Taking place between 27th and 31st July, the Manx Summer Transport Festival had the usual mix of parallel runs, shed tours, intesive services and special tours. In this diary of the event, David Mee tells us what happened on the Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway and Douglas Bay Horse Tramway.
Wednesday 27th July
Recieved from Isle of Man Transport on 21st July:
Due to engineering constraints it is not possible for us to operate the Tram 19 and Trailer 19 event as advertised. We will now operate a new event in its place. MER Tram and Two Trailers. Car 33 with trailers 49 and 51 will travel between Derby Castle and Ramsey at exactly the same time offering you all the most unique opportunity to ride on and photograph a tram with two trailers.
Parallel run to Groudle
Travelled on car 2+54, car 1 was other car which turned back at Groudle.
Photo stop at Lag Birragh
MER Tram and two trailers: Car 33 with trailers 49+51
Departed five late from Derby Castle at 12.55, stops as follows:
Lag Birragh
Halfway/Gellings
Garwick curves
Laxey Station
Summit Curves (now 14.10)
Dhoon Quarry
Cross over and passed by 32+37
Arrived at Royal Ramsey at 15.10, departed 15.25
Windy Ridge
Lewaigue
Cross over, cars pass in both directions
Browns Crossing
Ballaragh
Cross over, passed by car 1
Bonnor Corner
Saw and photographed 1+41 across the valley above South Cape
Brief stop at Laxey and non-stop to Derby Castle. Arrived 17.40
MER allocations: D1 2+54
D2 7+42
D3 14
D4 32+37, Later 9 for evening services
D5 1+41
D6 19+47, car 32 substituted for last run
Spl 1
Spl 33+49+51
Thursday 28th July
Laxey based day
Laxey Car Sheds tour
Very informative commentary.
Outside back of shed: Freight trailer 26
From rear of shed forwards:
Inside rear pad: Loco 23, 27, 25
Road 3 : 28, 52
Road 2: 31, 50, 46, 44
Road 1: 30, Tower 1, 34
MER allocations: D1 9+49
D2 32+62
D3 21+59
D4 19+51
D5 5+37
D6 7+48
Spl 14
SMR 1, 2, 4
Friday 29th July
Parallel Run: Car 14 solo and 1+60
Travelled on car 14
Photo stop before Howstrake
Dhoon Quarryman
Car 14 solo to Dhoon Quarry at 9.50 (act. 9.55)
Photo of cross over at Dhoon, 10.18 depart
Photo stop Bulgham platform and just below
Good photos at Laxey with SMR cars 1, 2 and MER 14, 32, 33 all in attendance
Relaunch of Horse Tramway
By the minister and with Horses in attendance!
Strathallan depot visit (front to rear):
Road 1: 43, 44
Pit road 2: 32
Road 3: 36, 42
Road 4: 18, 27
Road 5: 21, 38
Road 6: 29, 12
Road 7: 45, 1
Car 36 shunted to loading siding for the launch with Torrin, William and Nelson in attendance.
MER Derby Castle Depot tour
12.15 at the Museum. Tour as follows:
Through the workshop to the bottom car shed (front to rear):
Hospital Road 1: 20 (motor change)
Hospital Road 2: Trailer 19 (36 – wheel change)
Road 3: Wagons 10, 8, cars 29, 18
Top Shed (front to rear):
Pit road 1: 19
Pit road 2: 22 (at rear in intensive care bay and on jacks pending truck change)
Road 3: 61, 16*, 43*
* both awaiting wheel change following derailment at Lewaigue
Road 4: 57, 56, 53, 17, 15
Road 5: 62, 54, 55
Road 6: 59, 26
Road 7: 47, 41, 40
Road 8: 6, 58**
** awaiting brake blocks
A comprehensive tour and great commentary.
MER allocations: D1 33+van 4/16, later 33+37
D2 1+60
D3 21+49
D4 7+42
D5 9+48
D6 5+47
Spl 14 (parallel and Dhoon Quarryman)
D/Exp 32
SMR 1, 2, 5
Saturday 30th July
Snaefell workshops
Horse Tramway
Travelled on the first public service
Nelson and Car 36 to War Memorial and return at 9.35am
Snaefell Car Shed visit
At 11am
Very comprehensive commentary and tour of the sheds. Cars 2 and 4 were unusually on shed as the service was temporarily halted due to a wire being down below the Bungalow. The car 6 replica rebuild was at a 90% complete stage with the body woodwork more or less complete and the refurbishment of the bogies with new AC motors and electrics at an advanced stage.
The chassis and cage for the replica car 3 was under a tarpaulin by the side of the shed.
Snaefell Mountain Railway
Four cars at the summit
With car 4 to the summit at 16.50
Very cloudy at the top so departure brought forward.
With car 2 to Laxey at 18.00
Parallel run with car 1, us on the wrong side. Due to wet rail descended on the Fell Brake.
Photos 1 & 2 side by side at the Bungalow
Photos all four cars at Laxey
MER allocations: D1 2+51
D2 21+57
D3 32+56
D4 7+60
D5 9+47
D6 5+48
Spl 7+59
D/Exp 33
SMR 1, 2, 4, 5
Sunday 31st July
Jurby and intensive service on MER
MER allocations: D1 32+49
D2 5+47
D3 2+42
D4 7+48
D5 33+37
D6 1+51
D7 9+41
D8 14
* Photos from the event can be found in our Gallery at http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/gallery2022/gallery41.html.