As an accompaniment to our two Photo Galleries added to the site over the past couple of weeks, David Mee provides us with a diary of what went on over this ten day period.
Friday 19th April
My travels:
With car 21+41 to Laxey at 09.40
With SMR car 2 to the summit at 10.15
With SMR car 4 to Laxey at 11.20
With car 20+44 to Ramsey at 12.10
Allocations:
MER: L 20+44 SMR: 1
D1 21+41 2
D2 22+40 4
D3 7+48 / 2+48*
* swapped cars for the 14.10 dep. Off Derby Castle
David Williams Photo Charters, 20th through 28th April
Saturday 20th April
My travels:
Round trip on the Horse tram, Harry with car 45 at 9.05am
With car 7+48 to Ballaglass Glen at 9.40
Bluebells in Ballaglass Glen!
With 7+48 to Derby Castle at 11.30
Allocations:
MER: L 22+41* SMR: 4
D1 7+48 1
D2 21+44 2
D3 20+40
UDE 2 * ran single motor last round trip
Sunday 21st April
My travels
With car 20+40 to Ramsey at 12.50
With car 20+40 to Laxey at 14.40
With car 9+41 to Derby Castle at 16.25
With Horse Car 45 and Alec to Villa Marina at 17.00 and back to Mona Drive
Allocations:
MER: L 22+44
D1 21+48
D2 20+40
D3 9+41
UDE 1
Monday 22nd April
Douglas Bay Horse Tramway Charter
Plan: From 9am to 11.30am
Staged photography with double deck tram 18 and two horses, Bobby and Ginger.
No services on MER today
Tuesday 23rd April
My travels:
With car 21+40 to Laxey at 9.40
Single line possession, so cross to seaward line at Groudle and back at Ballameanagh. Due to a ballast drop at Halfway.
With car 22+44 to Douglas at 10.25
Noted car 5 shunting trailers 50, 54 and freight 26 at Laxey Car Sheds
Note: car 5 in limited use as tripping out regularly
Allocations:
MER: L 22+44
D1 21+40
D2 20+41
D3 9+48
Spl 5 (+freight 26)*
* To pick up freight trailer 26 and take to Derby Castle for servicing prior to charter use
Note: MER cars 6, 16, 19 and 33 are out of service awaiting workshop attention
Thursday 25th April
My travels:
With Ginger and Horse Car 45 to Derby Castle at 10.25
With car 20+41 to Ramsey at 10.40
Single line working Groudle to Ballameanagh with sea side running so crossed at Groudle.
With car 20 single motor to Laxey at 12.40.
Weather now lovely so decided to swap to the Mountain tram:
With SMR car 1 to the summit at 13.45
Good photos of Car 1 descending the mountain
With SMR car 2 to Laxey at 14.50
Time for sunny photos and to relax before:
With car 22 single motor to Ramsey at 15.40
With car 22 single motor back to Douglas at 16.40
Allocations:
MER: L 22
D1 21 (+41**)
D2 7+40
D3 20+41*
* Trailer dropped at Ramsey before first return
** Trailer picked up at Ramsey at 14.40
Friday 26th April
Manx Electric Railway Charter 1
Car 1 and trailer 19
Round trip on the Horse Tram at 9.05 with Harry and car 45
Photographed MER departures and arrivals.
Manx Electric Railway Charter 1
Car 1 and trailer 19
Departed from the Groudle Siding at 9.48
Stops and activities as follows:
1) Depot
Trailer 19 was dragging its lifeguard due to a sheared bolt. Replaced by trailer 42, involving a shunt by car 5. Shunt back to Derby Castle and depart 10.27
Stop at Howstrake cancelled due to late running and no stops possible to Ballameanagh due to single line running.
2) Groudle, cross to sea side line
3) Ballameanagh 10.50-11.40
Passed by cars 22 and 7. Walked down to Baldrine, various photos.
