This page is designed for photographic contributions to
the Manx Electric Railway Society website. If you have any
views of transport to or on the Isle of Man, particularly
pre 1980, and would like to see them added to the website
please e-mail first with details to [email protected]
All contributions welcomed.
Transport enthusiast Roy Cripps has sent in the following
views of Island transport. The MERS is very grateful for the
use of these photographs, which make a welcome addition to
the website. Copyright for each view remains with Roy
Cripps.
Manx Electric Railway car 1 and disabled persons trailer
56 are seen at Ramsey on Tuesday, June 13, 2006. The
trailers wheelchair ramp is being used for passengers to
disembark.
For a short period 1893 car 2 had some of its maroon
repainted blue, as seen in this view here at Groudle on July
16, 2002 in the company of trailer 43. Apart from looking
decidedly odd amongst the red cars, the effect is somewhat
marred because it was only a partial repaint, side lining
retaining maroon from the previous livery. Car 2 now carries
MER red and white livery similar to that applied to
sister car 1.
MER tunnel car 5 is seen approaching Baldrine
station en route to Ramsey with a service tram on September
11, 2001, with the Island's mountain range in the
background. Note the Ramsey bound track had recently been
re-laid, whilst the tram shows the fleetname in the Manx
language.
The same car almost seven years later, caught at Laxey
station on Friday, May 16, 2008 during the shortened
operation between Derby Castle and Laxey only.
Tunnel car 6 is seen outside the doomed Summerland
complex on March 25, 2002 whilst in use as a winter wire
car. As the overhead crew attend to some problem with the
wires, other members of staff look intently under the
car.
Car 6, along with 1893 trailer 49, has just shunted at
Derby Castle in readiness for its next trip north on
Wednesday, June 4, 2008.
Tunnel car 6 and Winter Saloon 22 sit at Derby Castle on
Saturday, July 12, 2008
In the winter sunshine freshly repainted Tunnel car 6
poses for photographs outside Derby Castle depot on
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Traditionally during the winter period a regular service
car, normally but not exclusively from the batch of tunnel
cars, is given over the to the per way dept for maintenance
duties. Car 7 is seen at Groudle on October 22, 2001 whilst
operating as such. At the beginning of each summer the car
would be cleaned and returned to passenger service - however
so far this has proved not to be the case for car 7, it is
still (2005) used on per way work and has not seen passenger
use in a number of years. The condition of the tram is
dreadful, not helped by outside storage during a large part
of the 2004/2005 winter.
As part of Isle of Man Railways 2008 enthusiast events
paddlebox car 16 and the delightful little trailer 60 were
operated on service between Derby Castle & Ramsey
on a number of occasions. The pair are seen approaching
Dhoon Quarry on Monday, July 21, the landside track north of
Laxey having re-opened a few days earlier. At this time the
seaside track remained closed with single-line operation in
place between Laxey and Ramsey.
1899 Winter Saloon 19 sits at Derby Castle with good
patronage on August 9, 2001, shortly to depart for Ramsey.
The tram carries the yellow & brown livery and
lettering for the Douglas Laxey & Ramsey Electric
Tramway. Trailer 48 was also painted in this scheme to match
the power car, but on this occasion the tram is paired to a
red and white liveried 40's class trailer.
During December 2012 Santa trams were opertated on the
Manx Electric Railway, linking the outer stations with Laxey
where Santa could be found in the village. Bedecked with
festive garb Winter Saloons 19 and 20, hauling closed
trailers 57 and 58 meet at Laxey station whilst passengers
mingle around the cars.
Manx Electric Railway paddlebox car 27 has for several
years been in use as a per way unit, with knocked up cab and
yellow and black hazard stripes. It is now stored out of
use, but is seen rounding the curve by the former Douglas
Bay Hotel site on September 11, 2001. Behind the car work is
beginning on the new office block that has since replaced
the impressive structure that was once the hotel.
Trailer 41, built in 1930, is being shunted in Laxey on
Saturday, July 19, 2008. It is about to be re-attached to
Tunnel car 5 before returning to Derby Castle
Above & Below: Former
MER passenger trailer 52 is seen at Mines Road, Laxey
on April 2, 2009 carrying the raisable platform tower for
use on 'poles & wires'. Ham & Egg Terrace and
the SMR depot building can be seen in the distance in
the upper photo, with the one-time Isle of Man Road Services
bus garage in the background of the lower photo
Looking inside the top shed at Derby Castle depot on July
14, 2002 a range of MER stock can be seen, including
paddlebox 26, trailers 61 and 41 and behind trailer 61 are
cars 1 and another trailer. Some of the lines most modern
stock is present, 61 dating from 1906 and 41 which replaced
a similar car in 1930.
In recent years a considerable amount of trackwork has
been re-laid on the Manx Electric, mostly by outside
contractors. Two pieces of equipment that contractors
Hocking Rail brought with them are seen at Ham
& Egg Terrace, Laxey. The first is a tamping
machine pictured on March 25. 2002, the second is a mobile
crane photographed on July 29, 2002.
Work has commenced on the Manx Electric 2007/2008 winter
relay and which has again seen the Ruston locomotive and
trailer 45 in use with the contractors. The loco is first
seen alongside Laxey Goods Shed on Friday, November 2, 2007
and later on per-way works with the former trailer on
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Contractors eqipment is seen at Laxey station on Monday,
January 7, 2008
The above four photos taken during April 2008 depict some
of the contractors equipment at Laxey that was in use for
the early summer partial relay on the Laxey-Ramsey section
of the Manx Electric Railway
Subsequently named BUNGLE, and seen at Laxey Mines Road
on October 14, 2008, this former locomotive was one of three
acquired to assist with the 2008/2009 winter relay. At the
time it was the only one of the trio to have made its way to
the railway and was being used purely as a generator
Four years later on October 19 2012, and at the same
location, Wickham railcar '23' is seen about to be towed to
enable the machine to enter Laxey station.
Former MER passenger trailer 45 and diesel shunter
are seen at Howstrake Top on Monday, November 11, 2013
during the movement of per-way infrastructure in connection
with the track relay in the area scheduled for this
winter.
Snaefell Mountain and Manx Electric railways cars
carrying the same fleetnumber meet at Laxey station on
October 20, 2012 - the former line having its operating
season considerably extended for the 2012 summer
timetable.
Snaefell Mountain Railway car 2 is caught outside the
line's Laxey sheds on March 24, 2005, prior to the start of
the summer season
