Category Archives: Manx Electric Railway

Record breaking TT period on the Isle of Man

Posted on Tuesday 19 June 2018 by Gareth Prior

The Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Manx Electric Railway and Snaefell Mountain Railway have all enjoyed record breaking TT periods with more passengers carried combining with the steam railway and Bus Vannin for a 14% increase compared to 2017.

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway | Leave a comment

MER trailer 54 to be returned to service

Posted on Tuesday 12 June 2018 by Gareth Prior

With work on the joint volunteer/paid staff restoration of MER Ratchet Car 14 coming to a conclusion you would be forgiven to think that those involved would be looking for a rest but far from it as they have announced … Continue reading →

Posted in Manx Electric Railway | Leave a comment

MER Trailer 42 back in service

Posted on Thursday 7 June 2018 by Gareth Prior

We reported a few days ago that Manx Electric Railway trailer 42 was set to return to service imminently and no sooner has we run that story than it did! Monday 4th June was the day – for the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Manx Electric Railway | Leave a comment

Repaints and returns galore for the MER

Posted on Sunday 3 June 2018 by Gareth Prior

Although the main focus of attention on the Manx Electric Railway is currently the restoration of Ratchet Car 14 Derby Castle (and Laxey) Car Sheds have been a hive of activity as preparations ramp up for the 125th Anniversary events … Continue reading →

Posted in Manx Electric Railway | Leave a comment

Ratchet Car 14 restoration approaches a conclusion

Posted on Friday 1 June 2018 by Gareth Prior

The extensive restoration of Manx Electric Railway “Ratchet” 14 is continuing a pace with the car still on target to be completed in time for September’s MER 125 event (1st to 8th September if you’ve forgotten the dates!).

Posted in Manx Electric Railway | Leave a comment

New warning light in Laxey

Posted on Sunday 27 May 2018 by Gareth Prior

As part of a continued programme of attempting to improve road safety around the Manx Electric Railway new flashing amber lights have now been installed in Laxey. The new system warns road users of oncoming trams approaching from the direction … Continue reading →

Posted in Manx Electric Railway | Leave a comment

Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 7

Posted on Thursday 24 May 2018 by Gareth Prior

We had a bit of mystery for today’s Picture in Time as we head to the Manx Electric Railway back in the 1960s for an image of a tram as we weren’t sure what the tram was but we have … Continue reading →

Posted in Manx Electric Railway, Picture in Time | 4 Comments

And overhead problems on Isle of Man too!

Posted on Wednesday 16 May 2018 by Gareth Prior

They say bad things come in threes and that definitely seems to be the case with overhead wires! Over the past few days we have reported on overhead problems in Edinburgh and on Manchester Metrolink but just before both of … Continue reading →

Posted in Manx Electric Railway | Comments Off

Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 7

Posted on Thursday 3 May 2018 by Gareth Prior

Today if you think of Manx Electric Railway 7 you will probably think of the stunning Blue and White livery it currently carries but as our archive photo series continues we remember the time – not too long ago – … Continue reading →

Posted in Manx Electric Railway, Picture in Time | Comments Off

MER welcomes in 2018

Posted on Saturday 17 March 2018 by Gareth Prior

There is no surer sign of the approach of Spring than the start of operating seasons at many of the heritage tramways across the British Isles which enjoy a break over winter. The first of the systems on the Isle … Continue reading →

Posted in Manx Electric Railway | Comments Off

Derby Castle Workshop update

Posted on Tuesday 13 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

Since the Manx Electric Railway ran for the last time in early November the workshops at Derby Castle have been a hive of activity getting the fleet ready for another season with particular emphasis being on the 125th Anniversary events … Continue reading →

Posted in Manx Electric Railway | Comments Off

Douglas 1 heads to Laxey as preparations continue for MER 125 events

Posted on Thursday 1 February 2018 by Gareth Prior

It may still be seven months away but preparations are already underway for the Manx Electric Railway 125 events which take place between 1st and 8th September. One of the early highlights looks set to be the unique operation of … Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway | Comments Off

Details released for Rush Hour on the Railways

Posted on Sunday 28 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

The first special event of 2018 on the Isle of Man will once again be Rush Hour on the Railways which takes place over the Easter weekend between Friday 30th March and Monday 2nd April. This four day “celebration of … Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Manx Electric Railway | Comments Off

Open trams for MER and evening service for Douglas in 2018

Posted on Tuesday 16 January 2018 by Gareth Prior

Isle of Man Railways have released details of the 2018 timetables for the Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway, Douglas Bay Horse Tramway and, although out of our scope, the Isle of Man Steam Railway. The regular pattern of different … Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway | Comments Off

Record breaking year for Isle of Man Railways

Posted on Thursday 23 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

Despite a year that might be described as difficult especially in respect of the Snaefell Mountain Railway, Isle of Man Transport have announced that 2017 saw record passenger numbers carried across the four railways and tramways they operate. The Isle … Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway | Comments Off

Operating seasons end across the British Isles

Posted on Saturday 11 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

As has become traditional the first weekend in November usually brings an end to heritage tramway operating seasons and 2017 has been no different. We have already seen what happened at the end of the season at both Crich and … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Great Orme Tramway, Heaton Park Tramway, Manx Electric Railway | Comments Off

Picture in Time: Manx Electric Railway 2

Posted on Tuesday 31 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

In this edition of Picture in Time we are on the Isle of Man as we take a look at one of the “oldest trams in the world” in action over 24 years ago.

Posted in Manx Electric Railway, Picture in Time | Comments Off

MER to finally resume service

Posted on Friday 20 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

After Storm Ophelia hit the western part of the British Isles it seemed that normal services would resume on both Luas and the Manx Electric Railway from Wednesday 18th October. However although Luas was back to normal after its hiatus … Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Manx Electric Railway | Comments Off

Ophelia does her worst causing Luas and MER suspensions

Posted on Tuesday 17 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

Services on both Luas and the Manx Electric Railway were hit by ex-Hurricane Ophelia at the start of the week with no trams able to run for large periods of time, firstly due to safety fears and then because of … Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin Luas, Great Orme Tramway, Manx Electric Railway | Comments Off

More details unveiled for Manx Electric Railway 125 in September 2018

Posted on Monday 11 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

There is often some criticism of how late details of special events are announced but that is not something which can be levelled against plans for the 125th Anniversary of the Manx Electric Railway as the full itinerary of events … Continue reading →

Posted in Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Event Previews, Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway | 2 Comments