No sooner had the 2016 season on the Manx Electric Railway finished then attention was turned to preparing both the fleet and infrastructure for 2017. It is planned that this winter will see a number of repaints with some trams having new looks whilst two trailers stored for a number of years will be prepared to return to service whilst track relaying is also underway along with the long expected demolition of Ramsey Car Shed and Good Shed.
Starting off with the MER fleet and work is being carried out to the bogies of Trailers 61 and 62 ahead of their return to service in 2017. The wheelsets are to be removed shortly for reprofiling and once the work is completed both trailers will return to the operational fleet for the first time since 2009.
Elsewhere with the fleet the theme for this winter is repaints! A number of cars are due to have a visit from the paint brush with motors 6, 16, 21 and 32 along with trailers 46, 60 and 62 all set to be gleaming during 2017. This will not just be a straight repaint though as a number of retro liveries will be seen on some of the fleet. 2017 marks the 60th anniversary of the nationalisation of the MER and to mark the occasion 32 will be painted into the green livery which was introduced at this time; this will be third time that 32 has carried this livery. As one open motor gains green then another will lose it as 16 is to be painted in the unlined post-war livery for the Rush Hour on the Railways Event at Easter only. Details of the other repaints have yet to be revealed but it is promised that there will be more retro liveries to come!
The volunteer led major restoration of Ratchet car 14 is also continuing with current progress being made on the roof clerestory and ceiling with the 48 clerestory window sashes also being reconstructed. It has also been lifted from its trucks and the four motors have been sent to the UK for assessment.
Away from the trams and a start has been made on the demolition of Ramsey Car Shed, which has remained unused on a regular basis since the end of the 2014 season. This work has long been expected as part of the regeneration of the area and once it has been raised to the ground attention will be turned towards the Goods Shed within the site of Ramsey Station. As part of the work to remove the Car Shed the pointwork has been replaced by plain track.
Other trackwork dealt with so far during the off season has seen the relaying of the seaside line between Howe Road and Harbour Road completed whilst contractors are dealing with the reconstruction of Baldromma level crossing. The MER’s own permanent way staff are removing crossovers at Garwick and Scarffes Crossing with a new crossover being installed on the Laxey side of Ballamenaugh.
The Snaefell Mountain Railway hasn’t been left out either with the start of what is believed to the longest track replacement in the history of the line. This is seeing the down line replaced between Canada and the Car Shed points. Meanwhile car no. 4 continues to undergo its major refurbishment.
Thanks to Manx Electric Railway Online for the information contained within this article.
32 is prepared for repaint as 62 is under attention for a return to service in 2017.
32 outside the car sheds at Derby Castle during preparation for its repaint. (Both Photographs courtesy of Manx Electric Railway Online)