Manx Electric Railway
Encyclopedia
The Manx Electric Railway is an electric inter-urban tramway connecting Douglas
, Laxey
and Ramsey
in the Isle of Man
. It connects with the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway
at its southern terminus
at Derby Castle
at the northern end of the promenade in Douglas, and with the Snaefell Mountain Railway
at Laxey
. The railway's route is undulating and passes through areas of scenic beauty. For that reason, among others, many holiday visitors to the Isle of Man take an excursion on one of the trams.
and is 17 miles (27.4 km) long from terminus to terminus. It is largely segregated from road traffic, running over two tracks on roadside reservation or private right-of-way, and is electrified using overhead line
at 550 volt
s direct current
. Initially the means of power was supplied to the tramcars by bow collectors (still employed on the Snaefell Mountain Railway
today, owing to its constant connection with the overhead lines and dependability in strong winds on the mountain) but by the turn of the 20th century cars were fitted with trolley poles, the method still employed today. Originally the electricity was generated by the railway's own power stations though they are now supplied via the island's grid by the Manx Electricity Authority. Having operated a year-round service from its inception, the line now still provides service throughout the year although the winter service is much less frequent than the summer service and has been intermittently dropped from schedules in recent years altogether to allow a substantial investment in infrastructure and permanent way in addition to relaying longer stretches of rails and sleepers without disturbance.
cars and the same number of trailers
: the earliest date from 1893 and almost all are pre-1910. Two of the original three cars that opened the line in 1893 are still in use, and are the oldest electric tramcars still at work on their original line anywhere in the world. The design of Manx tramcars pre-dates any consensus on tramcar design, and so they have quite distinctive boxy bodies. Most services are operated by a motor car towing a single trailer, although later cars can easily haul two trailers. This has never been common practice (in recent years this has been included in a few "special" services as part of the long-running series of events on the railway) although it was not uncommon for service cars to also haul a closed box-van for freight goods and, until 1975, a mail van. In September 1975 the line was closed between Laxey-Ramsey and the contract with the Post Office was lost but since this time a limited winter service has operated on weekdays though this was suspended in 1998 as an economy measure. Today, the railway operates a seasonal timetable with services terminating at either Laxey or Ramsey, with some shorter workings in connection with the Groudle Glen Railway
in peak season and limited evening operations as far as Laxey in peak season to tie in with evening services on the Snaefell Mountain Railway
which, since 2009, has provided a weekly Sunset Dinner service including rail travel and a meal at the summit. The possibility of a limited evening service returning to Ramsey in the future has also been considered in recent times and trams are sometimes hired on a charter basis during the summer months for special enthusiasts' excursions.
in 1900 as a consequence of a banking collapse. The tramway was sold by the liquidator
to the newly formed Manx Electric Railway Co. Ltd., which took over the services in 1902. By the late 1950s the Manx Electric Railway Co. Ltd. was itself in financial difficulties, and in 1957 the company and its assets were acquired by the Isle of Man Government
(they carried out a similar move two decades later to save the Isle of Man Railway
) at which point a nationalisation livery of green and white was applied to some trams and trailers for a limited time though this was unpopular and later dropped. A government Board was formed to manage the line and the Snaefell Mountain Railway
, and still does so after various changes of title from the original Manx Electric Railway Board later becoming the Isle Of Man Passenger Transport Board, and it is now operated under the banner heading of Isle Of Man Heritage Railways
(the word heritage being added in 2009). This is a division of the Department of Community, Culture & Leisure
of the Isle of Man Government
, and is also responsible for the operation of the island's buses under the banner of Bus Vannin
.
