It will be full steam ahead at the Curragh’s Wildlife Park on July 18th and 19th when a weekend of events will mark the rebuilding of the Orchid Line station.

The miniature railway was opened in 1992 and has been extended twice. It now runs over half a mile, taking passengers to parts of the park they can’t access on foot.

The railway is run by the Manx Steam and Model Engineering Club (MS&MEC), whose members have refurbished the 25-year-old station and spruced up the area around it in time for the park’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, Adam Wood, will formally re-open the station at 3pm on Sunday 19th July when he drives one of the locomotives around the track.

All weekend, members of the public aged eight and over can enjoy a driver experience on board one of the railway’s 10 locomotives for just ?1.50. There will also be rides on traction engines and an exhibition of traditional crafts.

Eddy Ryan, Chairman of the MS&MEC, said: ‘In celebration of the park’s 50th year, we decided to reinvest some time and money into the station area and the general infrastructure of the Orchid Line, maintaining an enjoyable visitor attraction for the benefit and enjoyment of the Island community.’

David Cretney MLC, Member of the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture with responsibility for the park, said the 70-member MS&MEC has spent ?10,000 and put hundreds of hours’ work into the improvements.

‘The Orchid Line is a great asset to the park and attracts many visitors and I am delighted that His Excellency is re-opening the station in this special year of celebrations,’ he said.

The park is open daily from 10am to 6pm during the summer.

Tickets and memberships can be purchased online in advance via www.curraghswildlifepark.im – enabling visitors to beat queues at busy times.

A family ticket for two adults and two children costs ?26, while a family membership for two adults and two children costs just ?95 and gives year-round admission, 10% off in the shop and 10% off hot food and drinks in the cafe. Additional children and grandparents can be added to memberships.