great railway videos

Preview A Journey on the Snaefell Mountain Railway here.

The Snaefell Mountain Railway is an extraordinary feat of engineering. It runs from the terminus with the Manx Electric Railway in Laxey, close to sea level, to the summit of Snaefell, the island's highest peak at 2034 feet. The line was originally designed to be powered by steam, and indeed the Caledonia, whih still runs on the Isle of Man Steam Railway, was used in its construction. Work was begun early in 1895, and astonishingly the railway opened just seven months later. Using a 3 foot 6 inch gauge, the line is five miles long, with a gradient of 1 in 12 in places.

A Journey on The Snaefell Mountain Railway takes you up and down the mountain in an hour. This fabulous DVD gives a glimpse of the Victorian fascination with rail systems, which expanded the tourist industry and carried millions at their peak. With five cameras mounted on board our single car tram, the journey gives a glimpse of the industrial past of the valley of the river Laxey as we make our ascent. The Laxey Wheel can be glimpsed across the valley, used to drain water from the mines which extend for some distance, and supplied lead and zinc for export. Around half way is Bungalow Station, set beside the world-famous TT motor-cycle racing course, and marks the beginning of spectacular views of the west side of the island and the Irish Sea.

A Journey on the Snaefell Mountain Railway DVD carries an interesting and informative commentary, pointing out areas of interest seen from the tram whilst explaining the history of the line. If you'd prefer to hear just the sound of the tram, the narration can be switched off. A Journey on the Snafell Mountain Railway is a fascinating trip to the top of the Isle of Man, and is a must for any railway enthusiast.

We want to give you the best value we can, so we've come up with two fantastic bonus extras for your added enjoyment.

The first, Transports of Delight, is a specially made unique 20 minute programme which shows the Isle of Man's three Victorian transport systems - the Steam Railway, the Manx Electric Railway, and the Snaefell Mountain Railway. This beautifully shot and produced programme also takes you behind the scenes at the Steam Railway's Douglas depot to see the work that goes on to keep the rolling stock in pristine condition. And if you've ever dreamed of being an engine driver, there's even a pocket course to set you up for a trip on the footplate. Manx Steam Railway News described Transports of Delight as being worth the cover price alone!

And if that's still not enough, we've re-interpreted the famous 1952 BBC film of London to Brighton in four minutes to bring you Laxey to the Summit in four minutes, viewed from the prime spot at the front of the cab. It's the perfect way to round off this exclusive viewing experience on The Snaefell Mountain Railway.