Whilst the big transport events for 2023 will come later in the year (to help celebrate 130 years of the Manx Electric Railway and 150 years of the Isle of Man Steam Railway) the year will start with a small selection of events over the Easter Weekend. Whilst not of the same level as seen in recent years with Rush Hour on the Railways a regular fixture in the calendar the year there will still be the chance to see behind the scenes and to get behind the handles on the MER.
The Manx Electric Railway, Douglas Bay Horse Tramway and Isle of Man Steam Railway will all be taking part in the Easter events. On the MER this will see behind the scenes tours at Derby Castle Sheds, led by volunteers from Manx Electric Railway Online. Tours of this type have been regularly one of the highlights of special events on the MER as you are taken behind the scenes of the sheds and workshops and given the chance to see some long withdrawn motors and trailers up and close. Tours will be taking place on Saturday 8th April with anyone aged 9 and over allowed to take part – tickets will cost £9 for adults and £4.50 for children aged 9-15.
Also on the MER there will be Motorman Taster lessons on both Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th April. Costing £33 for adults these taster trips will allow you to get behind the handles of a MER car under the expert tuition of a fully qualified motorman from the MER. You must be aged between 21 and 75 to take part.
Meanwhile, on the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway there will be open days at the Summerhill Stables on both Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th April between 1000 and 1600. And what’s more entry will be free and you don’t need to pre-book, just turn up and see the historic stables, home to the “trammers”. The tramway will also be running, with its first day of the 2023 season scheduled for Thursday 6th April.
And the Isle of Man Steam Railway is not to be left out with behind the scenes tours taking place at Douglas Station Sheds. These will happen on both Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th April and as with the MER shed tours will be available to anyone aged 9 and over with tickets costing £9 for adults and £4.50 for children (9-15).
- Tickets for the Workshop Tours and Motorman Taster Lessons can be booked either by visiting https://iomrailways.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows or by calling The Welcome Centre on 01624 662 525.