Passengers had enjoyed the sight of the Laxey River running down through the valley, grazing sheep, and the smell of gorse in the air as the train climbed slowly up the hill.
At the top the wind was strong, wiping up a whole seascape. From the summit, it is believed one can see seven kingdoms — including England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland the Isle of Man, the mystical kingdom of the sea deity Manannán mac Lir, and the kingdom of heaven — making it a memorable experience for those interested in history and folklore.
Snaefell, known as "Snow Mountain", boasts the only electric mountain railway in the British Isles. The ride is not only a scenic adventure but a link to the island's rich culture.
The Snaefell Mountain Railway tells a tale as much about the Victorian spirit of invention and social change as it does about the lost golden age of tourism on the Isle of Man.
Victorian Tourism and the Age of the Railways
The journey starts at the Manx Museum in Douglas; visitors can trace the island's 10,000-year history here. Economic difficulties, including an apparently unbelievable level of low population increase and a lack of jobs, beset the Isle of Man in the mid-19th century.
With the collaboration of the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Henry Brougham Loch, the island took advantage of its beauty to promote tourism and Douglas was transformed into a … bustling seaside resort, during the reign of Queen Victoria. By the 1880s, thousands were visiting each summer and there were 1,500 hotels, as well as daily steamer trips from Liverpool.
To entice visitors to explore further afield than Douglas, the Manx Electric Railway was opened in 1893 and the Snaefell Mountain Railway in 1895.
These narrow-gauge railways, which use original Victorian-era locomotives, permitted access to the island's landscapes for visitors and are today revered as moving museums.
The Manx Electric Railway, which runs from Douglas to Laxey is a sweetener, but Snaefell climbs an extra five miles to 621 metres, chuffing off through the valleys and hillsides with vintage carriage stock made from ash and pitch pine.
Historic Ride to the Summit of Seven Kingdoms
The Isle of Man was an early pioneer in electric transport and had been producing its own power since the 1890s, said Manx Heritage Railways' technical guru Andrew Scarffe. At its peak, the railway attracted well over one million passengers every year, with frequent services from Derby Castle Station.
While tourism has waned, approximately 200,000 people continue to ride the railway annually between April and October and some even learn to operate the tram during special tutorials.
From the summit, people can enjoy extensive views over the British Isles and ponder the spiritual legends associated with the island. Traces of an old observatory and legends of the kingdom of Manannán mac Lir add to the experience.
Whether they ride the historic tramway for the views, the tram, or the mythical seven kingdoms, the Snaefell Mountain Railway stands the test of time as a reminder of the Isle of Man's heritage.