, Laxey
, Dhoon Glen
, Cornaa
and Ballaglass Glen
are the main stations shown in the timetables. The official stopping points usually have a basic waiting shelter (more recent additions have been modern bus shelters), and there are also a number of "unofficial" stopping points along the line and these sometimes carry "request stop" notices but are not given station nameboards or any other passenger facilities. Several have been dubbed with titles in the more rural areas that cite the name of the nearby farm or farmer; these are most prevalent in the northern section with names such as Rome's Crossing, Watson's Crossing and Dhoon Farm, but none of these occasional stopping places have ever carried their own names. Some lesser-known stopping points are also known by their nearest pole number, with the overhead lines being carried by a succession of these, numbered between 1 and 1,904 from Derby Castle to Ramsey Plaza. Owing to the inter-urban nature of operations tram cars will stop within reason at any point where it is safe to do so, the notable exceptions being where the line runs parallel to a main road; the majority of the first section of the line as far as Baldrine Station runs in this way, as do sections on the approach to the northern terminus as the line runs into the suburban area of Ramsey. These sections were originally toll roads, installed at the same time as the tramway.
as part of the Department of Community, Culture & Leisure and as such do not see the requirement to retain unused stock, which has no potential use or long-term storage place on the railway. In addition, the line has a tram from the Lisbon tramway network
purchased in 1999, but this has never seen use on the line due to clearance difficulties (it was used as a passenger waiting shelter for a spell). This particular vehicle is no longer housed on the railway, but remains on the island.
The following trams were in use on passenger services during the 2010 season, with the mainstay of the services being provided by either winter saloons or tunnel cars. Original tramcars 1 and 2 are both operational but do not usually operate in day=to-day use, tunnel cars 5 and 6 see use in peak summer season and illuminated car 9 (also a member of this class) is used in conjunction with the evening services on the Groudle Glen Railway
in July and August; the backbone of the fleet are the so-called winter saloons, numbered 19-22 which operate the core timetable. Also there are a number of servicable open toastracks, these being numbers 26, 32 and 33 (the latter two being the most powerful on the line). Many other cars remain in the railway's possession albeit out of service and in some cases stored off-site, apart from those items that were lost in the 1930 fire at Laxey. In addition to these motor cars the following trailers have seen use some use including lightweight trailers 37 and 49, bulkheads 40-48 which usually accompany the winter saloons, lightweight trailer 51, converted disabled saloon 56, closed saloons 57 and 58 and 61-62. The line's Royal Saloon, No. 59, makes rare public appearances also. As part of the island's annual transport festival Car 32 occasionally operates a special evening service hauling two trailers, an unusual occurrence despite the later cars being built with the capability to operate in this way. Of note in the remaining fleet car 7 was relegated to permanent way duties for a number of years but has been restored for return to traffic in 2011, locomotive 23 is privately owned, car 34 (previously No. 7 Maria on the Snaefell Mountain Railway
and regauged) is undergoing maintenance, and other cars are receiving remedial attention as and when time and funding allows.
The section of the railway between Laxey Station
and the northern terminus at Ramsey Plaza has been controversially closed twice in the line's history, the first instance being in 1977, but owing to public outcry it was reopened with due ceremony later in the year. During part of the summer of 2008 after a consultancy report commissioned by the Isle of Man Government
exposed critical failings in the permanent way, deeming it unsuitable for carrying a public passenger service in the near future. But the island's parliament, Tynwald
, agreed to spend nearly £5m for track replacement during July–September, allowing trains to run on one track, according to a news report. Manx authorities were considering the use of vintage buses as a replacement during the closure, reports previously stated. The resignation of the Tourism and Leisure Minister Adrian Earnshaw
was called for by enthusiasts and Chief Minister Tony Brown
ordered an urgent review of the closure decision. He also ordered an independent inquiry into how the track had been allowed to get into such a state that it posed a risk to safety. In 2009 the full line operated continuously and has continued to do so since the beginning of the season following at Easter with no rail-related incidents affecting the operation of the services. In the past the tramway has operated a winter service and this continued until 1998 in one form or another but since this time the line has only been operated seasonally, usually between March and the beginning of November though this can vary from season to season.
