Groudle Glen Railway is still a Manx Registered Charity, operated solely by volunteers. [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. Working on the assumption that major components will be manufactured off site by a series of specialist firms before coming together for final assembly at Groudle the total cost of the build is expected to be in the region of £50,000.00 with completion expected within 5 years, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "A long read: The history of Groudle Glen", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Polar_Bear_(locomotive)&oldid=911774050, Preserved narrow gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain, Articles needing additional references from March 2018, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 21 August 2019, at 02:03. VAT No. Brown Bear will be built using the original Bagnall drawings for Polar Bear (Works No. 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. Welcome to my blog documenting developments in my narrow gauge modeling using a variety of gauges. The Groudle Glen Railway closed in 1962. There were tropical birds as well as brown bear cubs which tourists could take for a walk. Bagnall, called Sea Lion. 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. Battery Locomotives Polar Bear & Sea Lion. 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 line was saved from total extinction by a band of enthusiastic volunteers in 1982, reopening to passengers in 1986. ; Smith, D. H. sur AbeBooks.fr - ISBN 10 : 0950472026 - ISBN 13 : 9780950472027 - Brockham Museum Association - 1977 - Couverture souple Groudle Glen Railway. ... '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. 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 … Polar Bear was sold to the Brockham Museum Trust in 1967. Prior to the short run down to Sea Lion Rocks, "Polar Bear" made a quick appearance from the shed. Today the line is a registered Manx charity and still run entirely by an enthusiastic group of volunteers that provides a fun, nostalgic day out for all ages, whilst restoring and maintaining an important piece of Manx railway history for this generation and many more to follow. The boiler was returned to Amberley in January 2012. The electric locomotives quickly wore out, and Polar Bear and Sea Lion were returned to traffic. Our next event is the FREE Cliff Top Concerts on Sunday 14th August from 11am to 4:30pm. Since being based at Amberley, Polar Bear has returned to the Groudle Glen on three occasions (1993, 1996 and 2005) to visit. The locomotive was built by W.G. 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. The railway relies on train fares, fundraising and generous support and donations from grant organisations, businesses and individuals in order to continue to maintain and restore the line and its historic rolling stock. Jump to navigation Jump to search. This morning Polar Bear was loaded onto a low loader for a holiday away from the Glen to Old Hall Farm. 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. report. Vote. Click OK if you're happy with that. 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. It was opened in 1893 though further developed over the next few years with the minature railway opening in 1896. 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, 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 A visit, on a rather wild day in September 1993, to this 2' gauge on the Isle of Man. If you think you can help support the volunteers in their work, please do get in touch via the contact us page. 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. 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. https://ngruk.blogspot.com/2014/08/groudle-glen-railway.html This unique line was built in 1896 by Richard Maltby Broadbent as part of the new Groudle Glen pleasure grounds. 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. 1117. 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. In 1998 Annie appeared on the railway. It was a time of great change for the line, with many improvements being introduced by the volunteers. Polar Bear was a 2 ft (610 mm) gauge battery-electric locomotive built by Wingrove & Rogers in 1921 as works no. 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. Polar Bear And The Groudle Glen Railway pas cher : retrouvez tous les produits disponibles à l'achat dans notre catégorie Enfant, jeunesse Groudle Glen Railway is affectionately known as “The Line that goes Uphill to the Sea." The Groudle Glen Railway on the Isle of Man is a 2 ft (610 mm) gauge tourist railway opened in 1896. This unique line was built in 1896 by Richard Maltby Broadbent as part of the new Groudle Glen pleasure grounds. 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. ", the glen was further improved in the late 19th century by the planting of many different types of tree. 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. These kits are available in 16mm scale running on 32mm track and 7/8ths scale running on 45mm track. Isle of Man Tourism; Isle of Man Hotels; Isle of Man Bed and Breakfast; Isle of Man Vacation Rentals; Isle of Man Vacation Packages; Flights to Isle of Man share. A further original rebuilt coach is at the West Lancashire Railway, but made a return to Groudle in 1996. All reviews sea lion rocks run by volunteers wednesday evening polar bear friendly volunteers brown bear wooded valley picnic benches steep path tea room train enthusiast locals and visitors well worth the effort nice walk worth the trip high standard irish sea narrow gauge isle of man railway station river. 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. This locomotive was named Polar Bear. Media in category "Groudle Glen Railway" The following 54 files are in this category, out of 54 total. save. Les débuts. The locomotive was built by W.G. 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. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The two Bagnalls were taken out of service in the 1920s, when they were replaced by a pair of battery locomotives. A bridge across the inlet let visitors admire the sea lions and polar bears. Groudle Glen Railway - Polar Bear locomotive In March 2013, Culture Vannin provided Groudle Glen with £4,047 for a new custom-made battery for the Polar Bear locomotive. Registered Charity No. History 1896 – 1939 Built in the late Victorian era in response to increasing demand for transportation down Groudle Glen brought on by the introduction of the Manx Electric Railway. Named Brown Bear and Otter, the trains have been added to the rolling stock at Groudle Glen Railway in Onchan. Aug 8, 2017 - Explore Paul Jensen's board "Groudle Glen Railway" on Pinterest. 