Manx Heritage Transport Festival 30 July to 5 August 2009
Thursday 30 July
“Welcome to Isle of Man Transport”
Evening Film Show at the Villa Marina presented by the
Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters Association
Starts at 19.30 Admission Free
Friday 31 July
10.20 and 14.20 Douglas to Port Erin, and 12.20 and 16.20 Port Erin to Douglas trains will be the first to be operated by locomotive No. 10 “G H Wood” turned to face Douglas.
Usual fares apply (including Explorer tickets)
Viking Venture
Additional trains from Port Erin to Colby at 11.25 and 15.25, returning at 11.55 and 15.55, hauled by diesel locomotive No. 17 “Viking”. Usual fares apply (including Explorer tickets)
Manx Northern
Special train at 09.00 from Douglas to Port Erin (arr. 10.55), returning at 14.35 and arriving back in Douglas at 16.15, with photo stops at stations en route and crossing service trains at Colby. Operated by ex- Manx Northern locomotive “Caledonia”, MNR Foxdale brake coach F39, and MNR goods van G12. Very limited capacity – special reservation ticket required.
Fare – usual fares apply (including Explorer tickets), plus special reservation ticket (£10).
Port Erin Evening Special
Special train from Douglas to Port Erin at 18.30, returning non-stop at 21.00
Usual fares apply (including Explorer tickets)
Saturday 1 August
All service trains double-headed or banked between Douglas and Port Soderick
Great Laxey Mines Railway in operation. Demonstration ore trains.
The Dhoon Diesel
Special diesel-hauled services on the MER – Laxey to Dhoon Quarry and back at 11.40, 13.40 and 15.10 (one hour round trip). Tram trailer hauled by vintage Ruston diesel locomotive (courtesy of RMS Locotec Ltd).
Special fares apply – Adult £5.00, Child £2.50.
Catch a Cab
Locomotive Cab rides from Laxey to Fairy Cottage and back at 10.25, 11.00, 13.00 and 16.30 (25 minute round trip) on vintage ex-Bord na Móna (Irish Turf Board) Simplex diesel locomotive (courtesy of RMS Locotec Ltd). Very limited capacity. Special fares apply
(adult passengers only) £10.00. Advance reservation only.
National Service
10.10 Derby Castle – Ramsey and 11.40 Ramsey – Derby Castle services operated by
Tram No.16 and Trailer No.60 in the 1957 “Nationalised” green livery.
Usual fares apply (including Explorer tickets).
Northern Lights
Special evening guided tram tour at 18.30 from Douglas (Derby Castle) to Ramsey, arriving back by 22.15 with a 30 minute refreshment break at Laxey on the outward journey and a 45-minute break at Ramsey. Commentary on places and items of special interest en route, with special stops as appropriate. Limited capacity – special reservation tickets required. Usual fares apply (including Explorer tickets) –
plus reservation ticket (£10.00 – inclusive of refreshments at Laxey)
Sunday 2 August
Groudle Glen Railway operating, with a two-train service all day.
Steam, diesel and battery locomotives in use.
Great Laxey Mines Railway operating, including demonstration ore trains.
Steam road wagon on display at Laxey
Miniature railway in operation at the Curraghs Wildlife Park.
MER Society Film Show in the evening (to be arranged)
Coastal Connector
Special MER tram shuttle service between Groudle (for the Groudle Glen Railway) and Laxey (for the Great Laxey Mines Railway) – both of which will be in operation. Operated by an open cross-bench tram hauling MER Mail Van No. 4.
Departures from Laxey to Groudle at 10.30, 12.00, 13.30, 15.00 and 16.30
Departures from Groudle to Laxey at 11.10, 12.40, 14.10, 15.40 and 17.10
Usual fares apply (including Explorer tickets)
Ramsey Ruston
Special tram service with vintage Ruston diesel locomotive hauling a tram trailer from Laxey to Ramsey at 11.15, and returning from Ramsey to Laxey at 13.45. Courtesy of RMS Locotec Ltd. Special fares apply – Adult £10.00, Child £5.00
Double Vision
10.20 Douglas – Port Erin and 12.20 Port Erin – Douglas trains double headed.
Usual fares apply (including Explorer tickets)
Monday 3 August
MER trams 1 and 2 in use. All saloon trailers in use. Mail van No. 4 attached to 11.40 Derby Castle to Ramsey and 13.40 Ramsey to Derby Castle services.