Owing to the nature of the railway's open and ungated level crossings there have been a number of minor collisions, Since the increase in road traffic during the line's existence these have become more commonplace but are usually minor incidents; the seasonal nature of the line's operations has ensured that warning signage to alert motorists that trams are operating has been erected at the start of each season in recent times to eliminate this risk, however, on occasion incidents do still occur. There are a great number of occupational crossings throughout the line's route, some of which have restricted visibility to motorists. The most recent of these took place on Monday, 27 July 2009, when a vehicle carrying a mechanical excavator came into contact with the overhead wires supplying traction power to both the low road and the Snaefell Mountain Railway
at a busy road crossing in Laxey; there were no injuries. Police and the railway's electrical engineering crews attended the scene of the incident, the report also said. It did not indicate what damage had occurred as a result of the incident. Service resumed the next day after temporary repairs to the overhead lines, which was to be permanently repaired over the subsequent couple of weeks. An investigation into the incident was scheduled to take place later.
Douglas, Isle of Man
right|thumb|250px|Douglas Promenade, which runs nearly the entire length of beachfront in Douglasright|thumb|250px|Sea terminal in DouglasDouglas is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man, with a population of 26,218 people . It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, and a sweeping...
, Laxey
Laxey
Laxey is a village on the east coast of the Isle of Man. Its name derives from the Old Norse Laxa meaning 'Salmon River'.The village lies on the A2, the main Douglas to Ramsey road. Laxey Glen is one of the Manx National Glens, with Dhoon Glen being located close by...
and Ramsey
Ramsey, Isle of Man
Ramsey is a town in the north of the Isle of Man. It is the second largest town on the island after Douglas. Its population is 7,309 according to the 2006 census . It has one of the biggest harbours on the island, and has a prominent derelict pier, called the Queen's Pier. It was formerly one of...
in 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...
. It connects with the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway
Douglas Bay Horse Tramway
The Douglas Bay Horse Tramway is a horse-drawn tramway in Douglas on the Isle of Man. The route runs along the seafront promenade for approximately , from a southern terminus at the Victoria Pier, adjacent to the Sea Terminal to a northern terminus at Derby Castle, the southern terminus of the Manx...
at its southern terminus
Terminal Station
Terminal Station is a 1953 film by Italian director Vittorio De Sica. It tells the story of the love affair between an Italian man and an American woman. The film was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.-Production:...
at Derby Castle
Derby Castle terminus
Derby Castle Terminus is the southern terminus of the Manx Electric Railway, serving the northerly end of the town of Douglas, Isle of Man. It is located on the north side of Douglas and is not the only railway station in the town, Douglas Station on the Isle of Man Railway is located on the south...
at the northern end of the promenade in Douglas, and with the Snaefell Mountain Railway
Snaefell Mountain Railway
The Snaefell Mountain Railway is an electric mountain railway on the Isle of Man in Europe. It joins the town of Laxey with the summit of Snaefell, at above sea level the highest point on the island. It connects with the Manx Electric Railway in Laxey. The line is long, built to gauge and...
at Laxey
Laxey station
Laxey Station is a station in the village of Laxey on the Isle of Man serving as an intermediate station on the Manx Electric Railway as well as being the lower terminus of the Snaefell Mountain Railway.-Location:...
. The railway's route is undulating and passes through areas of scenic beauty. For that reason, among others, many holiday visitors to the Isle of Man take an excursion on one of the trams.
Beginnings
The line is built to gaugeRail gauge
Track gauge or rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the heads of the two load bearing rails that make up a single railway line. Sixty percent of the world's railways use a standard gauge of . Wider gauges are called broad gauge; smaller gauges, narrow gauge. Break-of-gauge refers...
and is 17 miles (27.4 km) long from terminus to terminus. It is largely segregated from road traffic, running over two tracks on roadside reservation or private right-of-way, and is electrified using overhead line
Overhead lines
Overhead lines or overhead wires are used to transmit electrical energy to trams, trolleybuses or trains at a distance from the energy supply point...
at 550 volt
Volt
The volt is the SI derived unit for electric potential, electric potential difference, and electromotive force. The volt is named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta , who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.- Definition :A single volt is defined as the...
