It’s been 50 years since the last train pulled into Kirk Michael station.

But this week former Manx Northern Railway loco Caledonia was back to mark the anniversary of the closure of the Ramsey line in 1968.

Her return to Kirk Michael forms part of the Manx Heritage Transport Festival which began yesterday (Wednesday) and runs through to Sunday.

Built for hauling heavy mineral and goods traffic mainly on the Foxdale line, Caledonia was also the railway’s snow clearance engine.

Michael Buttell, head of the heritage steam railway volunteers, said: ’It is thought that the last time she would have been at Kirk Michael would have been during the "Big Snow" of 1963.’

Having been out of service for several years, this powerful and unique locomotive has recently been refitted at the Douglas workshops and will return to service this year.

Caledonia, together with the ’Foxdale’ coach, were taken by lowloader from Douglas workshops on Tuesday morning and carefully winched into position onto track at Kirk Michael. They were on public display there all day on Wednesday.

Ian Longworth, director of transport services, said Caledonia’s brief return to Kirk Michael had been months in the planning.

He said: ’It was great to see that both enthusiasts from near and far as well as locals have taken the time to come and see this spectacular sight.’

This year’s Manx Transport Festival promises to be the best yet. No fewer than 32 events have been packed into the five days.

These include vintage bus tours and running days, free guided walks, illustrated talks and social evening and photograph tours.

The Manx Northern Railway opened in September 1879 but was badly hit by the closure of the Foxdale mines in 1911. The Foxdale branch closed in 1940 but the Ramsey line struggled on.

Following a reprieve in 1967, it closed for good in 1968 and the track was lifted in 1974. Much of its route is now a footpath including a stretch of the Raad ny Foillan.