To accompany the trio of Photo Galleries recently added to the website this article is a diary showing what British Trams Online contributor David Mee saw during his stay on the Isle of Man between 25th July and 6th August, including output on the tramways.
Thursday 25th July
Arrived on the Island by morning ferry from Liverpool.
MER adventures
Car 6 single motor to Ramsey at 15.40
One of the few cars I didn’t see in April.
Car 6 single motor to Derby Castle at 17.10
Noted 2, 5, 6, 7 and 9 in service. Tunnel cars dominate with no Winter saloons!
On time back in Douglas.
Allocations:
MER: L: 2+49
D1: 9+48
D2: 6
D3: 5+37
D4: 7+60
Service D day
Friday 26th July
With car 6+60 to Laxey at 9.20
SMR car 4 to summit at 10.15
SMR car 5 to Laxey at 11.20
Car 5+37 to Douglas at 11.55
Toured the west of the island by bus for a while, ending up back in Ramsey.
With Car 2+51 to Laxey at 15.40
With car 1+54 to Douglas at 17.25
Allocations:
MER: L 6+60 IMR: D 13 SMR: 1
D1 5+37* PE 4 4
D2 9+49* 5
D3 2+51
D4 1+54 Bay: 36
* dropped trailers for last round trip
Service D day
Note: Car 6 is suffering from severe bodywork problems, evident by the noticeable ‘sag’. It is to be withdrawn at the end of the season for a major rebuild.
Isle of Man 50 group Charters through to 29th July
Saturday 27th July
Fifty group bus hire today but first:
Horse Car 36 and Bobby to Villa Marina at 9.05am
IOM 50 Group bus private hire
Bus trip to the Sound.
Made my own way back to Derby Castle for:
Car 1+49 to Laxey at 15.10
Car 2+60 to Ramsey at 16.10
Car 2+60 to Derby Castle at 17.10
Briefly attended the Isle of Man 50 Group get together at Loch Promenade church, but left early for:
The only chance to experience evening service G, so:
Car 7 single motor to Ramsey at 20.40
Bus back to the hotel
Allocations:
MER: L 5+51 IMR: D 13 Bay: 36
D1 2+60 PE 11
D2 9+54
D3 7+37*
D4 1+49
Evening: 9+54, 5, 1, 7
* Car 7 deputising at last minute for a failed car 6
Service D+G day
Sunday 28th July
Isle of Man 50 group MER Hire
Horse Car 36 and Torrin for a round trip to the Villa Marina and back to Derby Castle at 9.07am
Photos of early departures before:
Isle of Man 50 Group tram Hire: Car 19 and Trailer 19
Note: in a change to the itinerary we run to Dhoon this morning, back to Laxey, then a further trip
Laxey to Ramsey before returning to Douglas.
Departure from Groudle Siding at 9.54am
Stops as follows:
1) Lag Birragh, misty P 10.06
2) Groudle, service passed P 10.26
3) Pole 143 Section box P 10.36
4) Gellings, 2 locations P 10.50
5) Baroose, service passed P 11.02
6) Prestons V 11.20
7) Laxey, T&P break P 11.37
8) Mikes memorial P 11.54
9) Dhoon Quarry PV 12.20
Direct back to Laxey for lunch break, depart 13.28
10) Bonner Corner P 13.40
11) Cornaa PV 14.12
12) Above Murrays Rd P 14.20
Direct to Ramsey, arr.14.35/dep.15.20
Photos 16+60 depart, 1+54 arr.
13) Windy Ridge P 15.30
14) Lewaigue, service passed P 15.50
15) Below Romes (755) P 16.07
16) Before Browns (571) P 16.27
17) Ballaragh P 16.38
Direct to Laxey, presentation to the crew.
Transferred to service car:
Car 16+60 to Derby Castle at 16.55
Allocations:
MER: L 1+54 SMR: 1 Bay: 36
D1 16+60 2
D2 2+49 4
D3 7+51
D4 5+37
Spl: 9+19
Service D day
Monday 29th July
Isle of Man 50 group Steam Hire
Viewed the early MER departures.
Isle of Man 50 group Steam Hire
MNR 4 Caledonia and N6, Foxdale Coach, F31 and a G Van
IMR D: 4 MER L 2+48
PE: 11 D1 9+41
Spl: 15 D2 7+40
D3 ?+44
D4 1+49
Isle of Man Heritage Transport Festival
Tuesday 30th July – Sunday 4th August
Tuesday 30th July
Parallel run, cars 5 and 7
To Groudle and back at 8.50am
Sat on Car 5 to/from Groudle, the one that ran wrong road to Groudle. Car 7 followed us back to Douglas ten minutes later.