s direct current
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
. Initially the means of power was supplied to the tramcars by bow collectors (still employed on the Snaefell Mountain Railway
Snaefell Mountain Railway
The Snaefell Mountain Railway is an electric mountain railway on the Isle of Man in Europe. It joins the town of Laxey with the summit of Snaefell, at above sea level the highest point on the island. It connects with the Manx Electric Railway in Laxey. The line is long, built to gauge and...
today, owing to its constant connection with the overhead lines and dependability in strong winds on the mountain) but by the turn of the 20th century cars were fitted with trolley poles, the method still employed today. Originally the electricity was generated by the railway's own power stations though they are now supplied via the island's grid by the Manx Electricity Authority. Having operated a year-round service from its inception, the line now still provides service throughout the year although the winter service is much less frequent than the summer service and has been intermittently dropped from schedules in recent years altogether to allow a substantial investment in infrastructure and permanent way in addition to relaying longer stretches of rails and sleepers without disturbance.
Operations
Originally the service was provided by about 24 electric tramTram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
cars and the same number of trailers
Trailer (vehicle)
A trailer is generally an unpowered vehicle pulled by a powered vehicle. Commonly, the term trailer refers to such vehicles used for transport of goods and materials....
: the earliest date from 1893 and almost all are pre-1910. Two of the original three cars that opened the line in 1893 are still in use, and are the oldest electric tramcars still at work on their original line anywhere in the world. The design of Manx tramcars pre-dates any consensus on tramcar design, and so they have quite distinctive boxy bodies. Most services are operated by a motor car towing a single trailer, although later cars can easily haul two trailers. This has never been common practice (in recent years this has been included in a few "special" services as part of the long-running series of events on the railway) although it was not uncommon for service cars to also haul a closed box-van for freight goods and, until 1975, a mail van. In September 1975 the line was closed between Laxey-Ramsey and the contract with the Post Office was lost but since this time a limited winter service has operated on weekdays though this was suspended in 1998 as an economy measure. Today, the railway operates a seasonal timetable with services terminating at either Laxey or Ramsey, with some shorter workings in connection with the Groudle Glen Railway
Groudle Glen Railway
The Groudle Glen Railway is a narrow gauge railway north of Douglas in the Isle of Man which is owned and operated by members of the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association and operates on summer Sundays; May to September and Wednesday evenings in July and August along with a number of...
in peak season and limited evening operations as far as Laxey in peak season to tie in with evening services on the Snaefell Mountain Railway
Snaefell Mountain Railway
The Snaefell Mountain Railway is an electric mountain railway on the Isle of Man in Europe. It joins the town of Laxey with the summit of Snaefell, at above sea level the highest point on the island. It connects with the Manx Electric Railway in Laxey. The line is long, built to gauge and...
which, since 2009, has provided a weekly Sunset Dinner service including rail travel and a meal at the summit. The possibility of a limited evening service returning to Ramsey in the future has also been considered in recent times and trams are sometimes hired on a charter basis during the summer months for special enthusiasts' excursions.
Ownership
The first section of the line, from the northern end of the promenade at Douglas to Groudle Glen, opened in 1893, the line reaching Laxey in 1894 (the mountain railway was established the following year and starts from Laxey Station within the same environs) and finally Ramsey in 1899. The first section of the line was built by a company titled Douglas Bay Estates Ltd., and by 1894 the tramway had been acquired by the Douglas & Laxey Electric Tramway Co. Ltd. which changed its name to the Isle of Man Tramways & Electric Power Co. Ltd. (I.o.M.T.&.E.P.) in the same year. The I.o.M.T.&.E.P. went into liquidationLiquidation
In law, liquidation is the process by which a company is brought to an end, and the assets and property of the company redistributed. Liquidation is also sometimes referred to as winding-up or dissolution, although dissolution technically refers to the last stage of liquidation...
in 1900 as a consequence of a banking collapse. The tramway was sold by the liquidator
Liquidator (law)
In law, a liquidator is the officer appointed when a company goes into winding-up or liquidation who has responsibility for collecting in all of the assets of the company and settling all claims against the company before putting the company into dissolution....
to the newly formed Manx Electric Railway Co. Ltd., which took over the services in 1902. By the late 1950s the Manx Electric Railway Co. Ltd. was itself in financial difficulties, and in 1957 the company and its assets were acquired by the Isle of Man Government
Isle of Man Government
The Isle of Man Government is the government of the Isle of Man. The formal head of the Isle of Man Government is the Lieutenant Governor, representing HM Queen Elizabeth II, Lord of Mann...
