It is a double celebration for the Great Laxey Mine Railway this weekend as it celebrates the old and the new.

The railway is celebrating 10 years of its third engine ’Wasp’ and the launch of a new book based on the line.

A battery electric engine built in 1973 by Clayton Traction Equipment, Wasp spent its working life in the tunnelling industry for CV Buchan and Co Ltd before being re-gauged and refurbished by Alan Keefe Ltd in 2009 and delivered to the Great Laxey Mine Railway.

Director and volunteer of the railway, Ian Smith said: ’’The purchase was made possible with the kind support of The Manx Heritage Foundation, now known as Culture Vannin.

’In celebration of his anniversary, Wasp will be taking passengers through the longest (and shortest) tunnel in the Isle of Man throughout the day, alongside Ant, one of the railway’s steam engines.’

As part of the celebrations, all children up to the age of 10 will be able to ride on the train free of charge.

This weekend will also see the launch of the second book to be based on the railway ’Jinny the Witch and the Magic Tunnel’ which has been written and illustrated by Edith Quaggin, who also wrote the first book ’The Magic Tunnel’.

Featuring the adventures of the Isle of Man’s best-known witch, the book is again written in both Manx and English and tells the tell of when Jinny came to the railway.

Ian said: ’After missing out in the first book, Wasp makes it into this story.

’A special train pulled by Wasp will take a small number of invited children down to the Railway’s play train, The Lockington Marshall, at the Mines Yard end of the Line.’

Edith, who also volunteers on the railway, will be reading excerpts from the new book.

Jinny the Witch and the Magic Tunnel will be available from the shop in the Laxey Valley Gardens from Saturday August 24.

Ian added: ’Both books have been made possible thanks to the Support of Culture Vannin, who also translated each story into Manx.’

Both the celebration and the book launch take place tomorrow (Saturday) with the line open between 11am and 4.30pm.

For more information on the railway or to volunteer, email [email protected].