1781 of 1905) which have largely survived. A further original rebuilt coach is at the West Lancashire Railway but made a return to Groudle in 1996. Victorian Sea Lion & Polar Bear Pen at Groudle Glen from cliffs & railway stn Onchan Isle of Man IOM. Mr. Broadbent did very well indeed. After its two week stay there, it returned home to Amberley museum. © 2021 Groudle Glen Railway Co. Ltd. In March 2013, Culture Vannin provided Groudle Glen with £4,047 for a new custom-made battery for the Polar Bear locomotive. Posted by just now. Polar Bear was stripped down for overhaul in early 2011. Polar Bear was relaunched on 13 July 2013 by BBC newsreader and railway enthusiast Nicholas Owen.[2]. 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. 100% Upvoted. 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. GazwCave wrote a review Sep 2020. The Groudle Glen Railway's replica battery loco Polar Bear stands outside the loco shed at Lhen Coan. Groudle was a remote hamlet boasting only a handful of small cottages until linked to the Manx Electric Railway in 1893, at which time it was developed as a tourist attraction. Groudle Glen Railway. Groudle Glen Railway is affectionately known as “The Line that goes Uphill to the Sea." The boiler was moved to Chatham for overhaul, with mechanical work being undertaken in-house at Amberley. In its original guise Groudle Glen Railway operated with two steam locomotives, Sea Lion of 1896 and Polar Bear of 1905, both built by Bagnalls of Stafford. [2] Polar Bear's boiler was condemned around 1988, returning to service with a new boiler in 1993. This morning Polar Bear was loaded onto a low loader for a holiday away from the Glen to Old Hall Farm. 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. Groudle Glen Railway is affectionately known as “The Line that goes Uphill to the Sea." From 1905 onwards, Sea Lion and Polar Bear worked all the trains on the railway. Il s'agissait de répondre à la demande créée par l'augmentation du tourisme dans la vallée de Groudle après la mise en service du chemin de fer électrique mannois [1]. 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. The headland was developed, with a zoo being created and the railway being built. Groudle Glen Railway is affectionately known as “The Line that goes Uphill to the Sea." Groudle Glen Railway. This unique line was built in 1896 by Richard Maltby Broadbent as part of the new Groudle Glen pleasure grounds. The railway proved popular, and in 1905 a second, slightly larger version of the same design was ordered from Bagnall. 30/07/2014 Feeding the Sea Lions and Polar Bears, Groudle Glen Its main attraction was the Polar Bears and Sea Lions kept at the Later two polar bears were added. hide. It was during this year that "Polar Bear" also returned to the glen for a visit. Polar Bear was an updated and more powerful version of Sea Lion incorporating a number of modifications. It is now preserved and runs on the Amberley Museum Railway. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_Bear_(battery-electric_locomotive) GROUDLE GLEN RAILWAY: You may keep wondering about my love of the Isle of Man, the following somewhat simplistic railway system in an extremely idealistic setting should go some way to providing one of the answers. Groudle Glen Railway. The Groudle Glen Railway on the Isle of Man is a 2 ft (610 mm) gauge tourist railway opened in 1896. 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. 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. Groudle Glen Railway; Official Crest of the railway. 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 … Groudle Glen Railway - Polar Bear locomotive. 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. See more ideas about Railway, Isle of man, Isle. Originally billed as "The Fern Land Of Mona! 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. 29.07.17 Lhen Coan "Sea Lion" (36179181921).jpg 5,459 × 3,915; 16.84 MB. https://ngruk.blogspot.com/2014/08/groudle-glen-railway.html The railway was closed between 1915 and 1918. Sea Lion is a steam locomotive built in 1896 to supply the motive power to the Groudle Glen Railway on the Isle of Man and the locomotive still provides the main traction there today. Close. IOM Co. No: 127140c. 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. We hope it won’t be the last visit to the island for them, and we look forward to seeing Polar Bear and her team again in the future. 000 526046. After taking the Electric Railway the short distance to Groudle, it was a 10 minute walk to the Groudle Glen Railway. We offer our grateful thanks to Tower Insurance for their generous sponsorship of the visit which made it possible. Victorian Sea Lion & Polar Bear Pen at Groudle Glen from cliffs & railway stn Onchan Isle of Man IOM. 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. This unique line was built in 1896 by Richard Maltby Broadbent as part of the new Groudle Glen pleasure grounds. of the river valley so that he could develop it as a pleasure ground. Bagnall, called Sea Lion. 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. Battery electric loco 'Polar Bear' in operation during the Enthusiasts Weekend at the Groudle Glen Railway (19th July 2008) After six years of fundraising with the Brown Bear Appeal and construction… Brown Bear is nearly complete. It was originally worked by a single locomotive supplied by W.G. In 1982 it passed, with the rest of the Brockham collection, to the Amberley Museum Railway, where it was returned to traffic in 1983. 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’. Polar Bear is a narrow-gauge steam locomotive built in 1905 by W. G. Bagnall for the Groudle Glen Railway. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Polar Bear made its fourth visit to the Groudle Glen Railway since it was preserved in late July 2016. It was originally worked by a single locomotive supplied by W.G. This locomotive was named Polar Bear. After six years of fundraising with the Brown Bear Appeal and construction… Brown Bear is nearly complete. 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. youtu.be/2O9eEe... 0 comments. Together with its sister, Sea Lion, they were intended to replace two Bagnall steam locos of the same names. Currently running on the railway Polar Bear was built by Alan Keef ltd in 2004. 314 for the Groudle Glen Railway on the Isle of Man. Thank you. Polar Bear and the Groundle Glen Railway de Down, C.G. In January 2013 the Groudle Glen Railway announced a plan to construct a new locomotive to be named Brown Bear. As Polar Bear was the last locomotive ordered by the original railway company and is arguably a more advanced design Brown Bear will be built as close as modern manufacturing techniques will allow to Polar Bear’s design. 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