Every July Isle of Man Transport run a five day Heritage Transport event showcasing their four systems: Isle of Man Steam Railway, Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Snaefell Mountain Railway and Manx Electric Railway. Ably supported by the volunteers at Groudle Glen Railway and Jurby Transport Museum plus more recently the volunteer groups that support both the MER and IMR. Always a great week of transport delights, in recent years this has become even more of a treat for tram enthusiasts due to the very positive developments on all of the tramways. David Mee reports from the Isle of Man.<\/p>\n
All change for Douglas Promenade\u2026.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Bay Horse Tramway at Douglas is currently being totally rebuilt, complete with a new car shed in the style of the original and a completely new running line. Several cars have been rebuilt and more are to follow. It will probably be at least another eighteen months before the line is complete and the new car shed open, but in the meantime the trams are running from a temporary Marquee on the former Summerland site to a point adjacent to Little Switzerland Road. This is likely to extend further before the season ends. Next year it should be possible to catch a Horse Tram from Derby Castle to the Villa Marina on Harris Promenade, with the line complete to the Sea Terminal in 2021.<\/p>\n Even more investment in the Manx Electric\u2026.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n In recent years a great deal of investment has taken place in the MER, much on infrastructure, some of which was not without controversy, particularly the schemes at Laxey and Ramsey. Further recent work at Laxey has returned the site to something akin to the station of old, Ramsey on the other hand is very much still a work in progress! Last winter and into the early part of this season a long section of rail was replaced north of the Dhoon to the Garey. More universally acclaimed is the investment in the rolling stock. More and more cars are returning to the operational pool, some in historical liveries. Recent years have seen the return of a Ratchet Car, No.14<\/strong>, Winter Saloons in historical liveries, and several long sidelined trailers returning to service. Current activity suggests that this will continue.<\/p>\n Up on the mountain\u2026.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Snaefell Mountain Railway continues to recover from the dreadful runaway incidents which blighted it in recent years. During the winter\/early season a long section of line from Lhergy Veg to the Bungalow was replaced, resulting in some interesting single line working during the first few months of the season. The biggest problem facing the line at present is insufficient rolling stock. Since Car 3<\/strong> was lost leaving just five cars available for traffic there has been insufficient capacity to meet the needs of cruise liner, coach tour and casual passengers. Casual visitors should note that pre-booked parties are given priority and long queues and waits are now the norm at Laxey. If rumours are to be believed this should all be resolved by four new cars fitted with modern systems and designed to enhance the travel experience particularly for evening premium customers on Summit Dining experiences. Currently Cars 1<\/strong>, 2<\/strong> and 4<\/strong> make up the core passenger fleet with Permanent Way allocated car 5<\/strong> available as a last resort. Car 6<\/strong> is undergoing a full overhaul.