CairnGorm Mountain Funicular Railway
CairnGorm Mountain is home to Scotland’s only funicular railway. The blurb says: "Take a spectacular journey on the UK’s highest funicular railway for views at over 3500 feet." We didn't have time for a trip on it this time. In 2019, safety concerns shut the funicular and the Herald reported that it would likely remain shut until at least the 2020 season.
CairnGorm Mountain Funicular Railway
You can just about see where the railway goes
This station on the Manx Electric Railway retains its ticket office though it isn't used now. Close to Groudle Glen and our 2016 holiday cottage, it's also the station for the Groudle Glen Railway.
Manx Electric Railway at Ramsay
This is the terminus of the Douglas to Ramsay line
Manx Electric Railway tramcar leaving Laxey for Ramsey
Manx Electric Railway tramcar on the left, Snaefell Mountain Railway tramcars on the right. The guage is different, but apparently SMR railcars can be swapped onto MER bogies and run to Douglas for maintenance.
You're not supposed to lean out of the window because the poles are very close to the train but I couldn't resist quickly taking this shot of the tram passing up as we descended the mountain. Actually the poles are so close they really should have a grille on the window to prevent decapitation.
Passengers gather for the return journey
These horizontal wheels underneath the tramcar grip a central rail to safely brake the tram on its descent down the 1 in 12 gradient – known as the 'Fell System'. It felt very safe, but there have been runaways...
Snaefell Mountain Railway car 5 pauses at Summit station where the weather changed by the minute.
When we arrived up here, the cloud blotted out the view completely but that soon changed
The journey up the mountain is surprisingly smooth and pleasant considering how old the railway is
Laxey Mine from the Snaefell Mountan Railway
Not far out of Laxey, this former mine is one of the sights from the rather excellent Snaefell Mountain Railway.
