Laxey and Lonan Heritage Trust has applied to install storage sheds for the village’s heritage railway.

The application (20/00320/B) is for two timber sheds to be installed at the Great Laxey Mine Railway, Valley Gardens, Glen Road, Laxey.

If approved by planners, the two sheds would be erected adjacent to the existing station shed. One of them would measure 3.05m x 2.4m and the other 2.45m x 2.45m, both complete with a peaked roof.

The sheds would be to the rear of the existing station building where the railway sells tickets.

The Laxey and Lonan Heritage Trust is the owner of the GLMR, which has been running since 2005.

The land on which the railway runs is owned by Garff Commissioners and the local authority has given permission for the sheds to be installed, subject to planning approval.

In its application, the Trust said: ’Since we began, we have tried to improve the experience for the passengers, and have undertaken a large amount of work on the line - all by volunteers.

’One thing we have always been short of is storage space for all our equipment.

’At present, a lot of our equipment is stored in the tunnel, but this leaves it in the open and subject to the weather. Ideally, it should be stored under cover and out of sight.’

It also said that the present exhibition of historical railway and mine equipment such as wheels and axles would be ’repositioned along the line’.

The exhibition is ’considered to be of some historical importance and has some unique pieces’ which adds to the railway’s character.