The Gallery : 2026 - Date
The Gallery : 2026 - Date
The first train of 2026 arrived at the station on New Years' Day, a special train marking the diamond jubilee of the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association hauled by No.11 Maitland complete with suitable headboard for the momentous ocassion.
Early 2026 saw the long awaited surfacing of the railway patrons car park with work ongoing ahead of the first trains of the season; drainage and preparatory work continued ahead of a top-coat of macadam considerably improving the area which in recent years had deteriorated badly.
Battered by storms in December 2025, the advertisement hoarding was cordoned off amid public safety concerns, the first two upright posts being snapped by gales, it was later temporarily removed and is pending repair and re-erection as and when time and resources allow.
Work in progress stripping out old time-expired fencing ahead of the removal of the advertisement hoarding; when complete the fence will extend to the right of the hoarding as far as the water tower, an improvement to the site which will smareten the platform area considerably.
The approach from Station Road was closed off to allow for the surfacing works in the railway patrons car park at the beginning of 2026; this area had been prone to surface flooding in recent times and work remained ongoing ahead of the first trains of the season the following month.
The traditional picket fencing on the site was in a poor state of repair and removed in February 2026 for complete replacement; seen here shortly after removal, contractors installed new concrete posts. Work also included the stepped access to Poulsom Park and fencing extension northwards.
The compound for the signal windlass which controls the arrival of northbound trains was removed as part of fencing works, and will be replaced with concrete posts and new fencing, note the area to the side of The Sidings Inn which also benefited from replacement fencing.
As part of the surfacing works the area between the station building and goods shed also benefited from improvement including the insertion of a length of kerb demarking the edge of the parking area; drainage gullies were also fitted to the edges of the car park to improve surface water drainage.