* Hand-Painted Signage

Hand-Painted Signage

Traditional Signage

Since its inception the Friends Of... group have provided a great many hand-painted signs for the site and continue to do so today; this began in 2010 when the running-in boards were replicated and and number of smaller time-expired signs replaced by an initial fundraising effort and with the assistance of the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association. With their help the signs were also erected around the station environs.

Ever since, the group have continued to provide new signage, repair those on the site and commission new boards according to demand. As part of a project funded by Culture Vannin in 2011 a sign promoting Manx National Heritage sites in the town was provided, as well as a number of directional boards, car parking notices and keep off the grass signs. These were supplied at the same time and in the same style as the new fingerposts.

Upkeep & Additions

We were also fortunate to secure the old notice board from the town's historic Market Square in 2018 when the area was regenerated; this sign was stored in the goods shed where it was restored by our volunteers and painted into the green and cream scheme, while planning permission was sought and granted for its re-erection on the platform, this work being kindly carried out courtesy of Isle of Man Railways.

Directional signs to the adjacent Poulsom Park have also been provided, and a number directing patrons to the station's toilet facilites. In addition a number of authentic door plaques have been sourced and restored, these now feature around the site on the office, model room and goods shed, being added to as and when funding and commitments allow elsewhere. We have a rolling programme of restoration to ensure signs always look their best.

Thanks & Acknowledgements

These works have been on the priority list for the group for several years and would not have been possible without the assistance of a number of parties, namely:-

The Signmann O' Laxey Sneaky Weasel

D. & P. Cowley & Co. Douglas Robinson

Ian Longworth Peter Jordan

We have an ongoing commitment to ensuring all future signage is provided in a style sympathetic to the historical nature of the site. Attention to detail such as this, including an assurance that modern and more obtrusive signage is kept to an aboslute minimu, is one of our core commitments to the site.

Maintaining The Tradition

The large forecourt entrance sign has also been replaced since our inception in 2009, the first incarnation surviving until a falling tree sealed its fate in October of 2013, at which point a new version was provided, complete with the old Railway Company motif. This too suffered the ravages of the weather and gale force winds, at which point another new one was fabricated, this time in die-bond material to ensure its longevity.

This was installed just in time for the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary celebrations in 2024 and remains in place today, strengthening supports at its rear ensuring it will survive for many years to come. We have also provided a number of Railway Company notice boards bearing the legend I.M.R. Co., based on an original which was donated to the group in 2009. A fibreglass replica notice board which stands outside the waiting room has also been provided.

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