<\/p>\n Much of the following takes the form of a diary based on notes taken whilst on the island. I have included timetable and tram allocations when known and expanded information as necessary very much focussed on the MER but with brief reference to other events. I was on the island for the four days of charters by the Isle of Man 50 Group prior to the Heritage Transport Festival and have included these as well.<\/p>\n Before the events began\u2026.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Thursday 18th July<\/strong><\/p>\n Timetable D in force on MER today and until next Wednesday<\/p>\n I arrived by the morning sailing from Liverpool and more by luck than judgement got to the MER in time for:<\/p>\n With 22<\/strong>+44<\/strong> to Dhoon Glen at 14.40. Lovely sunny afternoon so sat in the trailer. Quick explore. No Kiosk this year at Dhoon Glen, closed for refurbishment.<\/p>\n With 7<\/strong>+48<\/strong> to Laxey at 15.40.<\/p>\n With 9<\/strong>+47<\/strong> to Derby Castle at 16.25.<\/p>\n Quick look at the Horse Tram tent with cars 45<\/strong>, 29<\/strong>, 42<\/strong> and MER 34<\/strong> in attendance. Not running today due to the road being dug up near Derby Castle.<\/p>\n Tram Allocations:<\/span><\/p>\n D1: 6+41<\/p>\n D2: 7+48<\/p>\n D3: 1+42<\/p>\n D4: 22+44<\/p>\n D5: 9+47<\/p>\n Spl: 20+57 (school party)<\/p>\n Spl: 32+51<\/p>\n Notes: A large marquee with clear sides has been erected on part of the Summerland Site to act as an operating base for the Horse Trams until the Car Shed is complete. There is space for six cars inside. MER Car 34<\/strong> is currently based there for use in support of the rebuilding of the running line.<\/em><\/p>\n Friday 19th July<\/strong><\/p>\n Evening service G operating today and tomorrow on the MER<\/p>\n I started the day with bus trips to St. Johns and Ramsey via Peel before transferring to the MER.<\/p>\n With car 22<\/strong>+47<\/strong> to Laxey at 11.10 (act.11.20)<\/p>\n Photo 1<\/strong>+59<\/strong> in siding.<\/p>\n With 7<\/strong>+48<\/strong> to Douglas at 12.25<\/p>\n An afternoon trip on the Steam Railway followed.<\/p>\n Out again at 17.00 and down to Derby Castle to sample the evening trams.<\/p>\n Car 7<\/strong> single motor to Ramsey at 17.40.<\/p>\n Car 7<\/strong> single motor to Laxey at 20.40.<\/p>\n Car 7<\/strong> single motor to Douglas at 22.25.<\/p>\n Tram Allocations:<\/span><\/p>\n D1: 1+59<\/p>\n D2: 9+41 start, then 2+41, finally 6+44, 9 taken off service for UDE<\/p>\n D3: 22+47 (trailer swapped lunchtime for 57)<\/p>\n D4: 7+48<\/p>\n D5: 20+42<\/p>\n UDE: 32 to start, due to rain 9 substituted at Laxey<\/p>\n Evening: 7, 9, 22<\/p>\n Notes: UDE \u2013 Ultimate Driver Experience course. The weather rapidly deteriorated today so the open car 32<\/strong> was swapped for an enclosed car. There is a shortage of enclosed cars at the moment with two Winter Cars sidelined, 19<\/strong> and 21<\/strong>, resulting in the use of open cars even on inclement days!<\/em><\/p>\n Isle of man 50 Group events: 20th – 24th July<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Isle of Man 50 Group grew out of the Centenary Events held during the 1990\u2019s. When these reached a natural conclusion, many still yearned for an annual visit to the Isle of Man. A group of friends started arranging charters on the islands transport system and the group grew to almost fifty individuals, hence the name. Traditionally four or five days of private hires and charters take place just prior to the railways own main transport event.