4) Ballabeg 11.45-53
5) Laxey Car Shed 11.55-12.15
Crossed over
6) Laxey Station 12.15-30
7) Minorca 12.36-45
8) Bonner Corner 12.55-13.10
Walk Laxey Old Road to above the corner
9) Dhoon Quarry 13.25-40
Shunt to sea side for service to pass
10) Murrays Road 13.55-14.25
11) Ballaskeig 14.30-40
Shunt and return south
12) Browns Crossing 14.43-15.05
13) Dhoon Quarry 15.06-20
Cross over, passed by 7 and 21
14) Pole 544 15.23-33
View to Dhoon Quarry
15) Ballaragh 15.40-50
16) Laxey 16.00-35
change trailer 42 for repaired 19
17) Prestons Crossing 16.40-58
18) Fairy Cottage 17.00-05
Crossover, passed by 21+42
19) Halfway 17.20-30
20) Groudle 17.35-50
Cross over, passed by service car
21) Far End 17.55-18.00
Back at Derby Castle at 18.08.
Allocations
MER: L 22 SMR 1
D1 21 2
D2 20+40 4
D3 7
Spl: 9+41*
Spl: 1+trailer 19** 42**
* Driver test tram, departed 9am for Laxey Car Sheds
** Trailer 19 had a dragging lifeguard and was replaced at the sheds by trailer 42. Later in the day trailer 19 was tripped up to Laxey so that we could use it for the latter part of the charter. Trailer 42 returned to Douglas by car 21.
Saturday 27th April
Manx Electric Railway Charter 2
Car 5 and Freight Trailer 26
Round trip with Harry and Horse car 45 at 9.05.
Photographs of trams departing
Manx Electric Railway Charter 2
Car 5 and Freight Trailer 26
Departed on time at 9.50am from Groudle Siding.
Stops and activities as follows:
1) Howstrake 10.00-10
2) Groudle 10.15-11.00
Cross over for service car and photos on the viaduct
3) Above Halfway 11.10-30 walk to Gellings
Large clunk at Ballagawne as auto trips. Investigations 11.40-45
4) Laxey 11.55-12.30
Refresh stop and supplies for lunch
5) Summit curves 12.45-55
6) Above Murrays Rd 13.10-25
7) Ballaskeig 13.30-43
Cross over and passed by service car 22
Then direct to Ramsey, arrive 14.00 and depart 14.25 from the disused ‘new’ station
8) Windy Ridge 14.33-39
9) Lewaigue 14.45-15.00
Passed by two service cars
10) Ballajora 15.05-15
11) Ballaskeig 15.23-45
Cross over and passed by service car 7
12) Ballagory 15.55-16.00
13) The Garey 16.00-16.10
Cross over and passed by two service cars
14) Browns Crossing 16.15-25
15) Dhoon Quarry 16.30-32
16) Ballaragh 16.40-50
17) Pole 431 16.58-17.10
Arrive into Laxey at 17.10. Left charter here.
With car 21+41 to Douglas at 17.25
Manx Electric night photography
Car 5 and freight trailer 26 plus SMR 1 at Laxey
With Car 5 and freight 26 to Laxey at 19.35. Auto tripped again at Halfway. Arrived Laxey at 20.05.
The night shoot comprised three scenarios with Car 5 and FT26, SMR 1 and Rover P2 car.
Allocations:
MER: L 21+41
D1 22+42
D2 7+44
D3 20+48
Spl: 5+freight 26
Sunday 28th April
Photographed Harry and Horse Car 45 passing and then walked to Derby Castle. Looks like a busy day for the MER.
With car 21+40 to Laxey at 9.20
With car 22+48 to Ballaglass at 10.10
Ballaglass Woods bluebells revisited
With car 20+44 to Bellevue at 11.05
Broke journey here for nice views across Ramsey Bay and to photo the tram returning south.
With car 7+42 into Ramsey at 11.50
With car 7+42 to Derby Castle at 15.40. Full from Ramsey!
Very surprised to see the Double deck horse car in service.
With Alec and Horse Car 18 to Mona Drive at 17.00
Allocations:
MER: L 21+40 SMR 1 Horse 45
D1 22+48 2 18
D2 20+44
D3 7+42
- Photos from this period can be found on this website as follows: