For the second year running, the Groudle Glen Railway on the Isle of Man had a record turnout for its ‘Not So Scary‘ Hop tu Naa Trains.

On the weekend of Saturday, the 26th and Sunday, the 27th of October, hundreds of families turned out to enjoy a family-friendly spooky atmosphere that had been created at Groudle Glen.

Visitors were met by Mr Pumpkin at Broomstick Halt from where steam locomotives Sea Lion and Otter hauled busy trains on a spooky trip through Groudle Glen where they encountered some cheerful ghoulish friends before arriving at Witches Hollow.

Jinny the Witch was waiting in her lair to spook the passengers and hand out a frightfully fun gift to the travellers, who also received sweets from Junny‘s friends and enjoyed refreshments including hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows and spooky doughnuts.

The event was declared a success, thanks to the volunteers who helped make it so special and to Bus Vannin which provided a shuttle bus for visitors to get to the railway.

The railway was built in 1896 by Richard Maltby Broadbent as part of the newly created Groudle Glen pleasure grounds and operated as a tourist attraction until the 1960s.

In the 1970s it fell into disrepair and was scrapped and the rolling stock sold, but in 1982 a group of enthusiastic volunteers saved it from total extinction.

The railway reopened to passengers in 1986 and is still run entirely by an enthusiastic group of volunteers dedicated to restoring and maintaining an important piece of Manx railway history.

The railway is affectionately known as “The Line that goes Uphill to the Sea”, and provides a fun and nostalgic day out.

The railway is now getting ready for its Santa Specials at Christmas, and is often used for open-air concerts at Sea Lion Rocks.