Programme of events announced for Rush Hour on the Railways

This Easter Weekend (Friday 15th to Monday 18th April) will see the return of Rush Hour on the Railways to the Isle of Man with the heritage tramways and railways joining forces to offer a varied programme of events. For the trams that means that the MER will be seeing unusual combinations, a parallel run, car shed tours and of course an intensive timetable in operation.

Amongst the highlights of the planned events will be the return to service on original motor 1 which has been undergoing a repaint into its original 1893 livery over the winter closure period. 1 should be used for the first time during the intensive timetable on Sunday 17th April. As well as 1 the service on this day should also see 14 in service in a rare use on timetable services.

Other events on the MER over the four days include Laxey Car Shed Tours (Saturday 16th April), Derby Castle Car Shed Tours (Monday 18th April), a parallel run using 20 and 21 from Derby Castle to Groudle Glen (Friday 15th April), unusual combinations: 2+60, 19+59, 20+51 and 32+57 (Friday 15th April), motorman taster lessons (Friday 15th and Saturday 16th April), Travelling Post Office (Sunday 17th April), Springtime Photography Tour with 5+54+van 16 (Monday 18th April).

Away from the MER and the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway’s Strathallan Depot will be open for free tours and on the Isle of Man Steam Railway no. 11 Maitland will return to service with a  special headboard being unveiled before it is used on Friday 15th April.

Full programme of events is…

Friday 15th April:

Manx Electric Railway

  • Parallel Run: Departing from Derby Castle at 0850 Winter Saloons 20 and 21 will run to Groudle.
  • Unusual combinations: To include 2+60, 19+59, 20+51 and 32+57 (subject to availability and weather)
  • Motorman Tasters: A chance to drive Tunnel Car 7 from Laxey to Lewaigue. Departs Laxey at 0950, 1150, 1350 and 1550. £30 – can be booked online at http://www.rail.im or by phone on 01624 662 525

Isle of Man Steam Railway

  • 11 Maitland returns to service with a headboard being unveiled before departing from Douglas with the 0950 to Port Erin

Saturday 16th April

Manx Electric Railway

  • Laxey Car Shed Tours: A chance to see items of engineering and out of use rolling stock stored in the shed including Locomotive 23, Freight Trailer 26 and Bulkhead Trailer 50 (undergoing restoration). Tours at 1030, 1130, 1230, 1330 and 1430. £6 – can be booked online at http://www.rail.im or by phone on 01624 662 525
  • Motorman Tasters: A chance to drive Winter Saloon 19 from Laxey to Lewaigue. Departs Laxey at 0950, 1150, 1350 and 1550. £30 – can be booked online at http://www.rail.im or by phone on 01624 662 525

Isle of Man Steam Railway

  • Travelling Post Office: 0950 from Douglas and 1250 from Port Erin will include a Travelling Post Office transporting special commemorative stamp covers to mark the return of no. 11 Maitland to service.
  • Evening Steam: Taking a bus you will follow no. 11 Maitland and coach on its short journey to Santon. There will be photostops at Oakhill and Kerristal. The return journey will be by train. The train will do a run past at Port Soderick. Once back at Douglas the train will run back up the track so photos and film of the train’s arrival can be captured. The evening ends with light refreshments and a slide show. Meet at Douglas Station at 1600 for a 1610 departure. £25 – can be booked online at http://www.rail.im or by phone on 01624 662 525

Great Laxey Mine Railway

  • In operation between 1100 and 1630

Sunday 17th April

Manx Electric Railway

  • Intensive service: An 8 car service with departures starting from Derby Castle at 0940 and seeing up to a 15 minute frequency at times during the day. Cars and trailers due to be in service included 1+49, 2+54, 6+37, 14, 19+42, 20+59 and 32+57. This will be 1’s debut in its original 1893 livery.
  • Travelling Post Office: One of the Mail Vans will be located at Laxey Station and used for sorting mail from 1000. A Railway Letter Service will also operate from the Summit on the Snaefell Mountain Railway to Laxey.

Isle of Man Steam Railway

  • Douglas Station Tours: A new tour will run including the Goods Yard, Station buildings and infrastructure including the historic signal box and clock tower. Tours at 0900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500. £6 – can be booked online at http://www.rail.im or by phone on 01624 662 525
  • Steam Headboards: A selection of headboards will be carried on the locomotives running including “Port Erin Line since 1874”, “Peel line 1873-1968”, “Ramsey line 1879-1968” and “Foxdale line 1886-1961”.

Groudle Glen Railway

  • Easter Bunny trains will run from 1000-1630 with tickets including a free egg for the children, entry into the Easter Egg Hunt and free tea, coffee and Orange Juice at the café. Pre-booking essential.

Monday 18th April

Manx Electric Railway

  • Derby Castle Workshop & Yard Tours: Includes a brief history of the yard, a look at the different types of trams, how they work and are maintained. Items of rolling stock stored will be displayed in the depot and MER artefacts will be on view. Tours at 1115, 1215, 1415 and 1515. £6 – can be booked online at http://www.rail.im or by phone on 01624 662 525
  • Springtime Photography Trip: Tunnel Car 5 with trailer 54 and van 16 will take participants to various parts of the MER. Departs Derby Castle at 1050 with a return by 1645. £25 – can be booked online at http://www.rail.im or by phone on 01624 662 525

Douglas Bay Horse Tramway

  • Strathallan Depot Tours: Visit the new horse tramway depot with tours including a history of the depot, a look at different types of trams, how they work and are maintained. Tours throughout the day between 1000 and 1430. Free entry.

Tour around the island

  • Grand Edwardian Day Out! Travel around the island using various forms of transport with visits to the Great Union Camera Obscura, Douglas Bay Horse Tramway and Queens Pier. Starts from Douglas Station on the 0950 steam railway trip to Castletown. Also includes bus and walking sections with visits to the former Douglas Marine Head Drive Tramway and Douglas Bay Horse Tramway. A trip on the MER to Groudle Glen and onto the Groudle Glen Railway is also included. The Snaefell Mountain Railway is not left out either with a journey from Bungalow to Laxey. Meet at Douglas Station at 0930, returning by 1830. £20 – can be booked online at http://www.rail.im or by phone on 01624 662 525

Groudle Glen Railway

  • Easter Bunny trains will run from 1000-1630 with tickets including a free egg for the children, entry into the Easter Egg Hunt and free tea, coffee and Orange Juice at the café. Pre-booking essential.

Unless stated otherwise normal Explorer Tickets are valid for these events.

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