(they carried out a similar move two decades later to save the Isle of Man Railway
Isle of Man Railway
The Isle of Man Railway is a narrow gauge steam-operated railway connecting Douglas with Castletown and Port Erin in the Isle of Man. The line is built to gauge and is long...
) at which point a nationalisation livery of green and white was applied to some trams and trailers for a limited time though this was unpopular and later dropped. A government Board was formed to manage the line and the Snaefell Mountain Railway
Snaefell Mountain Railway
The Snaefell Mountain Railway is an electric mountain railway on the Isle of Man in Europe. It joins the town of Laxey with the summit of Snaefell, at above sea level the highest point on the island. It connects with the Manx Electric Railway in Laxey. The line is long, built to gauge and...
, and still does so after various changes of title from the original Manx Electric Railway Board later becoming the Isle Of Man Passenger Transport Board, and it is now operated under the banner heading of Isle Of Man Heritage Railways
Isle of Man Transport
Isle of Man Transport is an agency of Isle of Man Government that operates public transport on the Isle of Man.They operates following services:* Bus Vannin, Island Wide Bus Service* Isle of Man Railway, Douglas - Ballasalla - Castletown - Port Erin...
(the word heritage being added in 2009). This is a division of the Department of Community, Culture & Leisure
Department of Tourism and Leisure
The Department of Tourism and Leisure was a department of the Isle of Man Government.-History:The Department was created in 1986 as the Department of Tourism and Transport....
of the Isle of Man Government
Isle of Man Government
The Isle of Man Government is the government of the Isle of Man. The formal head of the Isle of Man Government is the Lieutenant Governor, representing HM Queen Elizabeth II, Lord of Mann...
, and is also responsible for the operation of the island's buses under the banner of Bus Vannin
Bus Vannin
Bus Vannin is the title of the government owned and operated bus service on the Isle of Man. The name was adopted in June 2009 having previously been branded as Isle of Man Transport...
.
Stations
There are several established intermediate stations, but Groudle GlenGroudle Glen
Groudle, a glen on the outskirts of Onchan on the Isle of Man, is formed in a valley leading to the sea at the small port of the same name. It was a remote hamlet boasting only a handful of small cottages until linked to the Manx Electric Railway in 1893, at which time it was developed as a...
, Laxey
Laxey
Laxey is a village on the east coast of the Isle of Man. Its name derives from the Old Norse Laxa meaning 'Salmon River'.The village lies on the A2, the main Douglas to Ramsey road. Laxey Glen is one of the Manx National Glens, with Dhoon Glen being located close by...
, Dhoon Glen
Dhoon Glen Halt
Dhoon Glen is an intermediate stopping place on the northerly section of the Manx Electric Railway on the Isle of Man-Location:The stop lies at the top of the steep glen leading to a secluded pebble beach; the station lies on a bend in the formation of both the road and railway, and boasts its own...
, Cornaa
Cornaa railway station
Cornaa Station is an intermediate stopping place on the northern section of the Manx Electric Railway on the Isle of Man.-Location:The stop can be found in the parish of Maughold, about halfway between Laxey and Ramsey...
and Ballaglass Glen
Ballaglass Glen Halt
Ballaglass Glen is an intermediate stopping place on the northerly section of the Manx Electric Railway on the Isle of Man.-Location:The halt is located at the entrance to the national glen of the same name and is served only by rail, there being no direct road access to this...
