A trip to the Isle of Man beckons for our latest instalment of Picture in Time as we catch up with the original trams of both the Manx Electric Railway and the Snaefell Mountain Railway at Laxey.
This photograph was taken on 26th August 1980 and shows the Manx Electric Railway’s 1 and an unidentified trailer pausing with a service running through to Laxey. At the time of this photo 1 had only been back in service for a year following an overhaul and was carrying the Maroon and Cream livery of the Douglas and Laxey Coast Electric Railway – a similar livery to that it carried when the line originally opened. Alongside is Snaefell Mountain Railway 1 which is making preparations for a trip up to the Summit. As can be seen the SMR’s no. 1 was carrying the standard livery as seen on the majority of the fleet today, although not this car as it looks resplendent in its Blue and White colours.
Photograph by Ken Jones
The trailer is Car 49, it received a similar livery to Car 1 in 1979. The chap in the distance is probably Danny Creer, one time station-master at Laxey.