It is time to move on with “Picture in Time” and with the Manx Electric Railway celebrating its 130th anniversary where better to go for the next few weeks than the Isle of Man? And it’s the Manx Electric Railway which is the subject of this first photo in this batch.
Its possibly one of the most know about facts of the Manx Electric Railway that it possesses an entry into the Guinness Book of Records as it has the oldest trams in the world which still run on their original line. Of course, those trams are original motors 1 and 2 which now being 130 years old are still plying their trade on the line between Derby Castle and Ramsey and have seen pretty much everything during their operating careers.
Their historic nature has always made them popular for private hires which usually means various photostops along the line – and stops are often seen with the tram standing on the tracks high up on the cliffs with spectacular views of the Irish Sea below. And that was the case in May 1988 when 2 was allocated to a tour with trailer 13 (now renumbered as 51 in the fleet but carrying its original number of 13 from the year previous to this tour). At this time it was in an approximation of original Douglas & Laxey Coast Electric Tramway maroon and cream livery with the trailer to match.
Photograph by Geoff Quarmby, May 1988