man Steam Railways
From ManxWiki
The Isle of Man Steam Railway is a three foot gauge railway owned and operated by The Department of Tourism and Leisure.
Brief History
The railway officially opened on the first of July 1873 when engine No.1, "Sutherland" (named after the financially generous Duke) pulled out of Douglas station hauling carriages of dignitaries across the Island towards Peel. Passenger services commenced the next day.
The following year, 1874, the line from Douglas to Port Erin in the south was opened, followed later still by Ramsey (via Kirk Michael) and Foxdale.
In the late 1960s, due to underinvestment and a lack of passengers the whole railway was threatened with closure. Lord Ailsa was commissined with the task of reviewing the services and as a result, 1968 and 1969 saw a reduction in services and stops followed by closure of most of the railway.
