Friday 20th March saw the start of the 2015 season for the Manx Electric Railway with Winter Saloon 19 in charge of services on the special “Timetable L”. As the works on Ballure Viaduct have yet been completed services are only running between Derby Castle and Laxey until Saturday 28th March when Ramsey once again becomes the northern terminus.
19 departed Derby Castle at 0940 for Laxey and performed five round trips during the day before returning to Derby Castle sheds after a successful return to service for the Manx Electric Railway for its 123rd year of operation. The first day also saw Crossbench 33 in use on driver training whilst locomotive 34 was also out on Permanent Way duties.
The close season had seen a number of jobs completed including the controversial refurbishment of Laxey Station. This has seen new paving installed along with the fitting of new replica kiosks and wooden benches. The result is a different look for Laxey and it all depends on your viewpoint whether you think this is for better or worse of the station environment.
Other work during the winter has included the major refurbishment of Ballure Viaduct which is now almost completed and will hopefully make this area secure for many years to come. The level crossing at Ballagawne has also seen attention during the winter with rubber sections having been installed.
The 2015 season will see trams running every day until Sunday 4th October (with the exception of Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th March) and then Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays until the final week of the season which will see daily running until Sunday 8th November when another season will come to a close.
A new look timetable will be used this year as a result of the expectation that Ramsey Car Sheds would be demolished as part of the redevelopment of the terminus, although this work has now been postponed. This means that at times during the season there will be an earlier than usual morning departure north from Laxey to Ramsey to allow a southbound service from Ramsey earlier than 1100.
Full details on the winter work taking place on the Manx Electric Railway and the start of the season can be found at http://manxelectricrailway.co.uk/.