The 2009 timetables are now online:

MER

IMR

Jon Warnham has published images on his website showing the new Laxey carshed and also action shots of various works equipment:

• www.island-images2.co.uk (external link)

A plan to establish a vintage transport museum on the Isle of Man looks set to take a step forward following further discussions between government departments on how implement the project.
The Manx Transport Trust (MTT) has been awarded permission to use an aircraft hangar at Jurby to house a collection of historic vehicles which include trams and buses currently stored at Homefield Garage in Douglas…

To read the full article click here:

• 30-JAN-2009 www.leisureproperty.com (external link)

The story so far:

• 27-JAN-2009 www.iomtoday.com (external link)

• 1-OCT-2008 www.iomtoday.com (external link)

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

This website is all about the IoM’s tramways and railways. Soon we will show photos and fleet lists here. At a later stage we will also add other modes of transport like:

• Groudle Glen Railway
• Laxey Mines Railway
• Douglas Head Incline Railway
• Port Soderick Cliff Lift
• Douglas Holiday Camp Chair Lift

Here is a map of the IoM showing the various lines (click to enlarge):

Update (FEB 09): we have scanned hundreds of MER slides in the past few months and shortly these images will be available for you to view. Our fleet lists will also re-appear! Thank you for all the enquiries (we’ve been very busy – sorry for the delay).

Along the MER right of way you can see various notices nailed onto plaster wood. We have replicated one of these notices for you to download! You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader® software to open the file.

• MER sign (click here to open file)

Not a tramway or a railway but never-the-less a most interesting little line with a long history & a remarkable survivor. The Falcon Cliff Hotel stands some 250 feet above the Central Promenade in Douglas. In 1887 a Cliff Lift was built to give better access to the hotel. The double-track 4′ 0″ gauge Incline Railway was dismantled in 1896 and re-erected at Port Soderick. A second Public-Lift was built in 1932 by William Wadsworth Ltd. (rebuilt in 1937 and converted from D.C. to A.C. operation in 1950). The Cliff Lift is an elevator with the passenger cabin being propelled in a steel channel on an incline of 60 degrees. It has been out of use for a number of years now but everything is still there today.

Today there is only one steam railway left in the IoM – the line from Douglas to Port Erin. The first steam railway to open in 1873 was the 11 ½ mile long Douglas to Peel line built by the Isle of Man Railway Company (IMR). A year later the 15 ½ mile long Port Erin line was opened. The company had wanted to build a line to Ramsay but could not find enough funds. In 1877 a separate company (the Manx Northern Railway) was formed to build a line from St. Johns to Ramsey (16 ½ miles) – this was achieved by 1879. The last railway to be built (and the first to close in 1945) was the short Foxdale Railway which was later incorporated into the MNR. The collapse of Dumbell’s Bank in 1900 resulted in financial uncertainty for many companies in the IoM and in 1903 the MNR had to sell out to the IMR. 1965 was almost the end for the railways. UK holiday makers had discovered cheap holidays abroad and the passenger numbers on the IMR had fallen accordingly. Freight service has also almost completely disappeared. No trains ran in 1966. The Marquis of Ailsa leased the IMR for 21 years from 1967 and services started again to run, though the Peel and Ramsey lines closed in 1968/9. The IMR still lost money and the Marquis was able to terminate the lease after 5 years (as per the original contract). Today the IMR is run by the IoM government (like the MER and the SMR).

The 3′ 0″ gauge Pier Tramway opened in July 1886 but the pier and tramway closed in 1981. For many years only baggage cars were used on the pier and these were pushed by hand. After that both passenger and baggage cars were operated by the petrol loco. The last steamers used the pier in 1970 and the pier was closed many years ago .

From 1896-97 to 1939 the Douglas Southern Electric Tramway (4′ 8 1/2″ gauge) took passengers from Douglas Head (reached by Ferry and Incline Railway) to Port Soderick (where a Cliff Lift could be used to reach the beach below – see also Falcon Cliff Hotel Lift). After closure the rolling stock remained in the depot until 1951-52 before being scrapped (only one car survived this fate). This line was unique on the IOM using conventional standard gauge double deck cars. Almost nothing remains of this lovely little line and its connecting Incline and Cliff Lift. To see the sole remaining car one has to travel to the National Tramway Museum in Crich, Derbyshire, where it is now on static display.