Isle of Man Railway level crossings and points of interest
One of the characteristics of the Isle of Man Railway are the numerous level crossings and farm crossings along the various routes; many smaller crossing places are marked only by gates the criss-cross farm land and provide access to individual private roads which connect the farms to the main roads. Being largely rural in nature the railway has many of these scattered along the existing South Line, and there were, as one might expect, many more on the closed sections of the railway. These can be summarised as follows, along with other points of interest along the line not covered in the Isle of Man Railway stations section:-
The South Line
Ballalonna
This is the first "proper" level crossing on the south line of the Isle of Man Railway and can be found on the south side of Santon station; it serves an adjoining farm of the same name. The crossing was provided with a small hut similar in style to the one at Mill Road further along the line and this is retained though out of use, being constructed of slatted timber with corrugated iron roof.
Ballastrang
This crossing is complete with its own (now privately owned) crossing lodge which was sold off and replaced with a common or garden shed in more recent years. The crossing was the subject of controversy in 2002 when all crossings on the railway were automated. The local farmer who utilises the crossing refused to allow the railway to install the automatic barriers as it had elsewhere and so therefore this remains the final surviving manned occupational level crossing on the railway, and indeed on the island.
Ballawoods
A farm crossing on the approach to the station at Ballasalla. It has been unmanned since automation in 2002 when the traditional level crossing gates were replaced with modern lifting barrier controls. This crossing, despite only serving a nearby farm, is typical of the rural community and features a large (now derelict) gatekeeper's two storey house, once alleged to have been home to "Blackcurrant Jack", somewhat of a local legend who was once employed as crossing keeper and used to walk the line collecting blackberries for making jam between the train services.
Ballahick
A level crossing the northerly side of Ballasalla station, which was automated in 2002; prior to this the crossing was manned, and featured traditional crossing gates. The road it carries over the railway line leads only to a private dwelling. 54°06′00″N 4°36′43″W / 54.100°N 4.612°W
Mill Road
A small level-crossing situated on the southerly side of Castletown railway station and consisting of a basic wooden hut for the gatekeeper to the side of the line. Being located close by the town it was never "fully manned" but merely attended at the relevant train times in latter years. By 2002 the crossing was automated but the small hut remained in place, though unused. The crossing serves a private dwelling which is clearly visible from the passing train, and is a large mill (now defunct) and farmhouse. 54°04′41″N 4°39′07″W / 54.078°N 4.652°W. In early 2014 the original crossing lodge was removed for full restoration by volunteers of the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association and is currently stored in the goods shed at Port St. Mary awaiting funding to proceed. The group hope to return to the restored building to the site by the end of 2015.
Kentraugh
A small farm track which had, until 2002, a seasonally manned level crossing. Until automation there was a creosoted shed for the crossing keeper, but the crossing was rarely manned between trains and staff usually attended at the relevant train times on the timetable. The crossing is located between the stations at Colby and Level on the southern portion of the line. 54°05′31″N 4°42′54″W / 54.092°N 4.715°W
Ballagawne
A level crossing situated between the stations of Level and Port St Mary on south line of the railway which remains open today. It consists of a crossing keepers' lodge which is now disused since the introduction of automatic crossing barriers in 2002 and provides access to the farm of the same name through means of through road which connects the "back" Colby road to the main coast road. The crossing lodge is larger than many others on the railway and was substantial enough to have provided residential accommodation for the keeper in the past, effectively being twice the size of the original structure. This is clear upon viewing the building from a passing train. 54°05′17″N 4°43′48″W / 54.088°N 4.730°W The lodge was sold privately in February 2015.
Four Roads
Bissecting the main coastal road between Castletown and Port Erin, this crossing still boasts its own stone-built gatekeepers' hut and the gatekeepers' house remains extant on the southern side of the line although this is now a private residence. A roundabout further up the highway has also gained this title, taken from the railway's crossing.54°05′02″N 4°44′10″W / 54.084°N 4.736°W. The small lodge here was restored by the volunteers of the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association in 2013 at which time it was fitted with bilingual running in board (now also reading Kiare Raaidyn), new fencing and the whole area smartened up considerably. Similar works have also been carried out at other former manned occupational crossings along the line.
