The Snaefell Mountain Railway has finally started running in 2013 after its original opening was delayed because of damage caused by spring snowfall. The first passenger journeys were run on Saturday 4 May with a half hourly service operating over the Bank Holiday weekend before reverting to an hourly service for most of the rest of May.
The unseasonable weather conditions experienced at the end of March on the Isle of Man saw the Railway badly affected. A large section of overhead wire was damaged and several overhead poles were also bought down which needed replacing. In addition the line was blocked by snow in several places adding to the woes of the line to the summit of Snaefell.
The broken poles have been replaced and the overhead is now in situ during a two week operation. The Snaefell Mountain Railway’s Tower Wagon and tractor were initially used before the overhead had been strung far enough to allow tram 6to also be used.
The Snaefell Mountain Railway is now running daily until Sunday 6 October (with the exception of Monday 13 and Monday 20 May. It then operates on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays until Sunday 27 October after which it has one last hurrah operating daily until Thursday 31 October.