Kirk Ronan

Kirk Ronan, named after the ancient missionary, Saint Ronan, is a station on the North Western Railway and previously the terminus of the Sodor and Mainland Railway. It developed from a fishing port into a town after the railway was established. The Hawin Croka flows there into the Irish Sea.

It only appeared once in the Railway Series, in Very Old Engines, but appeared several times in the fifth season of the television series as the main terminus station, seemingly replacing Knapford. Its first appearance was in A Better View for Gordon, when Gordon went on a trial run there after construction had been completed. Later, at the grand opening, his brakes malfunctioned and he ran through the buffers, causing major damage to both himself and the station wall. The wall was soon repaired, and, as an extra adjustment, a custom-made hole was made in the wall where Gordon crashed, named "Gordon's View", and intended as a panoramic view for Gordon.

In 1865, the Sodor and Mainland was extended to Kirk Ronan, and made plans to start operating a trampsteamer service to Dublin. This failed, but ore from Crovan's Gate was transported there for shipment.

Sailings to Dublin ran daily during 1920 to 1925, which worried the LMS, but part of an agreement with the North Western Railway in 1925 meant that the service could only operate on Tuesdays and Fridays.

The Pudding Factory, the Toy Factory, the Cement Works and The Big Dipper are all located near Kirk Ronan.