hide. It ran as a tourist attraction until the early 1960’s when it fell into disrepair, and during the 1970’s the line was scrapped and the rolling stock sold. Prior to the short run down to Sea Lion Rocks, "Polar Bear" made a quick appearance from the shed. share. ", the glen was further improved in the late 19th century by the planting of many different types of tree. 000 526046. Visiting locomotives were a feature in 1995 (Chaloner and Rishra) and in 1998 as part of the Steam 125 event marking the anniversary of the island's main railway. It was opened in 1893 though further developed over the next few years with the minature railway opening in 1896. This unique line was built in 1896 by Richard Maltby Broadbent as part of the new Groudle Glen pleasure grounds. Bagnall, called Sea Lion. This unique line was built in 1896 by Richard Maltby Broadbent as part of the new Groudle Glen pleasure grounds. Its boiler certificate expired at the end of 2010;[2] with a retube and work on the firebox being required before a return to service. Welcome to my blog documenting developments in my narrow gauge modeling using a variety of gauges. This had been built by a Groudle Glen volunteer as a replica of a 0-4-2T Bagnall built in 1911 for the Gentle Annie tramway in New Zealand, and is mechanically similar to the original Polar Bear. The railway and tea rooms are open every Wednesday evening in August from 7pm – 9pm and every Sunday from 11am to 4:30pm until the end of September. This morning Polar Bear was loaded onto a low loader for a holiday away from the Glen to Old Hall Farm. This locomotive was named Polar Bear. Built as a replica of Groudle Glen Railway’s second original locomotive Polar Bear of 1905, she features the original chimney from Polar Bear as a link with the past. IOM Co. No: 127140c. Registered Charity No. https://ngruk.blogspot.com/2014/08/groudle-glen-railway.html Jump to navigation Jump to search. [1] From 1905 onwards, Sea Lion and Polar Bear worked all the trains on the railway. The Groudle Glen Railway closed in 1962. The locomotive was built by W.G. In 1998 Annie appeared on the railway. The Groudle Glen Railway's replica battery loco Polar Bear stands outside the loco shed at Lhen Coan. The locomotive was built by W.G. A number of volunteers from the Amberley Museum traveled to the island with the locomotive and it was a truly great experience sharing two weeks of running the railway with them with old friendships renewed and a number of new ones forged. The boiler was moved to Chatham for overhaul, with mechanical work being undertaken in-house at Amberley. The two Bagnalls were taken out of service in the 1920s, when they were replaced by a pair of battery locomotives. Named Brown Bear and Otter, the trains have been added to the rolling stock at Groudle Glen Railway in Onchan. The scales range from 09/7mm representing 15inch gauge, 0-16.5/ 7mm representing 2ft gauge and a more resent return to 13/16mm G scale garden railways. 30/07/2014 This locomotive was named Polar Bear. See more ideas about Railway, Isle of man, Isle. There were tropical birds as well as brown bear cubs which tourists could take for a walk. Groudle Glen Railway. Groudle Glen Railway, Douglas Picture: Sea Lion and Polar Bear at Sean Lion Rocks - Check out Tripadvisor members' 3,435 candid photos and videos of Groudle Glen Railway 29.07.17 Lhen Coan "Sea Lion" (36179181921).jpg 5,459 × 3,915; 16.84 MB. Victorian Sea Lion & Polar Bear Pen at Groudle Glen from cliffs & railway stn Onchan Isle of Man IOM. Thank you. After six years of fundraising with the Brown Bear Appeal and construction… Brown Bear is nearly complete. As the popularity of the zoo increased, Broadbent came up with the idea of a narrow gauge railway which would run down the glen to the headland. Since being based at Amberley, Polar Bear has returned to the Groudle Glen on three occasions (1993, 1996 and 2005) to visit. Groudle Glen Railway These kits are available in 16mm scale running on 32mm track and 7/8ths scale running on 45mm track Battery Locomotives Polar Bear & Sea Lion Currently running on the railway Polar Bear was built by Alan Keef ltd in 2004. In January 2013 the Groudle Glen Railway announced a plan to construct a new locomotive to be named Brown Bear. Groudle Glen Railway is affectionately known as “The Line that goes Uphill to the Sea." The railway’s volunteers have long held a dream to restore the scene of two Bagnall locomotives operating down the glen at Groudle on a permanent basis. In 1982 it passed, with the rest of the Brockham collection, to the Amberley Museum Railway, where it was returned to traffic in 1983. It also provided an invaluable insight into the construction of Polar Bear which is aiding in the construction of the railway’s replica locomotive; Brown Bear, which is due for completion if 2018 if the remaining £11,000 can be raised to purchase her boiler. From 1905 onwards, Sea Lion and Polar Bear worked all the trains on the railway. 1781 of 1905) which have largely survived. Brown Bear will be built using the original Bagnall drawings for Polar Bear (Works No. Polar Bear was sold to the Brockham Museum Trust in 1967. VAT No. save. Normally only open in the high season on Wednesdays and Sundays, being the Isle of Man Heritage Transport Festival, it was opened up on the Saturday. Groudle Glen Railway is affectionately known as “The Line that goes Uphill to the Sea." We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. There are two restored coaches with "Polar Bear" at Amberley Museum and two further replicas (one of which serves as a disabled car), and four rebuilt coaches at Groudle itself, built by the company. To celebrate the railway’s 120th Anniversary, the line’s second original locomotive Polar Bear returned to the island for a holiday from her home at the Amberley Museum over the Manx Heritage Transport Festival. Groudle Glen Railway; Official Crest of the railway. Polar Bear made