Magic Tunnel publication

The children’s book, “The Magic Tunnel”, has been written and illustrated by Edith Quaggin, one of the volunteers at the Great Laxey Mine Railway, which will receive all the proceeds from the book to help a little with the enormous expense of running a heritage railway.  It is part-fact and part-fiction and every page is illustrated.  The book is bi-lingual as it has also been translated into Manx with the help of Culture Vannin. 

The story tells the tale of Ant and Bee who are akin to two mischievous  children as, one night, they can’t sleep and fool around in their shed.  Ant hits a lever by mistake and suddenly they are transported to the magic tunnel, (the present-day tunnel still in use) steamed up and ready for pulling the lead ore out of the mine (as did the original engines in the 1870’s).  Ant and Bee talk to one another and comment on the surroundings on their journey into the mine and to the washing floors in the Valley Gardens, and on the working conditions of the men, women and children who worked for the mine company.

“The Magic Tunnel” is suitable for 4-8 year olds and costs £5.99.  It is available at the Lexicon bookshop in Douglas which is hosted the launch of the book on Saturday, 3 March and throughout the Island in other independent bookshops and gift shops and, of course, at the Station shop at the Railway which is open every Saturday from Easter to the end of September.

And, of course, this publication has been supported by Culture Vannin 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Published: Thu, 01 Jan 1970