The Peel Line
- Quarterbridge
- Ballacraine
- Glenfaba Mill
- Knockaloe Branch
The North Line
Gob-Y-Deigan
The exposed coastal section of the Manx Northern Railway between Peel Road and Glen Mooar viaduct was served by a small halt in the very early days of the railway. This section of line caused the railway company headaches over many years owing to subsidence which was regularly rectified by the dumping of used locomotive ash along the sides of the running line. This area is also cited as the reason for the railway acquiring a turntable to turn only the coaches, to equalise the weathering of paintwork at this exposed point. Today the trackbed is walkable and it has sunk even further. The halt was only short-lived and built to serve excursions for picnickers. It had no road access but did offer a basic waiting shelter, which survived in use as a lineside hut until the closure of the railway.
Devil's Elbow
High embankment carrying the railway along the coastline; this caused the railway company many headaches over the years owing to continued subsidence. Large quantities of ash and spoil were regularly emptied here to shore up the embankment and it is noticeable that although the bank remains today it has dropped by several feet in the intervening years since the railway closed; it remains as part of the island's coastal footpath today.
Glen Mooar Viaduct
The first and smaller of two viaducts on the Manx Northern Railway and was crossed by means of a lattice work frame by the passing trains. Today the stanchions remain but the framework was removed in 1975, the railway having closed in 1968. It can be found at 54°16′16″N 4°35′53″W / 54.271°N 4.598°W
Glen Wyllin Viaduct
Second larger viaduct carrying the railway above the valley which was home to the pleasure grounds owned and operated by the Railway Company; the viaduct was removed in 1975 although the stanchions still remain today. The viaduct dominated the parks below which featured a children's playground, boating lake, bowling greens, tennis courts and putting green. The site remains as a campsite today but the majority of the former features have been removed. A Campsite toilet and shower block has been provided in more recent times and a shop, the area remains popular today forming part of a national glen.
Orrisdale No. 1 & No.2
Two crossings at close proximity found at 54°18′14″N 4°34′08″W / 54.304°N 4.569°W and 54°18′18″N 4°33′50″W / 54.305°N 4.564°W with associated crossing keepers' dwellings, both of which now form private residences since the closure of the railway in 1968 and sale of much property in 1975.
West Berk
The halt was only short-lived and, while recorded in Manx Northern Railway documents, its exact location is not known for certain other than as being adjacent to a level crossing. The crossing lodge remains in situ today, forming a private residence having been sold off in 1974.
Ballavolley Halt
Only operational in the last year that the Isle of Man Railway operated the line to Ramsey in 1968. Prior to this it had been nothing more than a farm crossing which boasted its own lodge, still in existence today; the "Wild Life Park" was established here in late 1967 and the railway installed an ad hoc halt here the following year, with temporary platform area and fencing. Today, you cross over the remaining rails in the macadam on the way into the park, and the trackbed stretches out virtually straight either side of you, but the rails are the only hint of the line's existence. At one time there was a siding laid here but little is known of its use and it did not last long. The embankment on which it sat is sometimes visible in a nearby field however.54°18′54″N 4°31′01″W / 54.315°N 4.517°W
Milntown
Site of former oil siding (1968-1969) found at 54°19′23″N 4°24′07″W / 54.323°N 4.402°W used during the short-lived experiment to transport oil in three tankers between Ramsey and Peel during the period in which Lord Ailsa operated the railway; this siding has the distinction of being used for the final stock movements on the north line when No. 4 Loch transported the final oil tankers in September 1968. The track at this point was so sharply curved that a locomotive could not enter the siding, and bogie runners were placed between it and the oil wagons to allow access to the facility.
Quayside Extension
Extending beyond the environs of Ramsey Station along the quayside and lifted by 1958.