2014Information and Timetable

www.ggr.org.uk

A Manx Registered Charity operated entirely by volunteers.

Welcome......to the Groudle Glen Railway, affectionatelyknown as “The Line that goes Uphill to the Sea”This unique line was built in 1896 by RichardMaltby Broadbent as part of the new GroudleGlen pleasure grounds.It ran as a tourist attraction until the early 1960’s when it fellinto disrepair, and during the 1970’s the line was scrappedand the rolling stock sold. The line was saved from totalextinction by a band of enthusiastic volunteers in 1982,reopening to passengers in 1986.

Today the line is a registered Manx charity and still runentirely by an enthusiastic group of volunteers that providesa fun, nostalgic day out for all ages, whilst restoring andmaintaining an important piece of Manx railway history forthis generation and many more to follow.

2014 TimetableCalendar codesGREEN – 11am to 4:30pm RED – 7pm to 9pmBLUE – SPECIAL EVENTS – 11am to 4:30pm (unless otherwise stated: See Special Events for full details)YELLOW – Santa Trains – 10am to 3:30pmPINK – Boxing Day Services – 11am to 3:30pm

MAY 2014

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa1 2 3 4 5 6 78 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 2122 23 24 25 26 27 2829 30

JUNE 2014Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa

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JULY 2014

AUGUST 2014Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa

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14 15 16 17 18 19 2021 22 23 24 25 26 2728 29 30

SEPTEMBER 2014

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5 6 7 8 9 10 1112 13 14 15 16 17 1819 20 21 22 23 24 2526 27 28 29 30 31

OCTOBER 2014Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa

1 2 3 4 5 67 8 9 10 11 12 1314 15 16 17 18 19 2021 22 23 24 25 26 2728 29 30 31

DECEMBER 2014

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APRIL 2014

FARES PLEASE NOTE: Special fares apply on Special Eventsdays marked with * on Special Events page. The last passengertrain on operating days will be operated by our Battery ElectricLocomotive Polar Bear.Return Fares (Return Fares are valid for travel all day) ADULT: £4 CHILD: £2 Dogs 50pSingle Fares ADULT:£2.50 CHILD: £1.50Joint Discount Fares Inclusive of Manx Electric Railway returnfare from Derby Castle. (Not valid for Easter or Christmas Services)ADULT: £8 CHILD:£4 FAMILY: £20Joint fares only available from Derby Castle Ticket Office onGroudle Glen Railway running days. Please Note: Island ExplorerTickets and Resident’s Passes are not valid on Groudle Glen Railway.Special Fares apply for Easter & Christmas Services.Discounted Easter and Christmas Special Event Fares available online at www.ggr.org.uk

-1- VOLUNTEER!

Join our team of

volunteers and do

something rewarding!

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Take back a souvenir - Whether you’re lookingfor a postcard to send home or a souvenir of your visit, TheLhen Coan Souvenir Shop – “Flavell’s Emporium” will havesomething for you or your family. It boasts a wide range ofGroudle Glen Railway & Isle of Man souvenirs, a rarecollection of railway postcards, heritage books,DVDs, gifts and children’s toys.

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More than just a Railway...Feeling peckish? - The Sea Lion Rocks TerminusTea Rooms offer a wide range of refreshments including hotand cold drinks, sandwiches, cakes and snacks which caneither be enjoyed inside our tea rooms or outside on the clifftop patio taking in the breath-taking scenery.

A trip back in time - Whilst at Sea Lion Rockscheck out our visitor centre displays, exhibits and filmswhich give you an insight into Groudle Glen’s past as a popular Victorian tourist pleasure ground with its uniquecliff top zoo, railway and multiple attractions. Also discoverthe history of the railway, its decline, closure and subsequent restoration by a small group of volunteers.

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TOP TIP:

Don’t forget to pick up

your personal copy of

our souvenir guide!

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*Stock photographs for illustrative purposes only.