<\/p>\n Saturday 20th July<\/strong><\/p>\n IOM 50 Group Bus Hire<\/span><\/p>\n Today the group hired a bus from Isle of Man Transport to visit a couple of interesting sites in the South of the Island, Knockaloe Internment Camp Exhibition, a site once served by its own branch line off the Isle of Man Railways Peel line, and Cregneash, a beautifully maintained village overlooking the Calf Island, one of the first \u2018living\u2019 museums allowing visitors to experience times past. A fascinating place well worth a visit.<\/p>\n All this and a group get together in the evening resulted in no MER travel today, although I did note most of the trams in service:<\/p>\n Tram Allocations:<\/span><\/p>\n D1: 7+47<\/p>\n D2: 9+42<\/p>\n D3: 22+44<\/p>\n D4: 20+41<\/p>\n D5: ?<\/p>\n Sunday 21st July<\/strong><\/p>\n Half day Hires: Steam railway & Manx Electric Railway<\/p>\n First thing today I took time to visit and read the new Cable Tram Exhibit on the Promenade. In times past Douglas was served by another tramway, the Upper Douglas Cable Tram, which ran from the bottom of Victoria Road near the Sea Terminal, up to Woodbourne Road and back down to the Promenade near Broadway. There are few reminders today, but they are worth seeking out by walking the old route and include two concrete passenger shelters in Upper Douglas, part of the depot track fan at York Road and this new exhibit near the Sea Terminal built around one of the cable drums. By far the most impressive remaining artefact is a complete tramcar (made from parts of two vehicles which had been incorporated into a dwelling, cars 72<\/strong> and 73<\/strong>) on display at Jurby Transport Museum.<\/p>\n Today the fifty group had two half days private hires, the first on the Isle of Man Steam Railway with No. 8 Fenella and two coaches F10 and F26<\/p>\n A Double Decker transfer to Derby Castle at lunch time before:<\/p>\n Manx Electric Railway<\/span><\/p>\n Car 2<\/strong>+tower 1<\/strong> round trip to Dhoon Quarry<\/p>\n 14.50 departure from Derby Castle, non-stop to Dhoon Quarry except for usual pathing stop at Laxey. Photos of the run around and then also photos at Ballaragh. Plus a bonus posed session with car 14<\/strong>. Then back to Douglas non-stop apart from a short stop at Laxey. Back by 17.05.<\/p>\n Tram Allocations:<\/span><\/p>\n D1: 7+59<\/p>\n D2: 6+44<\/p>\n D3: 32+51 \/ 9 for last round trip<\/p>\n D4: 20+41<\/p>\n D5: 22+42<\/p>\n Spl: 2 + tower 1<\/p>\n UDE: 14<\/p>\n Monday 22nd July<\/strong><\/p>\n Isle of Man Steam Railway day<\/p>\n This was the groups main photo charter on the Steam Railway featuring Caledonia, F39, F54 and a G Van. I did manage a short MER trip first thing:<\/p>\n Car 7<\/strong>+59<\/strong> to Ballagawne at 8.40<\/p>\n Service 3 bus back to to Douglas at 9.15 for the Steam Charter<\/p>\n I left the charter early afternoon and headed for the MER.<\/p>\n Car 6<\/strong>+42<\/strong> to Dhoon Glen at 14.40<\/p>\n Car 20<\/strong>+41<\/strong> to Laxey at 14.55. Coffee break in the cafe.