With due ceremony the Douglas to Peel line opened on 1st  July which was designated as a public holiday on the island.  The opening day was given much press coverage and the event given special attention which is covered in detail in the museum at Port Erin today accompanying the locomotive which had the honour of taking the first train, No.1 Sutherland.

Plans were already in place at the time for a second line serving the south of the island and discussions taking place regarding the potential route; initial plans to not serve Castletown (which had been the capital until 1869) were met with severe opposition from both the House of Keys and the local populus.

It was said that unless residents provided an approach road to their preferred location, a station would be established "in the fields" and that work could not commence on a (stone) building until the location had been agreed upon.

Prior to the present site being agreed upon, it had been thought that the area today referred to as "the quarry" (the landward side of the line south of Malew Road bridge, a widened section now long since overgrown) would be suitable, though at this time it was a considerable distance from the town.

Speculation has arisen that initially The Sidings was used as the station, though this was erected after the establishement of the station so is highly unlikely, apparantly stemming from a serving hatch between the two rooms which now bears the legend "tickets" - a modern addition.

Progress was being made laying the south line throughout the year, held back considerably when the railway inspector decreed the Peel  Line substandard; with an opening date set, some rails were removed from the South Line and relaid to the west to ensure the first trains ran on 1st July.

Locomotives

The initial trio of diminutive tank locomotives, No.1 Sutherland, No.2 Derby and No.3 Pender were all delivered from Beyer, Peacock & Co., of Gorton Foundry in Manchester for the ocassion of the opening of the new line to the west.

Rolling Stock

The first batch of four-wheel passenger stock and a variety of wagons and vans, the latter from the Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co., of Saltley Works in Birmingham were delivered this year and would be followed by further batches to be used on the in-progress line to the south.