St. John's railway station

Infobox Station
name = St. John's
type = Isle of Man Railway station


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opened = start date|1873|7|1|df=yes
closed = end date|1968|9|7|df=yes
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St John's railway station was the hub of the Isle of Man Railway's (IMR) operation, where the lines bound for Douglas, Peel, Ramsey and Foxdale all met. There have been three stations within the area but only the original IMR station remained in use until the closure of this part of the network.

IMR station

The original station had a simple building to the same design as that built at Crosby Station, a passing loop and water tower but soon after the rival company of the Manx Northern Railway (MNR) arrived in 1879 the station was expanded and the lines ran parallel.

MNR stations

When the MNR line between Ramsey and St. John's opened on start date|1879|9|23|df=yes, the MNR establshed a simple station to the west of the level crossing situated at the Peel end of the IMR station. The line was however joined to the IMR line and within a few years through running from Ramsey to Douglas was introduced, utilising the expanded IMR station. The site of this early station was cleared and eventually became the turntable road (see below).

In 1886 the Foxdale Railway arrived in the village. This line was operated by the MNR and they opened a new station close to the junction with the IMR on the westerly side, which also catered for their Ramsey services. From there the line ran across the Peel line to the mining village and the bridge that carried it remains in place at the easterly end of the site.

The MNR station saw less use after the Isle of Man Railway took over operation of the other two lines in 1905 and was used only for Foxdale services until 1927. The station building became the St. John's station master's house after 1906. After 1927, all Foxdale services passed through and then reversed into the IMR station. These services were never very profitable and eventually ended during 1943. The station itself closed completely in 1960 at the same time as the Foxdale line, latterly being used to store coaching stock. The station house survives as a private dwelling.

One station - later years

The IMR station expanded further, with the erection of a carriage shed, signal box and additional platforms. At one time there was a footbridge but photographs of the period show passengers still crossing the running lines (the platforms were very shallow) and by 1944 the bridge had been removed. The lines for Peel and Ramsey ran alongside each other as they left the station and trains often "raced" out of the station even though timetables dictated they should not do so.

The station often experienced very busy periods. Services from Douglas to Ramsey and Peel often arrived as a single train, which was then divided at St. John's. Likewise, Douglas services from Peel and Ramsey were often scheduled to join at the station. Thus it was that all three platform faces could be occupied at the same time. There was also a gravel siding at one time.

From start date|1925|3, the station was the site of the sole turntable on the network. It was purchased from the West Clare Railway in Ireland, after the company had been unable to accept delivery of it from the manufacturers Ransomes & Rapier Ltd. of Ipswich. It was used to turn passenger rolling stock to attempt to equalise weathering and wheel wear and tear. It was removed in 1961 and then stored at Douglas with the intention of using it to turn the recently acquired diesel railcars. This scheme never came to fruition and the turntable was scrapped in the mid-1970s.

When the Marquess of Ailsa took over the line in 1967 a display of disused locomotives was created at the station. After services ceased in 1968 the carriage shed was used to store surplus rolling stock which was retrieved back to Douglas for continuing services on the south line as required. However, in 1975 there were two disastrous fires in the shed, and much historic stock was lost forever. The site was used for storing of rails as they were ripped up after this, and cleared by the late 1970s to become a car park. A new primary school has been built on the site and this was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 but the site remains accessible for a train should the services ever be reintroduced. The station however would have to be downsized and/or relocated.

Routes

Rail line
previous = Peel
next = Ballacraine Halt
towards Douglas
route = Isle of Man Railway
Peel line
col = 8f691eRail line
previous =
next = Peel Road
towards Ramsey
route = Manx Northern Railway
col = 000000Rail line
previous =
next = Waterfall Halt
towards Foxdale
route = Foxdale Railway
col = 000000
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ee also

* Isle of Man Railway stations
* St. John's

References

* cite web
url = http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/s/st.johns/index.shtml
title = St. John's station (IMR) on the Subterranea Britannica Disused Stations website
*cite web
url = http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/s/st.johns/index20.shtml
title = St. John's station (MNR) on the Subterranea Britannica Disused Stations website
*cite book
last = Heavyside
first = Tom
month = August | year = 2004
title = Narrow Gauge Branch Lines Douglas to Ramsey
publisher = Middleton Press
ISBN = 190447439X