“Uphill to the sea”
Groudle Glen
© Geoff’s Rail Diaries 2019
Geoff’s Rail Diaries
24 July 2019
Wednesday: the 2ft-gauge Groudle Glen Railway usually operates on Sundays and Wednesday evenings during the season. As we’re on the Isle of Man during the “Heritage Transport Festival”, it’s open from 11am. It’s a must for a visit, especially as there are two new locomotives on the line, Otter and Brown Bear, both completed very recently. We’ve walked from the tram stop to “Sea Lion Rocks” station - so we’re there for the first arrival, behind 1896-built Sea Lion, identical twin to Brown Bear (but much older…). Sea Lion brought in the next two trains - then Brown Bear arrived, running light. Will it haul the next train back? No! So we ride back to Lhen Coan behind Sea Lion.  Back at Lhen Coan, there are other locomotives to check out - yes, there’s Otter,
in the shed, along with Annie. Peeking out of the shed is Polar Bear, a replica of one of the line’s early battery locomotive. Elsewhere are the two Hunslet diesels, Walrus and Dolphin, and the Baguley Maltby. We could, of course, have stayed longer, but there are other things to see and do today - and it’ll soon be lunchtime… Link: Groudle Glen Railway
First train of the day Second train... Sea Lion basks in admiration Heading back High above the sea Arrival of Brown Bear Brown Bear poses for the camera Two of a kind - 123 years apart... Running round at Lhen Coan Polar Bear Setting out from Lhen Coan Otter Annie Dolphin Maltby Walrus