<\/p>\n Car 1<\/strong>+44<\/strong> to Derby Castle at 16.25<\/p>\n Tram Allocations:<\/span><\/p>\n D1: 7+59<\/p>\n D2: 20+41<\/p>\n D3: 22+57<\/p>\n D4: 6+42<\/p>\n D5: 1+44<\/p>\n Test: 32+54<\/p>\n Tuesday 23rd July<\/strong><\/p>\n MER \u2013 Triple Tram Tuesday<\/p>\n The main fifty group event on the MER<\/p>\n Car 32<\/strong>+57<\/strong> to Ballagawne at 8.40<\/p>\n Service 3 bus to Onchan at 9.16, Walked back down to Derby Castle to see what was going on \u2018on shed\u2019 before:<\/p>\n IOM 50 Group Tram hires<\/span><\/p>\n Hire 1: Car 1<\/strong> and trailer 51<\/strong><\/p>\n Departed on time<\/p>\n Stops at: Boncomptes<\/p>\n Groudle Old Road<\/p>\n Groudle, and reverse<\/p>\n On arrival at Derby Castle did the following bonus move:<\/p>\n Horse Car round trip with Rodney and car 45<\/strong><\/p>\n Hire 2: Car 20<\/strong>, trailer 60<\/strong> and Van 16<\/strong><\/p>\n Departed at 11.15<\/p>\n Stops at: Below Eskadale<\/p>\n Below Halfway House and photos across the road<\/p>\n Laxey Car Sheds, 16<\/strong> and 32<\/strong> pass<\/p>\n Laxey, reverse, lunch supplies<\/p>\n Away again by 13.30, pick up van at car sheds, stops as follows:<\/p>\n Ballagawne<\/p>\n Port Jack<\/p>\n Hire 3: Car 7<\/strong> and trailer 59<\/strong><\/p>\n Departed 13.55, non-stop to Laxey.<\/p>\n Stops at: Above Washing floors, Laxey<\/p>\n Cornaa Station<\/p>\n Murrays Road<\/p>\n Pole 704 above Murrays Road<\/p>\n Left the charter and then:<\/p>\n Car 22<\/strong>+41<\/strong> to Douglas at 16.10<\/p>\n The journey started to unravel at Laxey when we were held ten minutes to pick up Snaeffell passengers. A Van was found abandoned on the line at Groudle Old Road causing further delay. Back by 17.45.<\/p>\n Tram Allocations:<\/span><\/p>\n D1: 32+57<\/p>\n D2: 2+42<\/p>\n D3: 16+44<\/p>\n D4: 22+41<\/p>\n D5: 6+48<\/p>\n UDE: 14<\/p>\n PW: 9+52<\/p>\n Spl 1: 1+51<\/p>\n Spl 2: 20+60+Van 16<\/p>\n Spl 3: 7+59<\/p>\n This concluded the Fifty Group activities.<\/p>\n Manx Heritage Transport Festival: 24th – 28th July<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Wednesday 24th July<\/strong><\/p>\n Timetable F in use on MER from now until Sunday, 20 departures from Douglas!<\/p>\n In recent years the MER has made almost exclusive use of 40 series clerestory fitted trailers for most services. Occasionally supplemented by enclosed trailers and lightweight trailers No.51<\/strong> and 60<\/strong> on specials. This was to change today with the return to service of not one, but three further lightweight bulkhead trailers \u2013 37<\/strong>, 49<\/strong> and most remarkably 54<\/strong>.<\/p>\n I decided to concentrate today on haulage from the new trailers and therefore missed the early morning parallel run by cars 14<\/strong> and 16<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Bulkhead Trailers launched<\/span><\/p>\n Car 2<\/strong>+49<\/strong> to Ballagawne at 8.40<\/p>\n Service 3 bus to Liverpool Arms at 9.15<\/p>\n Car 16<\/strong>+54<\/strong> to Laxey at 9.30<\/p>\n Car 16<\/strong>+54<\/strong> to Groudle at 9.55 (10.00 act)<\/p>\n Car 20<\/strong>+37<\/strong> to Ramsey at 10.22<\/p>\n Car 20<\/strong>+37<\/strong> to Groudle at 11.40 (11.48 act)<\/p>\n Walk down the Glen<\/p>\n Groudle Glen Railway<\/span><\/p>\n Rumours that the \u2018new\u2019 loco Brown Bear was out and about today led to this detour. It was indeed in service and made for an impressive sight.<\/p>\n Car 22<\/strong>+56<\/strong> to Douglas at 15.43 (15.55 act)<\/p>\n Horse Car 45<\/strong> to TT Shirts.