are the main stations shown in the timetables. The official stopping points usually have a basic waiting shelter (more recent additions have been modern bus shelters), and there are also a number of "unofficial" stopping points along the line and these sometimes carry "request stop" notices but are not given station nameboards or any other passenger facilities. Several have been dubbed with titles in the more rural areas that cite the name of the nearby farm or farmer; these are most prevalent in the northern section with names such as Rome's Crossing, Watson's Crossing and Dhoon Farm, but none of these occasional stopping places have ever carried their own names. Some lesser-known stopping points are also known by their nearest pole number, with the overhead lines being carried by a succession of these, numbered between 1 and 1,904 from Derby Castle to Ramsey Plaza. Owing to the inter-urban nature of operations tram cars will stop within reason at any point where it is safe to do so, the notable exceptions being where the line runs parallel to a main road; the majority of the first section of the line as far as Baldrine Station runs in this way, as do sections on the approach to the northern terminus as the line runs into the suburban area of Ramsey. These sections were originally toll roads, installed at the same time as the tramway.
Tramcars & Trailers
The line is in many ways unique, not least because it still operates entirely with its original rolling stock with the exception of winter saloon 22 which was completely rebuilt following a fire in 1992 after which the coachwork was no longer usable. A considerable amount of stock was lost in a disastrous fire at Laxey in 1930 but other than this all the original stock remains. In recent times the storage of excess stock has become something of a political "hot potato" with several historic vehicles stored off-site, with all of these items returning to home territory in November 2009 though these particular items remain in store and out of use requiring some considerable attention before returning to traffic in many cases. The line and its stock are in the custody of the Isle of Man GovernmentIsle of Man Government
The Isle of Man Government is the government of the Isle of Man. The formal head of the Isle of Man Government is the Lieutenant Governor, representing HM Queen Elizabeth II, Lord of Mann...
as part of the Department of Community, Culture & Leisure and as such do not see the requirement to retain unused stock, which has no potential use or long-term storage place on the railway. In addition, the line has a tram from the Lisbon tramway network
Trams in Lisbon
The Lisbon tramway network serves the municipality of Lisbon, capital city of Portugal. In operation since 1873, it presently comprises five urban lines, and is primarily a tourist attraction.-History:...
purchased in 1999, but this has never seen use on the line due to clearance difficulties (it was used as a passenger waiting shelter for a spell). This particular vehicle is no longer housed on the railway, but remains on the island.
Service Fleet
Groudle Glen Railway
The Groudle Glen Railway is a narrow gauge railway north of Douglas in the Isle of Man which is owned and operated by members of the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association and operates on summer Sundays; May to September and Wednesday evenings in July and August along with a number of...
in July and August; the backbone of the fleet are the so-called winter saloons, numbered 19-22 which operate the core timetable. Also there are a number of servicable open toastracks, these being numbers 26, 32 and 33 (the latter two being the most powerful on the line). Many other cars remain in the railway's possession albeit out of service and in some cases stored off-site, apart from those items that were lost in the 1930 fire at Laxey. In addition to these motor cars the following trailers have seen use some use including lightweight trailers 37 and 49, bulkheads 40-48 which usually accompany the winter saloons, lightweight trailer 51, converted disabled saloon 56, closed saloons 57 and 58 and 61-62. The line's Royal Saloon, No. 59, makes rare public appearances also. As part of the island's annual transport festival Car 32 occasionally operates a special evening service hauling two trailers, an unusual occurrence despite the later cars being built with the capability to operate in this way. Of note in the remaining fleet car 7 was relegated to permanent way duties for a number of years but has been restored for return to traffic in 2011, locomotive 23 is privately owned, car 34 (previously No. 7 Maria on the Snaefell Mountain Railway
Snaefell Mountain Railway
The Snaefell Mountain Railway is an electric mountain railway on the Isle of Man in Europe. It joins the town of Laxey with the summit of Snaefell, at above sea level the highest point on the island. It connects with the Manx Electric Railway in Laxey. The line is long, built to gauge and...
and regauged) is undergoing maintenance, and other cars are receiving remedial attention as and when time and funding allows.
