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FROM MANX STEAM RAILWAY NEWS
ISSUE No. 61
At the April sitting of Tynwald, a resolution for the continued disposal of former railway track was thrown out by members. Tynwald was told by the chairman of the Highway & Transport Board that portions of the track had already been sold along with various bridges. The line had no potential use as a railway and it was senseless not to let people purchase and, take-over stretches of track in which they were interested. Generally the people interested were landowners on both sides of the line who wanted a continuous stretch of land. The track was a liability to the Government costing around £10,000.00 per annum and it was now broken up into so many small pieces it was sensible to resolve that this disposal should be continued. A number of members made comments against the proposed resolution, but eventually an amendment that the Government Property Trustees should look into the situation and report back to Tynwald as soon as possible, was adopted.
The Report by the Government Property Trustees, which was published in August 1981, begins with the aquisition of former railway real estate from the Railway Company in December 1974 for the sum of £101,700.00 and the agreed policy for its disposal by private sale, in the first instance by offering the same to adjacent landowners. Included in the property was certain amount of valuable real estate such as major stations at Ramsey, Peel and St. John's. The Ramsey side had already attracted a factory and bakery with land still available for further industrial use. Peel has been divided between the Harbour Board and the Peel Town Commissioners. St. John's serves as a car park each year on Tynwald Day whilst it has alsobee mooted as the site for an athletic centre and new primary school. The letter stations have all be disposed of either to the Local Government Board (Kirk Micheal, Ballaugh and Foxdale) or to local authorities (Union Mills and Crosby) or by tender to private persons (St. Germain's, Sulby Glen, Sulby Bridge and Lezayre). Regarding the gatehouses, tenders were invited from the public and the properties were all allocated either to sitting tennants or the highest tenderer or were passed over to the Local Government Board.
In very board terms, around 30 miles of track were acquired and on the assumption that the track is on average 4 yard wide it has a total area in excess of 40 acres. The maintenance of, in effect, 60 miles of stock proof post and wire fencing is not a small matter. The cost of the materials alone have been £2,900.00 in 1976/1977, £5,700.00 in 1977/1978, £8,900.00 in 1978/1979, £5,900.00 in 1979/1980, £2,100.00 in 1980/1981 with £10,000.00 being allocated for the current financial year (1982). One policy decision that has been made is that whatever becomes of the track, whether it is retained by government of sold off privately, a right will be reserved to government to lay along the track public utility services such as gas, water, electricity or telephones. One possible use for the track which was considered at an early stage was that it might have been possible to create pedestrian rights of way along the whole track using the full width of the track. This possibility was estimated and clearly the costs were quite unacceptable and the idea of such a large scale facility was abandoned. Subsequently, a series of public rights of way were dedicated as follows:-
(a) Union Mills to St. John's;
(b) St. John's to Peel
(c) St. Germain's to Glen Mooar
(d) Glen Wyllin to Kirk Michael
(e) Kirk Michael to Orrisdale)
Notwithstanding that the above public rights of way had been created, it was agreed to try and dispose of the bulk of the former track in accordance with the wishes of Tynwald by offering it in the first instance to adjacent landowners for nominal consideration. It was confirmed that such a policy would not prejudice the public rights of way, which will exist in perpetuity, or at least until Tynwald decides otherwise, regardless of who owns the land. In conclusion there is a summary of recommendations:-
(a) the proposed Government Property Trustees (Railway Easements) Bill will be placed before the branches at the earliest opportunity'
(b) Tynwald authorises the Government Property Trustees to recommence the disposal of track on the northern and Foxdale lines;
(c) the former railway station at St. John's should remain in Government Property Trustees ownership until a scheme for its development has received Tynwald's approval
(d) the unsold sections of the western line should remain vested in the trustees until sch time as Tynwald decides otherwise.
