Great Laxey Mine Railway stories

Episode 4: Black Dog

It was a chilly winter morning on the railway, the snow blanketed the ground and anything that held it, including Isabella Jr, the miniature water wheel located next to the railway down in the stone courtyard.

In the sheds, Bee and Ant were chatting about the work they did yesterday.

"I saw someone who brought their dog" said Ant,

"It was a black Labrador I think," Bee said, "at first the thing looked scared to climb aboard, but once it did, it didn't seem so afraid anymore, it was also protective of his owner, anyone who came close to the man would end up with a dog yipping at their thighs"

Ant chuckled "that reminds me of a story I heard from Peel"

"does it?" asked Bee

"It does" she replied "you've never heard it before, so I might as well tell you"

and this was the story Ant told...

Long ago, during the 10th century, up in Peel castle a well known Manx Viking population lived in the settled town of Peel, the castle was constructed on a small plot of land known as St Patrick's Isle. in that very castle, sightings of a black dog were somewhat common, this later caused some people to tell people outside the castle about the dog, calling it "Moddey Dhoo" witch translated to "Black dog" in Manx. some say the dog will lay down in presence of any soldiers and liked to frequently visit the guard's chamber

There used to be a passage connected to the Peel Castle, traversing the church grounds, leading to the apartment of the Captain of the Guard, the spirit was always seen to come from that passage at the close of day, and return to it again as soon as the morning dawned.

but one day, one drunken guard of the castle, who in defiance of the dog, went against the usual procedure of locking up the castle gate in pairs and did this all alone.

Emboldened by liquor, he snatched up the keys when it wasn't even his turn to do so. The watchman after locking up was supposed to use the haunted passage to deliver the keys to the captain, but he never did.

Later on, Some noises were heard, an adventurer returned to the guard-room, ghastly frightened, unable to share the story of what he had seen, and died three days later.

That was the last sighting of Moddey Dhoo. the passage was soon sealed up and never used again after the haunting, and a different pathway constructed.

some people to this day say that the spirit still wanders our lands, going from town to town looking for a way back inside the castle, but he sadly never makes it back.

Bee laughed, "Another ghost story? are your trying to scare me after I told that story about engine 21?"

"why would I do that?" Ant questioned "Besides, I know you made that story up, there is no mining railway in Dreemskerry, and your build number is 21, you think I wouldn't notice that?"

Bee looked down in embarrassment.

Just then, Bee's Driver arrived at the shed, "Come on old boy, we've been tasked to set up the Christmas decorations for Santa's visit.

Bee sulkily chuffed away, as he was coupled up to a flat bed and sent through the tunnel.

Bee and his driver spent the day decorating the fences and the terminal station, the sun was close to disappearing over the horizon, the twilight lighting was a beautiful sight, but Bee was getting worried.

"Oh dear, hopefully the story about that dog wasn't true" he thought to himself as he slowly made his way backed down close to the tunnel. before he sneaked his way through the tunnel, he caught a glimpse of a shadowy shape perched on the hill beside him.

The shape had bright yellow lights for eyes and it dared not to move

"IT'S THE BLACK DOG!" he shrieked, as he quickly jolted backwards. his driver tried to slow him down, but once they made it to the other side it was too late, Bee reached the shed and derailed on the shed points, and quickly slid to a stop

"What's the meaning of this?!" Ant yelped

"G-G-G-Ghosts" Bee whimpered, He shivered as his derailed body slightly rocked him side to side.

"Quit acting like a child and go to sleep!" Ant said grumpily

eventually, Bee was lifted back onto the rails and pushed into the shed, He still doesn't know what he saw that night, but what he knows for sure is that before he fell asleep, a long howl echoed through the night, and it made Bee feel as cold as the snow.