A modern narrow-gauge railway station. The Isle of Man Railway Company completed its first line between Douglas and Peel in 1873. The 3-foot narrow-gauge system was extended by the completion of a second line between the main station at Douglas and Port Erin in the south-west of the island in 1874.  


Separately, the Manx Northern Railway constructed a line from St John's (on the route between Douglas and Peel) in 1879 and from 1886 operated another short line between St John's and Foxdale, exploiting the mining traffic arising from the latter.  The railway companies amalgamated in 1904.


The Peel line closed to passenger services in 1968, and to goods traffic the following year; the track was lifted in 1975. 


The railway station buildings and platforms remained during the 1980s and 1990s whilst part of the site was used as a seasonal boat-park and boat-yard. The goods shed was adapted as a boathouse for the replica Viking longship, 'Odin's Raven', which sailed from Norway to the Isle of Man in 1979 as part of the Tynwald Millennium celebrations.


In 1995 the site was redeveloped.  The construction of the House of Manannan heritage centre incorporates the former railway station building and goods shed.