Car 1+49 to Laxey at 9.20
Car 1+49 back to Derby Castle at 10.25
Round trip on the Bay tramway with car 36 and Nelson at 11am
Transferred to:
Crossbench Crossover
Car 14, 12 noon D/C, unusual sidings and crossovers
Departed from the Groudle Siding at 12 noon
Stops as follows:
Groudle, cross over 12.10-15
Non stop through Laxey Station and to far road crossing
Reverse and through Dumbells No.2 crossover
Through Laxey Station and to:
Laxey Car Shed Crossover 12.45-52
Into sidings headshunt and car shed road 3. Photo stop outside shed
Bellevue, photo stop 13.40
Ramsey Station arrival road and Station side road
depart for Queens Valley 13.51
Queens Valley, crossover 13.55-14.00
Ramsey, siding 3 14.05
Lunch break to 14.47
Car Shed crossover 14.48
Windy Ridge, photo stop 14.58
Lewaigue, crossover 15.02-05
Ballagorry/Garey, crossover 15.20
Return north to:
Ballaskeig, crossover 15.30
Ballagorry Bridge, photo stop 15.43
Dhoon Quarry, crossover 15.48-16.00
Ballaragh, crossover 16.08-25
Laxey Station Siding, comfort stop 16.43
Ballameanagh, crossover 16.55
Return north to:
Fairy Cottage, crossover 17.05
Derby Castle, all crossovers 17.35
Return north to:
Onchan Head, crossover 17.43
Back to Derby Castle for 17.48
A great tour, covering most available track.
Allocations:
MER: L 1+49 IMR: D 4 SMR 2 BAY 36
D1 5+51 PE 11 4 45
D2 7+54 Eve 4 5
D3 9+37 5
D4 2+60
Spl 14
UDE 21
Service D day
Note: Car 21 first Winter Saloon back to service using best brake blocks from other Winter Saloons. The new brake blocks arrived this morning and are being fitted to 20, 22 and 32 allowing them to participate in the festival. Car 19 overhaul not complete and unlikely to be ready this week.
Wednesday 31st July
MER based day plus Winter saloons on Horse tramway
Parallel run, cars 20 and 21
To Groudle and back at 8.50am to celebrate 125 years of Winter Saloons
Sat on Car 20 to/from Groudle, the one that ran wrong road to Groudle. Car 21 followed us back to Douglas ten minutes later. Good photostop at Howstrake.
Car 20+40 to Laxey at 9.40
Car 6+54 back to Derby Castle at 10.25
Walked up to the Car Sheds for:
Derby Castle Workshops tour
11:15 at Museum.
Walk through Machine Shop to:
Bottom Shed: R1 Empty
R2 16, 32
R3 Wagon 10, 29, 18
Outside Wagon 8
Paint Shop Trailer 47
Top Shed Hospital R1 1, 55
Hospital R2 32, 22
R3 2, 51, 37, 49
R4 57, 58, 53, 17, 15
R5 14, 34, 19, 33
R6 7, 19, Van 4
R7 16, 59, 56
R8 48, 42, 43, Van 16
All listed front to back of shed
Winter Saloons on Bay Tramway
Horse Car 27 and Nelson for a round trip to the Villa Marina at 12.20
Also managed to get good photos of Car 29
Car 21+60 to Groudle at 13.10, walked down the Glen for:
Groudle Glen Railway
Car 9+44 to Derby Castle at 14.43
Noted that Open Toastrack 42 was in service so had a round trip with George at 15.00
Car 22+60 to Laxey at 15.40.
Car 5+41 to Derby Castle at 16.25
Victorian Evening at Laxey
Car 21+59 to Laxey at 17.40
Car 1 & 2 parallel run to Dhoon Quarry at 18.40. Overcrowded.
Two good sunny photostops:
Summit curves outbound
Ballamoor Top inbound
Car 21+59 to Derby Castle at 20.40
Allocations:
MER: L 6+54 MER Eve: 21+59 SMR: 1 Bay: 27
D1 20+40 7+19 2 29
D2 21+60* 1(+van 4) 5 42
D3 5+41 2 45
D4 9+44
*swapped for car 22 on last round trip
Service D day
Thursday 1st August
Photographed the D1 departure and then:
Parallel run, cars 16 and 32
To Groudle and back at 8.50am
Sat in car 32 to Groudle and then transferred to the D2 service car.
Car 6+44 to Laxey at 9.20
Car 6+44 back to Derby Castle at 9.55
Transferred to:
Douglas Bay open Toastracks
Cars 21 and 42 in service today
With Car 21 and Harry to the Villa Marina at 11.05
IMR Double Headed service
Back by bus from Port Erin.
MER service F
Car 5+59 to Dhoon Glen at 15.10
Car 7+40 to Ballajora at 16.25
Car 5+59 to Cornaa at 16.52
Car 16+60 to Ramsey at 17.05
Car 22+48 to Laxey at 18.10
Car 7+40 to Ramsey at 19.10
Car 7+40 to Derby Castle at 20.40
Allocations:
MER: D1 5+59 IMR: D1 4 SMR: 2 Bay: 21
D2 6+44 (21*) D2 11 4 42
D3 16+60 PE 13
D4 32+37 (22+48*)
D5 9+51
D6 7+40
UDE 34
Spl 21+F26
*swaps for the evening service
Service F day
Friday 2nd August
Car 7+59 to Laxey at 12.40
Wickham 23 to the Car Sheds at 13.25
Laxey Car Sheds tour
at 13.30
R1 60, 61, 26, Tower 1
R2 Van 11, 50, 46, 31
R3 52, 30, 28
Rear 25, 27, 23 on concrete pad, no trucks
All listed front to rear.
