The Groudle Glen Railway has received over £16,000 to rebuild its main station.
It has come from Manx Lottery Trust to mark the 125th anniversary year of the railway.
The £16,450 will go towards ’rebuilding and improving its main station at Lhen Coan’, according to Manx Lottery Trust.
This grant came from the Manx Lottery Trust’s Community Awards programme, which aims to improve communities and the lives of people most in need, for amounts between £2,501 and £50,000.
Groudle Glen Railway’s project will not only facilitate the station maintenance but also ’enhance safety, increase the longevity of the railway, improve flow of passengers and help support future income and fundraising efforts’.
It has four main phases, which include repaving the platform area, installing new trackwork throughout the station, constructing a new shop and ticket office and paving between the tracks under the station canopy.
Alex Brindley, of Groudle Glen Railway, said: ’We are excited to commemorate our 125th anniversary. We were keen to dedicate our time to a meaningful project to mark the occasion which will ensure longevity of the railway for years to come.
’We believe the improvement of Lhen Coan is just that and we are excited to move forward with this project.
’Thank you to Manx Lottery Trust for its generous support of our charity.’
The money donated to the charity by the Manx Lottery Trust will be used to fund sleepers, base plates and clips for the rails.
Sarah Kelly, chairman of Manx Lottery Trust, added: ’This year marks a significant milestone for Groudle Glen Railway and we are pleased to support the redevelopment of Lhen Coan station.
’The local attraction is popular with islanders and visitors alike and it is great to see it go from strength to strength.’
Its 125th anniversary was officially celebrated earlier this year.
When it was first built in 1896, the late Victorian era, it catered for a new demand for transport down in Groudle Glen after the opening of the Manx Electric Railway.
It has always run from the upper part of the glen, Lhen Coan, to Sea Lion Rocks and is operated by volunteers.
Groudle Glen Railway recently shut after its summer season and is currently undergoing maintenance work ahead of the Santa trains which will run in December.
Tickets can be booked online at ggr.org.uk.
The railway will not be running any trains during the upcoming half term for Hop-tu-Naa as maintenance work continues.