HALFWAY TO THE RAVEN

I left you at St Johns, once quite an important junction on the Manx railway network. One branch ran from here to Foxdale, rising up to go over the 'main line' This photo was taken in 1939.

Foxdale station remains, looking north, 1993 (Richard Huggins).

We now go back to the Peel to Douglas line, to the site of Crosby station, photographed by Richard Huggins in 1993.

At Crosby there was a good boozer, the Halfway House. Research of the internet seems to imply that it's been shut quite a long time. My photo was taken in 1990.

Also found at Crosby in 1990, this little minicoach of Tours (Isle of Man).

We now make for the island's west coast and reach the trackbed of the former St Johns to Ramsey line near St Germains. This is looking south east in 1993, while below is the former Manx Northern Railway station building. Both taken by Richard Huggins.

 

This notice tell you all you need to know.

Next stop, Kirk Michael, where the Groudle Glen Railway's 'Polar Bear' was being restored in 1975.

Kirk Michael station building was still intact in 1993 (Richard Huggins).

The was a MNR station at Ballaugh, but, more important is the Raven pub. It's a great place to watch the riders of the TT, as they fly over Ballaugh Bridge.

And so, onwards to Ramsey, a busy harbour town.

The pier at Ramsey once had its own railway.

The IOM Road Services depot in Ramsey was always a good place to visit, with some really interesting buses, as seen in 1975.

Frontline services were operated by more modern vehicles.

IOM National Transport later took over. This Leyand National was repainted into the old Dougas Corporation colours and was photographed in Ramsey in 1987.

Here's an Olympian outside Ramsey depot in 1990.

Ramsey is the northern terminus of the Manx Electric Railway.

We'll be following the MER in the next post, as well as climbing Snaefell. Follow the map.