The Isle of Man's latest railway - Laxey Mines Tramway
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2003 9:26 pm
Although the L&B & WHR are stealing all the limelight, thought I would mention we are re-opening a railway on the Isle of Man in 2003 too.
Set to open in 2003, the rebuilt 19in gauge Laxey Mines Tramway on the Isle of Man will only operate as a demonstration line only due to health and safety and insurance requirements due to very low loading gauge of the tunnel under the main road and Manx Electric Railway. The track laying is all but complete with only approximately 50 feet remaining to be laid at the time of writing. Work has started on erecting an engine shed at Laxey to house the two replica steam locomotives, which are due to be delivered in March. The pair of replica Stephen Lewis 0-4-0T locomotives ‘Ant and ‘Bee’ are being constructed by Great Northern Steam Services in Middlesborough. It was originally hoped that ‘Bee’ would be built in 1875 as-built condition and ‘Ant’ in a later modified condition. However, they both to be delivered in original condition. Its hope that some cosmetic modifications will be made a later date to convert one of the locomotives to a latter appearance. The 19in gauge tramway between the main adit, close to the famous Laxey Wheel, and the washing floors further down the valley is reconstruction of a classic Victorian mining tramway. The original tramway dates from around the 1850s and was initially worked by manpower alone. As production increased in the mid-1870s tiny two steam locomotives took over. The peak of output from the lead, copper and zinc mines in the Laxey was in 1892, followed by a slow decline and eventual closer in 1929.
Pictures taken today - notice slight landslips - due to wet winter
Looking east to the tunnel under the main road and the MER
Westwards towards the mine and Laxey wheel
End of the line - the mine adit where the trains go underground
The East end of the road tunnel looking west towards picture 1
The east end portal to road
About half way along the 1/4 mile line
Only 1/4 mile long - should be easy in MSTS.............
David
Set to open in 2003, the rebuilt 19in gauge Laxey Mines Tramway on the Isle of Man will only operate as a demonstration line only due to health and safety and insurance requirements due to very low loading gauge of the tunnel under the main road and Manx Electric Railway. The track laying is all but complete with only approximately 50 feet remaining to be laid at the time of writing. Work has started on erecting an engine shed at Laxey to house the two replica steam locomotives, which are due to be delivered in March. The pair of replica Stephen Lewis 0-4-0T locomotives ‘Ant and ‘Bee’ are being constructed by Great Northern Steam Services in Middlesborough. It was originally hoped that ‘Bee’ would be built in 1875 as-built condition and ‘Ant’ in a later modified condition. However, they both to be delivered in original condition. Its hope that some cosmetic modifications will be made a later date to convert one of the locomotives to a latter appearance. The 19in gauge tramway between the main adit, close to the famous Laxey Wheel, and the washing floors further down the valley is reconstruction of a classic Victorian mining tramway. The original tramway dates from around the 1850s and was initially worked by manpower alone. As production increased in the mid-1870s tiny two steam locomotives took over. The peak of output from the lead, copper and zinc mines in the Laxey was in 1892, followed by a slow decline and eventual closer in 1929.
Pictures taken today - notice slight landslips - due to wet winter
Looking east to the tunnel under the main road and the MER
Westwards towards the mine and Laxey wheel
End of the line - the mine adit where the trains go underground
The East end of the road tunnel looking west towards picture 1
The east end portal to road
About half way along the 1/4 mile line
Only 1/4 mile long - should be easy in MSTS.............
David