Temporary Closures
Laxey station
Laxey Station is a station in the village of Laxey on the Isle of Man serving as an intermediate station on the Manx Electric Railway as well as being the lower terminus of the Snaefell Mountain Railway.-Location:...
and the northern terminus at Ramsey Plaza has been controversially closed twice in the line's history, the first instance being in 1977, but owing to public outcry it was reopened with due ceremony later in the year. During part of the summer of 2008 after a consultancy report commissioned by the Isle of Man Government
Isle of Man Government
The Isle of Man Government is the government of the Isle of Man. The formal head of the Isle of Man Government is the Lieutenant Governor, representing HM Queen Elizabeth II, Lord of Mann...
exposed critical failings in the permanent way, deeming it unsuitable for carrying a public passenger service in the near future. But the island's parliament, Tynwald
Tynwald
The Tynwald , or more formally, the High Court of Tynwald is the legislature of the Isle of Man. It is claimed to be the oldest continuous parliamentary body in the world, consisting of the directly elected House of Keys and the indirectly chosen Legislative Council.The Houses sit jointly, for...
, agreed to spend nearly £5m for track replacement during July–September, allowing trains to run on one track, according to a news report. Manx authorities were considering the use of vintage buses as a replacement during the closure, reports previously stated. The resignation of the Tourism and Leisure Minister Adrian Earnshaw
Adrian Earnshaw
Adrian John Earnshaw MHK is a Manx politician, who was the Minister of Home Affairs in the Isle of Man Government and a Member of the House of Keys for Onchan.-Early life and career:...
was called for by enthusiasts and Chief Minister Tony Brown
James Anthony Brown
James Anthony "Tony" Brown is a Manx politician, former businessman and electrician, Who was the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man, from December 2006, until October 2011, When he stepped down from office following his decision to retire....
ordered an urgent review of the closure decision. He also ordered an independent inquiry into how the track had been allowed to get into such a state that it posed a risk to safety. In 2009 the full line operated continuously and has continued to do so since the beginning of the season following at Easter with no rail-related incidents affecting the operation of the services. In the past the tramway has operated a winter service and this continued until 1998 in one form or another but since this time the line has only been operated seasonally, usually between March and the beginning of November though this can vary from season to season.
Incidents
Snaefell Mountain Railway
The Snaefell Mountain Railway is an electric mountain railway on the Isle of Man in Europe. It joins the town of Laxey with the summit of Snaefell, at above sea level the highest point on the island. It connects with the Manx Electric Railway in Laxey. The line is long, built to gauge and...
at a busy road crossing in Laxey; there were no injuries. Police and the railway's electrical engineering crews attended the scene of the incident, the report also said. It did not indicate what damage had occurred as a result of the incident. Service resumed the next day after temporary repairs to the overhead lines, which was to be permanently repaired over the subsequent couple of weeks. An investigation into the incident was scheduled to take place later.
See also
- British narrow gauge railwaysBritish narrow gauge railwaysThere were more than a thousand British narrow gauge railways ranging from large, historically significant common carriers to small, short-lived industrial railways...
- Heritage railways in the Isle of Man
- List of light-rail/tram systems
- Maley & TauntonMaley & TauntonMaley & Taunton is a defunct tram and tramway engineering company. It was situated in Wednesfield in Staffordshire, England.Maley & Taunton exported globally, with its trucks used in the Lisbon trams and in the UK on the Blackpool tramway...
- Transport on the Isle of ManTransport on the Isle of ManThere are a number of transport services around the Isle of Man, Mostly consisting of paved roads, public transport, rail services, ports and an airport.-Roads:The island has a total of of public roads, all of which are paved...
External links
- Isle of Man Transport
- Manx Electric Railway Society
- Manx Electric Railway
- Tram Travels/Sporvognsrejser: MERS - Manx Electric Railway Society
Sources
- Goodwyn, A.M. (1976) Is This Any Way To Run A Railway ? - The story of the Manx Electric Railway since 1956., Manx Electric Railway Society website, accessed 24 November 2006
- Goodwyn, M., (1993) Manx Electric, Platform 5 Publishing, ISBN 1-872524-52-4
- Hendry, R., (1993), Rails in the Isle of Man: A colour celebration, Midland Publishing Limited, ISBN 1-85780-009-5