It’s been a while since we last had an update on recent events on the Manx Electric Railway where services resumed for another season on 9th March and have been continuing early season operations since – including the return of the nationalised green livery.
The first passenger trips of 2017 were on 9th March with Winter Saloon 19 the car selected to perform the first service to Ramsey from Derby Castle departing at 0940 as a single motor with an almost full load of passengers. Before public services began a number of cars had been out and about on the line for their “drying out” runs and this had included Crossbench 16 in its new coat of traditional MER Red and White colours.
One of the highlights of the year so far occurred on day two of the season – 10th March – when Winter Saloon 21 made its (re-)debut in the nationalised Green livery. As we have mentioned before on these pages this year will see a number of trams repainted in the not particularly loved colour scheme with 21 the first to succumb to the rather plain Green and White livery to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the nationalisation of the line. This is reported to be the first time since 1960 that 21 has worn the green.
Another car to have been completed in the Green livery is Crossbench 32 which has been noted out on the line operating its drying out run (seen on 15th March) whilst trailer 62 is also nearing the completion of its repaint. For 62 it will not just be a new colour scheme but it will also be a return to service following workshop attention over the winter (it had last operated in 2008 when it was withdrawn after the discovery of cracked axles on its trucks). Other recent progress has been seen on Tunnel Car 6 which is nearing the end of its repaint into The Manx Electric Railway Co Ltd livery.
Away from the motors and trailers probably the most obvious change in 2017 is the moving of the stop at Ramsey to before the road with a temporary terminus being provided close to the former site of Ramsey Car Sheds. This temporary stop is proving to be controversial with plans to redevelop the former terminus seemingly having stalled after the last plans were rejected but despite this rejection the temporary arrangements are now in place.
The first guaranteed chance to see many of the new liveries in service will be during the Rush Hour on the Railways event which takes place between Friday 14th and Monday 17th April. The two Crossbench cars – 16 and 32 – will be in use, alongside 21, on Friday 14th April with many other events planned over the weekend.
* Thanks to Manx Electric Railway.co.uk for much of the information contained in this article. The most up-to-dates updates anywhere on the MER are posted on their Facebook page.