2009 saw the introduction of a new initiative on the railway, the Rush Hour weekend was designed as a period of intense operation with additional train services and other peripheral events; it went on to become a highlight of the calendar, and was last staged in a downsized format in 2019.

The first event took plate over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend and saw special trains including a dedicated freight train with No.8 Fenella and No.12 Hutchinson was also turned to face bunker first to Port Erin (having remained like this following a photographic charter the previous month).