After a summer break Picture in Time is back! Continuing our current Douglas Bay Horse Tramway theme we head to the Isle of Man for this instalment as we feature one of the Toastracks still plying its trade along the Prom today, although it looks different from this photo taken in 1993.
No. 21 was built by George F Milnes & Co in 1890 being delivered to the Isle of Man in that same year. It was one of eight similar trams (numbered 19–26 built between 1889 and 1891) but is now the only one remaining serviceable based at Strathallan Depot (no. 22 is also still in existence but having been converted to a shop can now be found at the Jurby Transport Museum). Today we know no. 21 as being in the standard red based livery but back in 1993 it was carrying this blue and gold livery.
This photo was taken on 7th September 1993 outside the depot at Strathallan and also shows the Upper Douglas Cable Tramway tram 72/73 alongside.
Photograph by Ralph Oakes-Garnett
It’s a shame the other former ‘blue’ car, No.38 is one of those put up for sale.
Car 38 was indeed the other ‘Douglas 2000’ blue liveried car in the 1990’s, but I don’t think its one of those for sale – 28, 33, 34, 37, 39 and 40.
I was there in the 94 season and recall the unique liveries on the island at that one with Hutchinson appearing in blue and I think this was still in the blue livery then.