In Preview: Manx Heritage Transport Festival 2017

The Manx Heritage Transport Festival will be taking place between Wednesday 26th and Sunday 30th July and once again the event will feature special events across the Isle of Man’s many railways and tramways. Highlights on the Manx Electric Railway will extensive use of recently repainted trams and an intensive service on Sunday 30th July featuring 12 trams in use. Read on for details of what to expect during this five day spectacular.

Wednesday 26th July

Douglas Bay Horse Tramway

Trams will run every 20 minutes between 0900 and 1800. A special evening service will then run until 2100.

Double decker no. 18 will be in use being hauled by two horses departing Derby Castle at 0900.

Stables Open Evening. Guided tours at 1830 and 1930. Free admission but tickets are required, available for MER Derby Castle Ticket Office.

Manx Electric Railway

Timetable F will be in operation (which features 20 departures from Derby Castle during the day, including evening services).

Groudle Shuttles using 16 and van 4. Depart Derby Castle at 1055, 1155, 1300 (to Laxey), 1455 and 1555.

MER Edwardian Evening. Evening Groudle Shuttles with car 6 (newly repainted for 2017) departing Derby Castle at 1810, 1910, 2010, 2110, returning at 1828, 1928, 2028, 2128.

Snaefell Mountain Railway

Snaefell Sunset Dinner. Trams depart from Ramsey at 1710 and Derby Castle at 1740 and 1840 to connect with services to the summit where you can enjoy the views at dinner. £30 per person.

Groudle Glen Railway will be in operation between 1100 and 2100

There will also be a guided walk from Foxdale to Peel

Thursday 27th July

Douglas Bay Horse Tramway

Trams will run every 20 minutes between 0900 and 1800.

Manx Electric Railway

Timetable F will be in operation (which features 20 departures from Derby Castle during the day, including evening services). 16 and 60 should operate the 0910, 1040 and 1410 from Derby Castle with 6 and a matching trailer on the 1010 and 1340 ex Derby Castle.

The Nationalised Navigator. Mystery tour using car 32 visiting various sidings and crossovers including the new crossover at Ballamenagh. Includes photo stops. Departs Derby Castle at 1020, return by 1700. Special fare of £10 applies.

Green Hills by the Sea. Guided tour around Bulgham Bay using a post 1957 mixed livery of green motor 21 and red trailer 43. Departs Derby Castle at 1900 and returns at 2100. Includes a guided walk section. Cost £10.

On the Isle of Man Steam Railway there will be a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the re-opening of the system in 1967. Departing Douglas at 0950 no. 13 Kissack will haul the service with celebratory shield and flags and will also carry a unique headboard and discs.

Friday 28th July

Douglas Bay Horse Tramway

Trams will run every 20 minutes between 0900 and 1800.

Manx Electric Railway

Timetable F will be in operation (which features 20 departures from Derby Castle during the day, including evening services).

Tours of Derby Castle Yard. Each tour features a brief history of the yard, a look at different types of trams, how they work and are maintained. Items of withdrawn rolling stock will be on display. 10 people per tour. Tours cost £5 and start at 1115, 1215, 1415, 1515.

Drive the Green Tram. Take the controls of green liveried motor 21 between Laxey and Ballamenagh. Departs Laxey at 1015, 1115, 1240, 1415 and 1515. £20, Pre booking advised.

Stamps on the MER and Snaefell. A special postal service will operate between Derby Castle, Laxey and Ramsey and from the Summit to Laxey. Mail Van 4 departs Derby Castle at 0940, returning from Ramsey at 1110 and will then be stabled in the siding at Laxey from 1155.

Crossbench Evening. To mark the return to service of trailer 61 and 62 a special tram consisting of 33, 61 and van 4 will depart Derby Castle at 1810. A special talk on the Queen’s Pier will follow at the Methodist Centre adjacent to Ramsey Station. In addition 16 and 60 will operate services from Derby Castle at 1640 and 1940 and 32 and 62 will run from Derby Castle at 1710 and 2055.

Saturday 29th July

Douglas Bay Horse Tramway

Trams will run every 20 minutes between 0900 and 1800.

Manx Electric Railway

Timetable F will be in operation (which features 20 departures from Derby Castle during the day, including evening services).

Car 1 will be used on the 0910, 1040 and 1410 departures from Derby Castle.

Car 2 will be used on the 1010 and 1340 departures from Derby Castles.

Back in the Red. Manx Electric Railway Online tour. Featuring newly repainted stock, 6, 16 and trailer 60. Departs Derby Castle at 0940 returning for 1720 including photostops. Full details of this tour and how to book please visit https://manxelectricrailway.co.uk/our-events/back-in-the-red/. (Please note this event is not included in the main leaflet)

Snaefell Mountain Railway

Snaefell Sunset Dinner. Trams depart from Ramsey at 1710 and Derby Castle at 1740 and 1840 to connect with services to the summit where you can enjoy the views at dinner. £30 per person.

Over on the Isle of Man Steam Railway there will be tours of Douglas Workshop, running shed and signal box, the travelling post office will run on the 0950 from Douglas and 1130 return. The evening will see a staged display of all operational steam locos at Douglas Station following an update from the Director of Public Transport in the Tickethall – shunting starts at 1900.

The Groudle Glen Steam Railway and the Great Laxey Mine Railway will both be in operation between 1100 and 1630.

There will also be a conducted tour of the 1908 railway station complex at Peel.

Sunday 30th July

Douglas Bay Horse Tramway

Trams will run every 20 minutes between 0900 and 1800.

Manx Electric Railway

A special intensive tram service will operate throughout the day. This will see 12 sets operate and includes departures up to every 15 minutes from each end of the line. The full timetable is available here.

Groudle Glen Railway will be in operation between 1100 and 1630

Elsewhere there will be a guided walk from St Johns to Kirk Michael along the route of the Manx Northern Railway, an evening slide show in Port Erin and the Jurby Transport Museum will be open.

* For further details of events taking place during the festival please download the official leaflet on the Isle of Man Transport website https://www.gov.im/media/1355827/iom-railway-2017-transport-festival-dl-12pp-web-final.pdf. This also contains details of the cost of events where normal fares don’t apply and how you can pre-book.

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