No action has been taken on the report as the House of Keys were dissolved in October for the General Election. However it is expected to be acted upon now that Tynwald is back in business. The real estate of the former railway track has been disposed of as follows:-
Northern Line Disposal Details
Ramsey Station (Private Industrial Use) £14,300.00
Ballacrye Gatehouse (Board Of Agriculture) £3,500.00
Lezayre Gatehouse (Local Government Board) £500.00
Milntown Gatehouse (Local Government Board) £2,250.00
Ballaugh Station (Local Government Board) £9,000.00
Kirk Michael Station (Local Government Board) £8,000.00
St. Germain's Gatehouse (Private Sale) £2,500.00
St. Germain's Station (Private Sale) £3,500.00
West Berk Gatehouse (Private Sale) £2,000.00
Orrisdale No.1 Gatehouse (Private Sale) £1,600.00
Orrisdale No. 2 Gatehouse (Private Sale) £2,500.00
Cooilbane Gatehouse (Private Sale) £3,000.00
Sulby Glen Station (Private Sale) £5,100.00
Kella Gatehouse (Private Sale) £2,550.00
Sulby Bridge Station (Private Sale) £4,000.00
Lezayre Station (Private Sale) £800.00
Ellanbane Gatehouse (Private Sale) £1,000.00
The track between Ramsey Station and Gardeners' Lane was sold to Ramsey Town Commissioners for a nominal consideration. Between Milntown Gatehouse and Sulby Bridge Station all land was disposed of to adjacent landowners. Between Kella crossing and Ballavolley the land was not sold; between Ballavolley and Bishop's Court it was noted that the Wild Life Park committee are interested in acquiring the track as an alternative means of access when the T.T. course is closed. Between Bishop's Court and Ballayre the land was not sold. The stretch between Kirk Michael and Glen Wyllin was sold to the Local Government Board, beyond this point as far as St. Germain's the land was not sold. The Highway & Transport Board expressed and intestest in the track beneath the two road bridges near Ballaquine Farm, Michael and Berk, and the remainder as far as St. John's has been sold and awaiting documentation. Bridges over the Sulby and Auldyn Rivers, over the Douglas to Peel Road at Ballaleece and the viaduct at Glen Wyllin have all been demolished.
Western Line Disposal Details
Peel Station (Part, Harbour Board) £12,000.00
Peel Station (Balace, Peel Commissioners Lease) Nil
Crosby Station (Marown Commissioners) £400.00
Union Mills Station (Braddan Commissioners) £500.00
The track that runs parellel with the south line to Hills Meadow will be retained; the former railway siding conveyed to Downward Qualtrough Limited for £1,500.00. Thereafter from Pulrose Bridge to Quarterbridge industrial landowners have purchased the land and Douglas Corporation are interested in the land beneath Pulrose Bridge. The former siding was conveyed to Island Garages Limited (£3,470.00), track adjecent to Douglas Fire Station has been conveyed to the Local Government Board, and adjacent to King George V Park conveyed to Cronkbourne Cricket Club, the section adjacent to Quartertbridge Depot has been conveyed to the Highway & Transport Board. Quarterbidge to Union Mills conveyed to the Highway and Transport Board for highway improvements and/or riverbank maintenance together with the section under the road bridge at Union Mills, whilst the track adjacent to Union Mills Industrial Estate has been retained. At the Glen Vine Sewerage Works the Local Government Board have expressed an interest. From St. John's to Glenfaba Bridge the respective landowners have been conveyed, aside from the portion at St. John's Sewerage Works conveyed to the Local Government Board. From Glenfaba Bridge to Peel Station, only the documentation is required to convey the section to the Electricity Board. Meanwhile, the bridges at King George V Park and Union Mills have been demolished.
Foxdale Line Disposal Details
The station building has been conveyed to the Local Government Board for nominal consideration, as has the track between the station and Lukes' Bridge. Hereafter to Slieu Whallian Plantation only documentation is required to convey this to the Local Government Board. The bridge at Mullen-E-Cloie has been demolished.
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