*

*

Special Events...Buy discounted tickets online* at www.ggr.org.uk

Easter Bunny Trains & FREE Easter Egg Hunt *20th & 21st April – Easter Sunday & MondayJoin us for a steam train trip through the glen to see theEaster Bunny on the cliff tops who has Easter Eggs for allchildren. Join the FREE Easter Egg Hunt to win your ownEaster Bunny and a Car and 4 people return ticket with theIsle of Man Steam Packet Company.

Diesel & Electric Day 18th MayJoin us for a rare opportunity of a day of trains hauled by ourbattery electric locomotive Polar Bear and the island’s oldest diesel locomotives Dolphin and Walrus.

Father’s Day 15th JuneAll Dad’s accompanied by their child/children travel for free.

Isle of Man Bank Family Day 20th JulyCHILDREN TRAVEL FREE. Bring the entire family to the railway for a day of fun filled, free events to kick start thesummer holidays thanks to the Isle of Man Bank.

Heritage Transport FestivalWeekend 2nd & 3rd AugustIn conjunction with Isle of Man Railways' Heritage TransportFestival. Visit the railway on Saturday for the vintage day of

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Sea Lion hauling her original 4 wheeled coaches and staff infull Victorian costume. On Sunday enjoy a gala day of all ofthe railway’s locomotives and rolling stock in service fromSteam to Battery and Diesel. Also take the opportunity tomaybe look behind the scenes in the sheds and workshopsof the line.

Cliff Top Concerts10th AugustEnjoy a steam train trip to Sea Lion Rocks Tea Rooms to beserenaded in beautiful surroundings. Join us for a day ofFREE musical concerts out on the clifftops from a host ofManx Musicians and groups supported by the Isle of ManArts Council.

Santa Trains*14th, 20th & 21st December - 10am to 3:30pmTake a trip on the train from the festive North Pole Halt to see Santa in his grotto in the winter wonderland of Santa'sHalt. Ticket includes return train trip, refreshments for all including non-alcoholic mulled wine for adults, and apresent for every child.

Mince Pie Trains*Boxing Day 26th DecemberRelax following all the over indulgence of Christmas Day witha seasonal trip on the Groudle Glen Railway from North PoleHalt. Ticket includes return train trip and refreshments forall, including non-alcoholic mulled wine for Adults.

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www.ggr.org.uk

When you visit the railway, taketime to explore the Victorian

Pleasure Ground which is GroudleGlen, look out for the vintage

waterwheel, the ornate Bandstandand the Island’s

“only natural canyon!’.

Groudle Glen:Victorian Pleasure

Grounds...explore the glen

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Help us to build Brown Bear...One year into the projectto build a replica locomotive of PolarBear, the sister of ouroriginal steam engine Sea Lion of 1896,and thanks to your generous support sub-stantial progress hasbeen made,... but thereis still a long way to go untilBrown Bear is steaming through the glen.

The first steel for Brown Bear was cut on island inJanuary 2013 when her main frames and buffer beamswere plasma cut at the workshops of the Isle of Man SteamPacket Company. A few weeks later the plates arrived downthe glen and since then work on assembling Brown Bear hasprogressed as funding has allowed.

It is hoped that in the near future she will be on her ownwheels on Groudle rails for the very first time.

The railways’ volunteers have long held a dream to restorethe scene of two Bagnall locomotives operating down theglen at Groudle on a permanent basis. With this in mind, andon account of the reasonable certainty that Polar Bearwill never return to the Glen permanently, we’ve decided toreplace her with a replica built to the original 1905 design.

To turn this dream into reality, the “Build BrownBear” Appeal aims to raise the envisaged £50,000required to fund the construction of the locomotive.

To donate and support the project please visit our website: www.ggr.org.uk

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Your railway needs your help!Come and join us.... by giving a little of your sparetime, meet new friends, enjoy yourself and learn new skillswhilst helping to continue the restoration and operation ofGroudle Glen Railway and the Sea Lion Rocks Tea Rooms.Our volunteers come from all walks of life and get involved ina variety of interesting areas from catering to engineering!Whenever and wherever you fancy lending a hand, we lookforward to welcoming you into our team. Contact us viaour website: www.ggr.org.uk

Leaving a legacy to Groudle Glen RailwayHelp safeguard our future with a Gift in your Will

The volunteers at Groudle Glen Railway have many plans forthe future to enable it to continue to restore and maintainthis unique family attraction and piece of Isle of ManHeritage, but to do so they will need supporters to leave alasting legacy to the charity.