its fourth visit to the Groudle Glen Railway since it was preserved in late July 2016. Groudle Glen Railway is still a Manx Registered Charity, operated solely by volunteers. Advertised as “The Smallest Railway in the World” it ran steam locomotives “Sea Lion” (1896) and “Polar Bear,” (1905) through the headland of the glen, carrying many a day tripper to the zoo at Sea Lion Rocks. The railway was closed between 1915 and 1918. GazwCave wrote a review Sep 2020. The Groudle Glen Railway 1896 – 1939This 2 foot gauge line was opened on 23 may 1896 and ran from the upper part of the glen, Lhen Coan, to the zoo at Sea Lion Rocks and was operated by one engine, built by Bagnall ,called "Sea Lion ", and three coaches.Later a 2nd loco named "Polar Bear" , and additional coaches were purchased.Closed during the first world war , when the railway … Currently running on the railway Polar Bear was built by Alan Keef ltd in 2004. It was a very successful visit with large numbers of visitor, enthusiasts and locals alike visiting the railway to travel along the line behind both Sea Lion and Polar Bear operating two trains, passing on the headland loop as they would have done during the heyday of the original line. The electric locomotives quickly wore out, and Polar Bear and Sea Lion were returned to traffic. Mr. Broadbent did very well indeed. Bagnall & Co., Stafford and delivered to the line in May of that year, the only loco until joined in 1905 by sister locomotive ‘Polar Bear’. Le chemin de fer de Groudle Glen est une ligne à voie étroite construite vers la fin de l'époque victorienne à peu de distance de Douglas, sur l'île de Man. ... 'Polar Bear' at the Groudle Glen Railway - geograph.org.uk - 784591.jpg 640 × 413; 107 KB 'Sea Lion', Groudle Glen Railway (All About Railways, Hartnell).jpg 1,190 × 550; 310 KB. A bridge across the inlet let visitors admire the sea lions and polar bears. A further original rebuilt coach is at the West Lancashire Railway, but made a return to Groudle in 1996. Together with its sister, Sea Lion, they were intended to replace two Bagnall steam locos of the same names. Victorian Sea Lion & Polar Bear Pen at Groudle Glen from cliffs & railway stn Onchan Isle of Man IOM. There are three restored coaches with "Polar Bear" at Amberley Chalk Pits and a further replica which serves as a disabled car, and three rebuilt coaches at Groudle itself, built by the company. youtu.be/2O9eEe... 0 comments. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. These kits are available in 16mm scale running on 32mm track and 7/8ths scale running on 45mm track. It ran as a tourist attraction until the early 1960’s when it fell into disrepair, and during the 1970’s the line was scrapped and the rolling stock sold. Bagnall & Co., Stafford and delivered to the line in May of that year, providing sole motive power until joined in 1905 by sister locomotive Polar Bear. ‘Sea Lion’ was built in 1896 for the 2′ gauge Groudle Glen Railway on the Isle of Man where it still operates today. It ran as a tourist attraction until the early 1960’s when it fell into disrepair, and during the 1970’s the line was scrapped and the rolling stock sold. © 2021 Groudle Glen Railway Co. Ltd. After six years of fundraising with the Brown Bear Appeal and construction… Brown Bear is nearly complete. Polar Bear was a 2 ft (610 mm) gauge battery-electric locomotive built by Wingrove & Rogers in 1921 as works no. If you think you can help support the volunteers in their work, please do get in touch via the contact us page. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_Bear_(battery-electric_locomotive) of the river valley so that he could develop it as a pleasure ground. Polar Bear is a narrow-gauge steam locomotive built in 1905 by W. G. Bagnall for the Groudle Glen Railway. This unique line was built in 1896 by Richard Maltby Broadbent as part of the new Groudle Glen pleasure grounds. 100% Upvoted. The most obvious visible difference between the two locomotives of course is the change from round to rectangular spectacle plates in the front cab sheet which improved the forward vision for the driver. Once the locomotive is complete it will operate alongside its older sister Sea Lion allowing the railway to accurately represent period from 1905 through until the outbreak of the Second World War when these diminutive locomotives would have been in service together daily during the busy summer months. Groudle Glen Railway - Polar Bear locomotive. Advertised as “The Smallest Railway in the World” it ran steam locomotives “Sea Lion” (1896) and “Polar Bear,” (1905) through the headland of the glen, carrying many a day tripper to the zoo at Sea Lion … Some of these such as the change from Baguley's modified valve gear to Bagnall Price gear can be put down to changes in key personnel at W.G Bagnall's but others such as the larger diameter cylinders, increased grate area and increased driving wheel diameter were probably specified in light of 9 years experience with Sea Lion in service. [1] The railway was closed for the duration of World War II and, when the line reopened in the late 1940s, only Polar Bear was returned to traffic. After taking the Electric Railway the short distance to Groudle, it was a 10 minute walk to the Groudle Glen Railway. The original locomotives made extensive use of cast components and while the new build will use castings where patterns are already available some one-off components will be fabricated. Bagnall, called Sea Lion. Built as a replica of Groudle Glen Railway’s second original locomotive Polar Bear of 1905, she features the original chimney from Polar Bear as a link with the past. The line was saved from total extinction by a band of enthusiastic volunteers in 1982, reopening to passengers in 1986. After its two week stay there, it returned home to Amberley museum. It was originally worked by a single locomotive supplied by W.G. 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