In this latest edition of “Picture in Time” we again go to the Isle of Man – and this time we move into 2003.
Parallel runs and the Manx Electric Railway go hand in hand with most special events seeing at least one take place. And that is what is happening here on 1st August 2003 as we see the two remaining original trams – 1 and 2 – heading south towards Derby Castle on what was a special event celebrating 110 years of the Manx Electric Railway.
Both these trams were built in 1893 and, along with no. 3 which was lost in a fire, made up the original fleet of motors for the brand new Manx Electric Railway when it opened to the public. They were both built in Birkenhead by G F Milnes and have remained on the Isle of Man ever since arrival. Now the fact that they are the oldest operational electric tramcars on their original tramway is boasted about with it even making the Guinness Book of World Records, but it wasn’t always the case with both spending some time with the permanent way/overhead line department.
But now their historic nature is recognised fully with their use being restricted to passengers now, and as part of timetable D during the summer there is a diagram that either of these, or one of the Crossbenches, is allocated to allowing everyone to sample their delights.
At the time of this photo, 2 was in a livery which was an attempt at the original livery carried by trams. This only survived on the tram for a couple of seasons having been applied in June 2002. 1 is in more familiar colours though.
Photograph by David Mee, 1st August 2003