Making a Will is your only guarantee that the content of yourestate will go to the people and causes that you care about.Astonishingly, only one in three people make a Will, but without an up to date Will, there is a risk that your estate willnot go where you intend and could even end up going to the Government!

Legacies provide funds for the future and many of our pioneering supporters have chosen to leave, as their lastingcontribution to the Railway, a legacy.

If you are in a position to – please join them. Thank you.

For more details please email us on ggr@ggr.org.uk

Along the line!Lhen Coan Station – The startof your journey - The line’s original station from 1896, built at the mouth ofisland’s only natural canyon. The stationcanopy is a replica of the original railway’s main station building of 1896which survived until after the railway’sclosure in 1963, and was demolished inthe 1970s. It is here you can find ourSouvenir shop along with the railway’smain locomotive shed, carriage shedand works. Once you depart the stationlook down to the river to catch a glimpseof the Groudle Wizard, one of the woodcarvings in the sculpture trail.

Blue Lagoon – A long sweepingright hand curve which marks the start ofthe steep climb uphill to the sea. As oursteam locomotive works hard to tackle thegradient, to your right you can spy throughthe trees the Groudle Glen CottagesHoliday Village and the view out to sea.

Lime Kiln Halt – Once a cartcrossing for the main old road fromLonan to Onchan, now this is the railway’s only intermediate request halt.Alight here to explore the ancient LimeKiln alongside the track from which thehalt gets its name.

Headland Loop – Back in theheyday of Manx Tourism this loop was alot longer and two trains packed withtourists would have passed here at highspeed allowing an intensive two trainservice to take place. If you’re lucky onyour visit you may have the chance topass another train at this picturesquelocation.

Sea Lion Rocks – The originalterminus of the railway, opened in 1896.Check out the visitor centre for a lookback into the past before exploring whatremains of the original zoo which contained Sea Lions, Polar Bears, BrownBears and exotic birds.... then relax withafternoon tea at this stunning cliff top location.

-10- -11- VOLUNTEER!

Join our team of

volunteers and do

something rewarding!

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How to find us

By Rail - Catch the Manx Electric Railway from Derby Castle toGroudle Station (joint discount fare available). Alight at Groudleand take a short walk through the glen following the signs to therailway’s main Lhen Coan station.By Car - From DouglasTake the main A11 coast road North from Douglas passing PortJack and follow the Manx Electric Railway line along the KingEdward Road to Groudle. The entrance to Groudle Glen is lessthan two miles from Douglas Promenade, adjacent to theGroudle Glen Hotel building.Parking - Parking at the Groudle Glen entrance is limited.Alternative access is provided via the Groudle Beach road (500yards towards Douglas from the Glen entrance). Follow the roadthrough the holiday village to the beach car park. Access for the Less Able - Due to the railway’s locationwithin a National Glen accessible via uneven pathways, accesscan be limited for those who are less able. Access direct to therailway can be arranged in advance, please contact us via ourwebsite www.ggr.org.ukTalking Timetable 01624 670453 or Email: ggr@ggr.org.ukGroudle Glen Railway Co. Ltd. c/o 8A The Village Walk, Onchan,Isle of Man IM3 4EA Member of Heritage Railway AssociationThe company does not guarantee that the trains will operate at times stated and reserve the right to cancel, alter or suspend any train without notice, or tosubstitute a different train should this be necessary for whatever reason.

Groudle Glen Railway Co. Ltd. Company Number 127140cIsle of Man Registered Charity No. 1117 VAT Registered No. 000 526046

Generous major sponsors of recent developments at Groudle GlenRailway: Culture Vannin, Manx Lottery Trust, Home Strategic, GoughRitchie Charitable Trust & Quine and Cubbon Printers.

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Groudle Glen Railway operates with the kind permission of

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Cover Artwork: Peter Hearsey Photographs: Colin Russell -Isleofmanlandscapes.com, Matt Durkan, Alex Brindley & Trevor Nall