2011 News
End of the Season 2011
The 2011 MER season bowed out in very similar fashion to the previous year. Winter Saloons 21 and 22 worked the service with 21 working the final journey, the 16:10 ex- Ramsey. Car 20 made a very brief appearance, but only to change lines in the depot. With that MER journeys concluded for the rest of the year with trams returning on 17 March 2012.
Derbycastle Sheds 1/10/2011
As a part of the Manx Heritage Open days Derbycastle car sheds were open for tours over the weekend of 1st-2nd October.
Evening Trams 26/8/2011
Every Friday evening during August evening tram services have been ran on the MER for the first time in around 20 years. The operation has involved three cars (sets) running after the finish of the regular timetable. This has been in connection with the Sunset Diners up Snaefell, seeing the last tram terminating at Derbycastle at 22:55. Next Week (2nd September) is the last time these operations will be running this season!
For the 26th, 6 individual tram cars were used, 6, 7, 20, 21, 41 and 58. Car 20 had worked the 16:10 ex- Derbycastle with trailer 46 and then returned south with the 17:40 ex- Ramsey. Car 20 was then exchanged with Car 6. 21 worked with 41 for a single Laxey return. 7 worked with trailer 58 after working in service with 48 for the day.
For the 26th, 6 individual tram cars were used, 6, 7, 20, 21, 41 and 58. Car 20 had worked the 16:10 ex- Derbycastle with trailer 46 and then returned south with the 17:40 ex- Ramsey. Car 20 was then exchanged with Car 6. 21 worked with 41 for a single Laxey return. 7 worked with trailer 58 after working in service with 48 for the day.
Friday 26th August 2011
32 back in passenger traffic
The 26th of August started out like many August Days with sets 20+46, 22+47, 6+43, 7+48 and 21+41. However with the 11:40 ex- Ramsey, Car 22 failed south of Bulgham, resulting in 32 being brought out of Laxey car sheds to retrieve the stricken 22+47. Running late 7+48 then worked the 12:25 from Laxey (having been stabled on the blacksmiths siding prior to the 12:55 ex- Laxey). 32 then picked up the service with the 12:55 ex- Laxey with trailer 47. 32 then continued this service for the rest of the day. For about a month before hand 32 had been relegated to poles duty, having not been on passenger duties since TT Week. 22 was left on the siding in Laxey for the day and was towed to the car sheds by 32 at the finish of services.
Here are photos of 32s running plus a few more from the day.
Here are photos of 32s running plus a few more from the day.
16 and 7 run parallel 20/8/11
On the morning of 20 August Cars 7+48 and 16 made a rare parallel run from Derbycastle to Groudle. 7+48 continued north, 16 returning to Derbycastle.
16 returns to passenger use 24 July
Green Paddlebox 16 returned to passenger traffic on Sunday 24 July 2011 for the first time this year. The car first ran a special before replacing 33+58 on the 11:40 from Douglas.
Victorian Extravaganza 2 and 3 July
A Victorian themed event was held on the railway on July 2 and 3 in Laxey. Photos here from Sunday 3rd.
Mad Sunday Traffic
Aside from the return to operation of 7 on Mad Sunday (5th June 2011), there were a few other extras out as well. Tunnel cars 6 and 9 alternated between service and specials. 32+59 also appeared on service. On Ramsey Sprint day proceedings were similar with the addition of 33.
Tunnel Car 7 returns to Operation
On Mad Sunday 5th June 2011 Tunnel Car 7 and trailer 48 made their return to passenger carrying service for the first time since 2002 for 7 and 2008 for 48. Both cars wear a matching 1894 livery. The pair made their first run leaving Derbycastle as an special for Ramsey at 12:10, both are expected to run again on Ramsey Sprint Day (Tuseday 7th).
1+59 15/5/2011
Car 1 with trailer 59 out on private hire along the line 15/5/2011. Photographed here at Derbycastle.
Pie in the Sky 6/5/2011
Friday 6 May was the first of this years Pie in the Sky Specials, followed by a special the following day. Two more specials are due at the end of September. These ones on the 5th were operated by trams 22, 20+59
Car 33 Photo tour
Saturday 30 April 2011 saw a private hire of Cars 33 and 59 and van 4. The trams were used for a photo opertunities tour along the length of the line.
All photos on this site are copyright David Kelly 2013, unless stated otherwise. Permission MUST be given for any of these photos to be used elsewhere.