Groudle Glen Gala Day 2025

A couple of weeks ago, I enjoyed a holiday on the Isle of Man, taking in the enthusiast's week. This means I will be bombarding you with Manx-based photos this week. And it's my blog, so there's nothing you can do about it. 

We'll start with the Groudle. The line put on three special events while I was there, and I made it to two of them. The gala saw every working locomotive out and about on the line - and for a tiny little railway, there is quite a collection!

 First, we have the original locomotive on the lines, Sea Lion: 

The other original loco, is Polar Bear, currently living at the Amberley Chalk Pits museum. She has been over, but is currently in pieces. No worries, the Groudle people hung Polar Bear's chimney from the engine shed roof, and built Brown Bear underneath it. 

Brown Bear actually comes from North Bay Engineering. At the time she was under construction, another loco was also being built. The order for this was cancelled, and the GGR were offered a bargain. Since it's Bagnall-based, Otter, known as "the blue one", joined the fleet. 

When the original steam engines were wearing out, they were replaced with a couple of battery electric locos. These were not a success, one ending up at the bottom of a bank, and the other being rebuilt with pony trucks, and then a tender for the batteries. As it was, the owners of the line were forced to rebuild the steam locos instead. Only a single wheel and builders plate exists of the old BEVs, but this replica was built, and has proved to be very useful.   

More recently, Malty joined the fleet. A Baguley product, it's best known for appearing in the end credits of the TV show Hi-De-Hi. Well, the Groudle is a pleasure line, so why not have a pleasure locomotive? 

Finally, we have Dolphin. Along with her sister Walrus, she arrived from the Doddington Park railway. That line provided much of the equipment and materials used to restore the GGR in the 1980s. I remember both of these Hunslet machines in operation when I first visited in the 1990s. The good news is that Walrus is away for a rebuild, both machines being seen as a very important part of the line's story, as well as very useful in their own rights. 

For a fiver, we were taken out on the train to the headland, where efforts were made to line them up so we could take photos. Not easy, as the cliff edge isn't that far from the track, which is already inland of the original location by a few feet. 

After this, the locos ran a busy service, and there was the chance to enjoy each one for haulage. I've completed the set, I think, with both Maltby and Walrus hauled trains. 

You're probably wondering about the cake. Well, on the previous Wednesday, Chris, the guard for the evening, spotted me and suggested some marble cake from the Sealion Rocks cafe. Sadly, this wasn't available, so I settled for some round battenburg. On the Sunday though, it was, and I enjoyed it.

Which would have been fine, but he'd spotted me again and pointed me at the Victoria Sponge. So, after my second trip, I had to eat that too!

Now, I'm easily pleased with a trip to the Groudle, but the volunteers put on a good show. Hopefully, next time, we'll have Walrus and Annie back too!

Visit the Groudle Glen Railway website.