40th Anniversary Christmas Trains a huge success
1 January 2024
40th Anniversary of the first Santa trains in 1983
The initial terminus of the Santa Trains - the starting point of the restoration - The Headland! Santa's Grotto was located in the temporary wooden engine shed seen on the right in the first image. Plus images of the early years of the Santa Trains in the 1980s. Things have come a long way!
2023 proved to be another hugely successful festive season at the railway with record bookings for our Santa Trains and Boxing Day Mince Pie trains as they continue to grow in popularity. Over the various operating days all three steam locomotives; Sea Lion, Brown Bear and Otter were in service operating intensive shuttle services. We continue to improve the events bit by bit every year from reducing queing with the ticketing system, to improvements in decorations, a newly refurbished grotto for our guest from the North Pole and the new addition of the snowmen photo seat nicknamed 'Boris & Doris!'
2023 was also the 40th anniversary of the Santa Trains, the first services being a simple affair operated only a year after the restoration of the railway had been started in 1982, primarily as a much needed fundraiser.
Since then they have continued to grow in popularity and also in term of complexity and standards.
Prior to the Santa trains on Sunday 17th December 2023 volunteers past and present gathered to mark the 40th Anniversary of the Santa Trains at Groudle.
The three original volunteers Bill, Colin and Richard gave a short speech recalling the first service back in 1983 using wagons, diesel loco Walrus and a short stretch out onto the clifftops. They had manyfunny tales to tell of those early services; music being provided from a car stereo that had been ripped out of someone's car, seats for the passengers which were old sleepers wrapped in carpet and stacked in bomb wagon trucks...And it was only 50p!! Then a cake was cut for the occasion and absent friends were toasted.
Here’s to the next 40 years!
Sunshine, steam trains, friendly ghouls and a violin-playing skeleton or two made this year's Not So Scary Hop Tu Naa Trains a frightfully fantastic success! Groudle Glen Railway was transformed into a magical, spook y wonderland over the weekend as families flocked to enjoy two days of Hop tu Naa fun at the railway's popular Not So Scary Hop Tu Naa Trains. And even the weather joined in the celebrations, with beautiful conditions and glorious sunshine providing the perfect backdrop for a weekend of family-friendly frights and railway adventures. On Saturday, our historic steam locomotive Sea Lion joined younger steam locomotive Otter in service, while Sunday saw Annie take over steam duties alongside Otter , delighting visitors young and old as the trains made their way through the autumnal glen. A Glen Full of Ghostly Goings-On! From the moment families arrived, they were greeted by a wonderfully spooky atmosphere, with twinkling lights, eerie decorations and a whole host of friendly ghouls waiting to welcome them along the line. Of course, no visit would have been complete without meeting the star of Hop Tu Naa herself, Jinny the Witch! Jinny was delighted to welcome her young visitors, handing out spooktacular gifts and posing for souvenir photographs, giving families a magical memento of their visit to her lair. And for those feeling a little peckish after all that excitement, there were plenty of devilishly delicious treats on offer! Visitors enjoyed luxury hot chocolate, freshly served tea and coffee, and juice for the younger ghouls, accompanied by a tempting selection of spooky doughnuts, chocolates and sweets. The Skeletons Stole the Show! But while Jinny may have been the headline act, she faced some unexpected competition this year! Our brand-new violin-playing skeletons on the platform proved to be the surprise stars of the weekend! The musical members of our spooky crew were a huge hit with visitors, attracting plenty of attention, smiles and photographs throughout both days. There's just one small problem... we still haven't given them names! But fear not, these talented, if slightly bony, musicians will definitely be returning next year. That gives us another twelve months to come up with something suitably spooky to call them! A Huge Thank You! The railway would like to say an enormous thank you to everyone who joined us over the weekend and helped make this year's Not So Scary Hop Tu Naa Trains such a wonderful occasion. A special thank you also goes to our fantastic team of volunteers, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes and throughout the weekend to create the decorations, spooky atmosphere, refreshments and magical experiences that made the event so memorable. As a volunteer-run heritage railway, events like this simply wouldn't be possible without their dedication, creativity and enthusiasm. We hope everyone who visited had a truly spooktacular time, and we can't wait to welcome you back for more ghostly goings; next Hop Tu Naa! Until then, Jinny has flown off on her broomstick, the ghouls have returned to their hiding places, and our skeleton musicians are taking a well-earned rest.... After all, they've been working their fingers to the bone! 💀🎻 
Annie Returns Home After Major Rebuild
Glorious spring sunshine and the unmistakable scent of steam set the scene for a truly memorable Easter celebration at the Groudle Glen Railway to start our 130th year, where families flocked in their hundreds to enjoy one of the Island’s most cherished seasonal traditions. From the first departure to the final train of the afternoon, the line was alive with laughter and anticipation as Sea Lion and Otter performed beautifully, their polished brass and billowing steam evoking the golden age of Manx tourism. Nestled within the blossom-filled glen, the railway offered a picture-perfect backdrop as visitors journeyed to Sea Lion Rocks, greeted at the terminus station by the cheerful presence of the Easter Bunny, who ensured no child went home empty-handed, distributing a delightful abundance of chocolate eggs. The ever-popular Easter egg hunt brought an extra layer of excitement, with clues hidden along the line leading to a range of coveted prizes. Winners were thrilled to receive rewards including travel opportunities from the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, an Afternoon tea for 4 at Milntown House, charming Easter Bunny gifts, and even a season pass to return again and again to the railway. Meanwhile, the café tearooms provided a warm and welcoming hub, offering complimentary tea, coffee and orange juice that kept spirits high throughout the day. With bustling platforms, full trains and a joyful atmosphere from start to finish, the event was widely hailed as a resounding success—capturing not just the spirit of Easter, but the enduring magic of the railway itself.