Open wagon attached to some Snaefell Mountain Railway services.
Snaefell Sunset
Special evening tram from Laxey to Snaefell Summit at 19.15, arriving back by 22.00, including a visit to the original 1895 SMR Laxey Station (now a branch line to the Snaefell Tram Depot) en route, and a photographic stop opposite the Great Laxey Wheel. Refreshments available at Snaefell Summit station, where a short astronomical talk will be given by Howard Parkin of the IoM astronomical Society, as well as a short guided tour of the flora and fauna at the summit by John “Dog” Callister.
Connecting tram from Douglas (Derby Castle) at 18.40, arriving back in Douglas at 22.30.
Special fares apply – From Laxey – Adult £10.00, Child £5.00. From Douglas – Adult £12.00, Child £6.00.
Caledonia
10.20 Douglas – Port Erin and 12.20 Port Erin – Douglas trains hauled by former Manx Northern Railway locomotive “Caledonia”.
Usual fares apply (including Explorer tickets).
Tuesday 4 August
Display of unusual railway vehicles at Laxey station, including the NATS (National Air Traffic Services) diesel railcars used on the Snaefell line, a vintage IMR Wickham Railcar, and
on-track machines used by trackwork contractor RMS Locotec.
Evening services operating on the Groudle Glen Railway
Connecting tram service from Derby Castle and back, as per MER timetable.
Special inclusive fares apply for return tram journey and Groudle Glen Railway travel.
£5.00 Adult, £3.00 Child.
National Service
10.10 Derby Castle – Ramsey and 11.40 Ramsey – Derby Castle services operated by
Tram No.16 and Trailer No.60 in the 1957 “Nationalised” green livery.
Usual fares apply (including Explorer tickets).
Maria
12.45 and 14.30 Laxey – Dhoon Quarry and back (one hour round trip) operated by MER diesel-electric tram No. 34 “Maria” and two trailers.
Special fares apply – Adult £5.00, Child £2.50.
Launch and renaming of re-liveried Ruston diesel locomotive (formerly “Bertie”) at Laxey station at 11.15.
The Dhoon Diesel
Special diesel-hauled services on the MER – Laxey to Dhoon Quarry and back at 11.40, 13.40 and 15.10 (one hour round trip). Tram trailer hauled by vintage Ruston diesel locomotive (courtesy of RMS Locotec Ltd).
Special fares apply – Adult £5.00, Child £2.50.
Wednesday 5 August
Tour of the Island by vintage bus – to be arranged.
Evening services operating on the Groudle Glen Railway.
Connecting tram service from Derby Castle and back, as per MER timetable.
Special inclusive fares apply for return tram journey and Groudle Glen Railway travel.
£5.00 Adult, £3.00 Child.
Evening trip from Derby Castle to Ramsey and back with an open cross-bench tram and two bulkhead trailers, to be arranged by TLP Tours.
All Events are subject to availability of stock.
Further details please contact
Isle of Man Transport Customer Services Manager on 01624 663366
2 comments
Comments feed for this article
February 27, 2008 at 11:42 pm
TONY EVANS
I’ve been working on the island for the past 6mths away from family and friends.Over this time i have fallen in love with the hospitality and the scenery the island has to offer.
As a result of my comments we as a family have decided to holiday here instead of abroad.
One of the attractions we hoped to do was the tramway into Ramsey.
Question: why wasn’ this undertaken off peak,bearing in mind i heard reports on local radio during the autumn-winter months that the island was trying to promote summer tourism apart from road racing.
In my opion the island suffers from a lack of things to do for the youngsters,but a trip on a tram appeals to most people including kids.
Dont get me wrong i love this place, but i also want my kids (aged 8 & 14)to love it too,and want them to return in the future,or is the tourism board only interested in old buggers like me saying “what a lovely view Petunia!
October 20, 2008 at 8:20 am
Anonymous
As the track was closed for very valid safety reasons you should be pleased that the Isle of Man Government are not prepared to put you or your children at risk. Trams were running on the majority of track so they could still have travelled from Douglas to Laxey and on the mountain railway to Snaefell. Work was carried out off peak as well as in the summer and is still ongoing but it is a very large project. I personally think that it is better for tourism in the long run to have a well maintained railway that will last long into the future and if this means sacrificing parts of the normal timetable for one summer then that’s fine with me.