Ramsey Station serves the town of Ramsey

Ramsey, Isle of Man

Ramsey is a town in the north of the Isle of Man. It is the second largest town on the island after Douglas. Its population is 7,309 according to the 2006 census . It has one of the biggest harbours on the island, and has a prominent derelict pier, called the Queen's Pier. It was formerly one of...

 in the Isle of Man

Isle of Man

The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...

; it is the northern terminus of the Manx Electric Railway

Manx Electric Railway

The Manx Electric Railway is an electric inter-urban tramway connecting Douglas, Laxey and Ramsey in the Isle of Man. It connects with the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway at its southern terminus at Derby Castle at the northern end of the promenade in Douglas, and with the Snaefell Mountain Railway at...

 and gains its name from a nearby building, now demolished and turned into a car park. The railway's literature referred to the station as such for many years, however today it is known simply as Ramsey Tram Station and signage to this effect adorns the front lawn of the station.

Beginnings

The station is in the heart of the town, and originally consisted of a simple lean-to shelter incorporating a booking hall with nearby stalls similar to that seen today at Laxey Station

Laxey station

Laxey Station is a station in the village of Laxey on the Isle of Man serving as an intermediate station on the Manx Electric Railway as well as being the lower terminus of the Snaefell Mountain Railway.-Location:...

; but the area has been subject to changes over many years. The site was mostly cleared and the station facilities were located within the Plaza Building for some time. Also on the site was a timber construction which located the town's Citizens Advice Bureau

Citizens Advice Bureau

A Citizens Advice Bureau is one of a network of independent charities throughout the UK that give free, confidential information and advice to help people with their money, legal, consumer and other problems....

 for a number of years.

Buildings

Today's terminus building was erected in 1964 and houses the station master's office, a waiting area and passenger toilets. Prior to this the station staff occupied various locations, most notably an office within the now-demolished plaza from which the station gains its name. Directly opposite the passenger area lies the former goods shed which has served a number of purposes in recent years. Used to house goods stock for many years, it was changed into a small museum housing the "Royal Trailer" No. 59 for some years, before being converted to its current use as "The Shed", a youth club. It remains rail connected. Unusually for M.E.R. stations, the traction poles are painted maroon to match the colour scheme of the station; elsewhere on the line they are all painted in the standard deep green colour. At the end of the yard lies the large car shed used to house service cars overnight. This shed was used for a period as another tramway museum and operated by the Isle Of Man Railway Society and housed three tramcars from the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway

Douglas Bay Horse Tramway

The Douglas Bay Horse Tramway is a horse-drawn tramway in Douglas on the Isle of Man. The route runs along the seafront promenade for approximately , from a southern terminus at the Victoria Pier, adjacent to the Sea Terminal to a northern terminus at Derby Castle, the southern terminus of the Manx...

 as well as several other unusual items of rolling stock such as the locomotive and carriage from the tramway that operated on Queen's Pier in the town. Upon closure the exhibits were relocated and the shed returned to its original use.

Route

Sources

• Manx Electric Railway Stopping Places (2002) Manx Electric Railway Society
• Island Images: Manx Electric Railway Pages (2003) Jon Wornham
• Official Tourist Department Page (2009) Isle Of Man Heritage Railways