We’ve already reported on the “New Beginnings” celebration on the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway with trams running on the old double track formation in its entirety for the very last time on Sunday 21st October to allow for the Prom reconstruction works to get underway in earnest. Previously announced was an eight tram Cavalcade on that last day along the whole tramway and now it seems that this will include the first use of Saloon 27 following the completion of its overhaul and a repaint in a different livery.
It was back in February 2017 that 27 initially left Strathallan Depot for its extensive rebuild and overhaul to take place. Since that time another high quality job seems to have been completed first at an offsite joinery firm on the Isle of Man before it was moved to the Manx Electric Railway’s Derby Castle workshops where the work has been completed over the past few months. This work has now been finished and the tram has been repainted in a new livery; instead of the traditional Red and White livery it is in a Blue and Ivory colour scheme – very similar to that carried on MER trailer 59 – and is sure to turn heads when it is used.
The current plan is that it will be used in Sunday’s Cavalcade which should feature eight trams and horses. The Cavalcade is due to leave Derby Castle at 1500 and will be proceeded at 1415 by all 20 trammers posing for photos. Sunday 21st October will also see double decker 18 in service at 1015 and 1115 before this tram will also form the last service on the current formation at 1730 which special premium priced tickets available.
It will be an end of an era when 18 returns to Derby Castle around 1800 with the double track formation all the way between Derby Castle and the Sea Terminal never again to see trams in service. At the moment it isn’t known just what track will be available for the 2019 season but at least some service will be in action from around Easter once again.