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Laxey/Laksaa
Laxey is a village located on the east coast of the Island to the south of Dhoon Glen. The name is from the Norse word for Salmon river 'laxa'. Laxey is now a popular residential and tourist area, though in the past it was a busy mining and fishing port. The Laxey Mines (lead and zinc) were the deepest mines in the world during the nineteenth century. The Great Laxey Wheel, ‘Lady Isabella’, was used to pump water out of the mines. Built in 1854 by Robert Casement, a Laxey native and engineer. The Wheel remains the largest working waterwheel in the world. The wheel has a diameter of 72ft and a circumference of 227ft. It was used to pump 250 gallons of water a minute from the Laxey mines about 200 yards away and 1500ft below ground. The mines closed in 1929. In 1965 the government bought the wheel and site. Restoration occurred and in 1989 it was put under the control of Manx National Heritage.
Manx Electric Railway
Taking the Manx Electric Railway from Ramsey or Douglas is a popular way to reach this Laxey.
Snaefell Mountain Railway
This is also the location of the Snaefell Mountain Railway. It was begun in 1895 taking seven months to complete and runs a total of four miles from Laxey to the top of the island’s highest mountain, Snaefell at 2,036ft. The electric Snaefell Mountain Railway is the only one in the British Isles. The line is 3 1/2ft gauge covering 5 miles with a steep incline of 1 in 12 running on a 53 chain line. It has a centre line to aid braking.