Dispayed outside: Wickham trailer, Freight trailer 26
Note: Both Van 11 and Trailer 50 scheduled to return to service for next season.
Car 20+41 to Laxey Station at 14.10
NATS3 Railcar trip to Summit
at 14.25. Note: now to be operated with NATS4.
Seven passengers. Departed 14.25, 30 minutes to the summit. Fog from Bungalow.
Good commentary and look around the vehicle on return to Laxey at 15.35. An excellent and unusual trip.
Car 20+41 to Douglas at 15.55
Car 21+40 to Ramsey at 17.40
Car 21+40 to Laxey at 19.40
Car 22+42 to Derby Castle at 21.25
Allocations:
MER: D1 1+44 IMR: D 13 SMR: NATS 4 Bay 1
D2 9+48 PE 11 1 18
D3 7+59 18 Ailsa 4 45
D4 20+41 Blue Simplex 5
D5 21+40
D6 22+42
Spl 34+51
Spl 14
Service F day
Saturday 3rd August
Groudle and IMR intensive services
Car 9+41 to Laxey at 8.40am
Photos at the SMR depot and road crossing.
Car 7+48 to Derby Castle at 9.55am
A big mistake as massive crowds. Had to miss out a departure.
Car 6+44 to Groudle at 11.10am
Although the car was full by 10.53 we were still held until 11.09. Walked down the Glen to:
Groudle Glen Railway
Victorian Day: Sea Lion and replica coaches
MER service F
A last chance to enjoy the enhanced service
Did not go to plan as cars passing Groudle full despite a crowd of up to forty people building up. Eventually after numerous phone calls an extra car was sent out:
Car 21 Single Motor to Laxey at 13.35
Note: Returned to Douglas in service at 14.25. More capacity Douglas to Laxey required on event days. Suggest half hourly through the day to Laxey.
Allocations:
MER: D1 9+41 IMR: D 4 SMR: 1 Bay: 45
D2 7+48 PE 11 2 36
D3 20+42 Spl 14 5
D4 22+40
D5 6+44 GLMR: Ant
D6 16
Extra 21
Service F day
Note: Evening services curtailed somewhat when car 9 failed at Glen Mona late afternoon. Car 7 then brought the overhead down at the car sheds. Car 16 turned at the Dhoon and returned to Ramsey.
Sunday 4th August
Intensive service on MER and Queens Pier
MER Intensive service day
Nine car service in operation
Car 21+59 to Ramsey at 9.10
The Governors party had the trailer reserved throughout.
Got off at Walpole Drive and walked to the Pier.
Queens Pier open day
Queens pier loco and trailer running
Viewed the recent works on the pier.
Had a round trip with the Planet diesel and trailer. Took lots of photos and video of the next trip.
Good to have experienced the first public operation on the Pier since 1981.
Walked back to the MER station and viewed the Victorian Fayre.
Car 1+44 to Dhoon Glen at 11.25
Car 20+57 to Groudle at 12.10
Walked down the Glen to the:
Groudle Gala
Everything goes!
Walked back to the MER station.
MER Intensive service day
Nine car service in operation
Car 1+44 to Laxey at 15.05
Car 14 to Baldrine at 15.40
Car 7+43 to Dhoon Glen at 15.58
Car 9+41 to Derby Castle at 16.40
Allocations:
MER: D1 21+59 SMR: 4
D2 5+40
D3 2+19
D4 1+44
D5 20+57
D6 14
D7 22+42
D8 7+43
D9 16+41 / 6+41 (pm)
Service D+ day
Monday 5th August
Farewell Grand Island tour
Car 6+41 to Laxey at 9.20
Noted Snaefell cars cancelled today due to high winds.
Car 5+48 to Ramsey at 10.10
Bus tour north and west of the island and back to Derby Castle.
Car 21+43 to Laxey at 13.10
Car 20+42 to Douglas at 14.25
Only person on the trailer. Driving from the rear cab due to front controller problem. Stopped at Howstrake and driver transferred to front cab to roll it down the hill into Douglas.
Allocations:
MER: L 6+41 IMR: D 4 SMR: Cancelled,
D1 5+48 PE 11 strong winds
D2 21+43
D3 22+44*
D4 20+42 / 7**
* Trailer 44 dropped for pm trip
** Problem with front controller, swapped for car 7 for pm trip
Service D day
Tuesday 6th August
MER allocations:
L 7+41
D1 21+43
D2 22+42
D3 6+44
D4 2+48
Service D day