<\/p>\n Tram Allocations:<\/span><\/p>\n D1: 2+49<\/p>\n L: 16+54<\/p>\n D2: 22+60<\/p>\n D3: 20+37<\/p>\n D4: 6+51<\/p>\n D5: 7+59<\/p>\n Spl: 14*<\/p>\n Spl: 16*<\/p>\n Test: 5<\/p>\n UDE: 32<\/p>\n * Parallel run to Groudle at 9:10, Car 14<\/strong> then on Onchan Head and Groudle Shuttles<\/p>\n Note: Trailer 49<\/strong> still wears the special livery applied in the 1990\u2019s to match that then carried by cars 1<\/strong> and 2<\/strong>. It has been subject to a heavy clean and re-varnish. Trailer 37<\/strong> has received a full repaint in standard fleet livery. The most remarkable returnee is trailer 54<\/strong>, long sidelined and now the recipient of the latest joint volunteer and staff rebuild. It looks stunning and rides very well on its new wheel sets. Trailer 36<\/strong> is the next project. The aim is to generate a much larger pool of trailers which will be rotated in service to even out wear. Trailers 50<\/strong>, 53<\/strong> and 55<\/strong> are options for future rebuild.<\/em><\/p>\n Thursday 25th July<\/strong><\/p>\n Tunnel Car parallel run<\/span><\/p>\n Car 32<\/strong>+61<\/strong> to Howstrake at 8.40<\/p>\n Photo 6<\/strong>+59<\/strong> and 7 on the parallel run<\/p>\n Car 20<\/strong>+48<\/strong> to Laxey at 9.45. Very busy.<\/p>\n Manx Northerner<\/span><\/p>\n No.4 Caledonia and Foxdale coach plus the Port Erin based set. Nice commemorative name boards.<\/p>\n Good photos and then travel one way to Port Erin at 11.50. Very busy train.<\/p>\n Service 1 bus to Derby Castle at 13.18<\/p>\n Car 33<\/strong>+62<\/strong> to Ramsey at 14.40.<\/p>\n Car 33<\/strong>+62<\/strong> to Derby Castle at 16.10. Good spirited run.<\/p>\n Cock o\u2019 the North Dining Train<\/span><\/p>\n IOM 50 Group reserved coach on this train. 7pm from Douglas<\/p>\n Knew immediately that this was not going to be a good experience. Train very hot and cramped.<\/p>\n Tram Allocations:<\/span><\/p>\n D1: 32+61<\/p>\n L: 6+59<\/p>\n D2: 20+48<\/p>\n D3: 22+41<\/p>\n D4: 33+62<\/p>\n D5: 2+37<\/p>\n Spl: 7*<\/p>\n UDE: 9<\/p>\n * Parallel run with car 5<\/strong>, then UDE<\/p>\n Friday 26th July<\/strong><\/p>\n Lost trams in service plus shed tour<\/p>\n Several trams masquerading as sister cars lost in the Laxey Car Shed fire. Car 2<\/strong> became car 3<\/strong>, car 6<\/strong> became car 8<\/strong>, car 7<\/strong> became car 4<\/strong> and car 16<\/strong> was turned out as car 24<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Car 3<\/strong>+49<\/strong>+van 4<\/strong> to Ramsey at 8.40.<\/p>\n Car 3<\/strong>+49<\/strong>+van 4<\/strong> to Douglas at 10.10. Van 4<\/strong> shunted to siding at Laxey. Trailer developed a hot axle box noted en route from Laxey and repaired at some length at Derby Castle, delaying our arrival by 10 minutes and departure appreciably. Walked up to depot for:<\/p>\n Tour of Derby Castle Sheds<\/span><\/p>\n Booked on 12.15 tour from MER Museum<\/p>\n Arrived just after 12 noon and noted cars 29<\/strong>, 53<\/strong> and Horse Car 36<\/strong> on display in yard<\/p>\n Top Shed: R1: 33, 32<\/p>\n R2: 5, 20, 19 (on jacks)<\/p>\n R3: 37, 56, 17, 15<\/p>\n R4: empty<\/p>\n R5: 51, 62, 41, 48, 18<\/p>\n R6: Horse Car 18, 40<\/p>\n R7: 57, 58, Horse Car 27<\/p>\n R8: 42, 43, 44<\/p>\n Bottom Shed Paint Shop: 29<\/p>\n R1: 21 on blocks<\/p>\n R2: Van 16, 14, 1<\/p>\n R3: T1, 55<\/p>\n Workshops, former boiler house<\/p>\n Finish in Museum<\/p>\n Car 4<\/strong>+60<\/strong> to Laxey at 14.10.<\/p>\n Snaefell Mountain Railway<\/span><\/p>\n Round trip on the mountain with car 2<\/strong>. Up at 15.15 (delayed to 15.25), back at 16.10, arriving into Laxey at 16.35. Cold and windy at the summit, but clear.<\/p>\n Car 24<\/strong>+59<\/strong> to Derby Castle at 16.55<\/p>\n Tunnel Car Photography Evening<\/span><\/p>\n Featuring cars 4<\/strong> [7<\/strong>], 5<\/strong>,