Thursday 27th July saw another piece of Manx Electric Railway rolling stock return to use – it may not be quite the 50 years between uses as we saw with 19 earlier in the week but Freight Trailer 26 ran again for the first time since 1993 as part of a special tour.
As revealed just a few days before the Manx Transport Festival got underway, Freight Trailer 26 underwent some work at Laxey Car Shed which included attention to the bodywork and an overhaul of its underframe. Its steps were reinstated and it also received a full repaint into the works grey livery it carries. The numbers and lettering applied have also been researched to make sure they are accurate to 1920s condition.
26 was originally built as a standard passenger motor in 1895 (when it was numbered 10) but would only run until 1902 before withdrawal. Salvation came in 1918 when it was rebuilt as a freight traler at which point it also received the number 26. Again, its use would be brief as its next withdrawal came in 1930. Sporadic use followed after acquisition initially by the Three Foor Gauge Railway Society in 1978. Its last use was in 1993 after which it has been stored at various locations on the Isle of Man, ending up at Laxey Car Sheds which is where the latest overhaul took place.
Its return to use came on Thursday 27th July when it became the star turn on the MER Freight Tour. Hauled by Tunnel Car 6 it ran between Derby Castle and Ramsey; the first time in 30 years it had been seen out on the MER (excluding the test runs it had completed before the tour to check all was as it should be).
26 waits departure from Derby Castle with Tunnel Car 6 for company.
Another view of 26. This time its at the other end of the line at Ramsey. (Both Photographs by David Mee, 27th July 2023)