Douglas Southern Electric Tramway
Encyclopedia
Douglas Southern Electric Tramway was a standard gauge tramway which ran from the top of Douglas Head
on the Isle of Man
to the nearby resort of Port Soderick
atop the cliffs via a number of spectacular viaducts and bridges.
at Crich
in Derbyshire
where it resides to this day. There is little left of the line as it was, save for the grand castellated entrance to the Marine Drive itself. The tramway's sheds and workshops were located mid-way along the line at Little Ness, together with the power station for generating the electricity but this was filled in and now provides a car park. Owing to a number of serious landslides the roadway has been closed for several years, but in the 1960s the local authority of Douglas Corporation attempted to rejuvenate the area by introducing a bus service on the coastal route which was short-lived, owing to further landslides which made the road unsafe. Today parts of the route can be used by motor traffic, but a stretch north of Little Ness is open to pedestrians only. The route of this unique lost railway provides a spectacular view of the Irish Sea
, and forms part of the Isle of Man's coastal footpath Raad ny Foillan
(Way of the Gull), created in 1986.
Douglas Head
Douglas Head is a rocky point on the Isle of Man overlooking Douglas Bay and harbour. Views extend to include Snaefell Mountain and Laxey-General:...
on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
to the nearby resort of Port Soderick
Port Soderick
Port Soderick is a small hamlet to the south of Douglas, capital of the Isle of Man, once famed for its pleasure grounds and beach. In latter years there have been various attempts to rejuvenate the area, all of which have been unsuccessful to date...
atop the cliffs via a number of spectacular viaducts and bridges.
Overview
It was opened in 1896 and operated until 1939, never re-opening after the war and was largely lifted and destroyed by 1955 with one of the power cars being retrieved for preservation at the National Tramway MuseumNational Tramway Museum
The National Tramway Museum, at Crich, in Derbyshire, England, is situated within Crich Tramway Village, a period village containing a pub, cafe, old-style sweetshop, including the tram depots. The village is also home to the Eagle Press, a small museum dedicated to Letterpress Printing including...
at Crich
Crich
Crich is a village in Derbyshire in England. It has the National Tramway Museum inside the Crich Tramway Village, and at the summit of Crich Hill above, a Memorial Tower for those of the Sherwood Foresters regiment who died in battle, particularly in World War I.Built in 1923 on the site of an...
in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
where it resides to this day. There is little left of the line as it was, save for the grand castellated entrance to the Marine Drive itself. The tramway's sheds and workshops were located mid-way along the line at Little Ness, together with the power station for generating the electricity but this was filled in and now provides a car park. Owing to a number of serious landslides the roadway has been closed for several years, but in the 1960s the local authority of Douglas Corporation attempted to rejuvenate the area by introducing a bus service on the coastal route which was short-lived, owing to further landslides which made the road unsafe. Today parts of the route can be used by motor traffic, but a stretch north of Little Ness is open to pedestrians only. The route of this unique lost railway provides a spectacular view of the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
, and forms part of the Isle of Man's coastal footpath Raad ny Foillan
Raad ny Foillan
is a long distance footpath in the Isle of Man.-Route and history:The starts and finishes at the Millennium Bridge over Douglas Harbour...
(Way of the Gull), created in 1986.