Braddan Bridge

Braddan Bridge (Irish: Naomh Breandán, Saint Brendan of Clonfert, the Navigator or the Voyager)[1] is a bridge over the river Dhoo on the Douglas to Peel road, from which a halt on the Isle of Man Railway's first line to Peel took its name.

F2 sidecar outfits showing the racing line through the 'S' bend at Braddan with machines on the actual bridge over the river, having a railed parapet to the right and wall with over-run buffers to the left

It is a landmark on the Isle of Man TT road-race course, situated in countryside close to the outskirts of Douglas town where motorcycles slow to negotiate an 'S' bend over the river. A traditional viewing spot with seating, in common with other vantage points around the local Douglas area, it is within walking distance of the Ferry Terminal where sea ferries from England, Scotland and Ireland traditionally disembarked day-trip or longer-stay passengers.

Bridge and TT races
Historical seated area in church grounds, with a TT rider approaching from the first part of the 'S' bend in the distance

The bridge is on the boundary between the parishes of Braddan and Onchan. It is situated between the 1st and 2nd Milestone road-side markers on the Snaefell Mountain Course used for the Isle of Man TT and Manx Grand Prix races, on the junction of the primary A1 Douglas to Peel road and the A23. The stretch of former railway line from the Braddan Bridge halt to Quarterbridge forms part of an access road which allows motor traffic to pass between the inside and outside of the race course when the main road is closed for the races.

Railway halt

Braddan Halt
Staad Vraddan
The Isle of Man Railway Co., Ltd.
Looking North from Braddan showing a train for Ramsey or Peel leaving, in 1961
LocationPeel Road, Braddan
Owned byIsle of Man Railway Co.
Line(s)Peel Line
PlatformsOne, ground level
TracksOne running
Construction
Structure typeBooking hall
History
Opened1881
Closed1965 (seasonal until 1968)
Traffic
Passenger only
Services
Waiting shelter

Usage

Braddan Halt saw infrequent use, mostly in connection with the open air church services[2] that took place at the nearby Kirk Braddan[3] for many years, for which special train services were operated.

Royalty

In 1963 the Queen Mother travelled from Douglas to here to attend one of the church services in the Royal Coach F.36 which is now in preservation in the Port Erin railway museum at the line's southern terminus.

Re-use

Long after the railway had closed (the last trains ran in September 1968), the station's booking office and waiting shelter remained extant. However, in 1991 the building was removed, refurbished and now resides at the operational station of Colby on the south line.

Today

Upon removal the original shelter was replaced by a modern version in 1989, which itself has since been removed. There is now no evidence that the railway passed through here except for a section of rail used as fence posted on the Western side of the bridge.

Route
Preceding station   Isle of Man Railway   Following station
Union Mills
towards

Peel

   Peel Line   Quarter Bridge
towards

Douglas

gollark: I know *you* were.
gollark: BlackDragon, I mean.
gollark: You may not have been here for the cactus revolution, but [DATA REPLACED WITH 83 DAYS OF BEE SOUND EFFECTS].
gollark: It is in newer versions, but not this one.
gollark: I only run it on my Milo instance. Everything else runs PotatOS or gollariOuS™.

See also

References
  1. Place Names of the Isle of Man by John Kneen MA pp125 (1970) Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh The Scolar Press
  2. Braddan open-air services
  3. Kirk Braddan
  • Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association

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