The Snaefell Mountain Railway...

Hi everyone. Stop No4 on our Isle of Man Adventure: Snaefell Mountain Railway. The SMR meets with the MER at Laxey, allowing a cross-over between the two. Arriving aboard MER Winter Saloon No22 at 2:10pm, we swiftly boarded the 2:15pm departure for the summit of Snaefell. The railway is 3ft 6" gauge and runs for a distance of 5 miles up some pretty fearsome gradients. The tram cars are electrically powered but, rather than a trolley pole, bow collectors are used to receive the 550v DC current. The tram cars are very traditional inside. Ours was No6, of 1895 vintage...

The climb out of Laxey is pretty severe, once you've crossed the main road with bells sounding. The tramcar slowed down on the first section, allowing passengers to see and photograph the Laxey Wheel. This is the largest working water wheel in the world, built in 1854 to pump water from the local mines. Its quite a sight...

Having passed the Laxey Wheel, Tramcar No6 continued up the hill...

The gradients can be seen here as we climb further up. The mast in the very distance is the summit station where the SMR terminates...

The trams head up the hill using normal adhesion, which is amazing really on some of these gradients, some as steep as 1 in 12. However, the SMR is fitted with a 'Fell' centre rail, which aids braking on the way down. Runners beneath the car provide a sort of dynamic brake, whilst grips are also provided in case of emergency...

Bungalow Station is the intermediate stop, after which the trams continue on for the summit. The main road past the station must be alive during the TT races...

The journey to the summit took the usual 30 minutes, where tramcar No6 came into contact with sister tram No1. No1 was fully overhauled in 2011 and now carries the original colour scheme and lettering arrangement. Today it was on a school trip working...

The summit post is slightly higher than the SMR station, so a short walk beckoned...

I'm not quite sure what this walk is called...

At the top of the climb, well over 2000ft up, we surveyed the murky but impressive views. Eddie remarked that this was the first time he'd seen anything but fog from the top of Snaefell!...

Another view of the island...

The summit station can be seen below, at 2034 feet above sea level...

John & Eddie were trying to work out what they could see...

Tramcar No1 duly departed but before this could happen No6 had to shunt back out of the way. No1 is seen descending the first section of the hill...

Tramcar No6 stands at the top of Snaefell, ready to go back down...

During our 20-minute stop at the top there was a typical grumbling: 'Eddie the Cake' had purchased the most expensive cake in the world, or so he proclaimed. I think we are perhaps a captive audience 2000ft up a mountain! The tram soon departed back down towards Laxey with a good compliment of passengers aboard. One thing that was interesting about the tram was that, due to its completely wooden body, the whole thing was shaking in the mountain breeze. You could physically see the body revolving around the closed door in front of us! Wouldn't fancy this in a gale!...

Soon enough, after a pleasant descent, No6 brought us back into the pretty station area at Laxey. No1 was already there and waiting to head off for stabling...

The Snaefell is another very nice railway. The gradients are certainly formidable and yet the trams seem to cope with them no problem. Another great journey. At this point we joined the 3:55pm departure on the MER towards Derby Castle, as seen in the previous post. Onto the next!...

The Manx Electric Railway...

Hi all. Having glanced at the Douglas Horse Trams, we boarded our 1:40pm departure on the Manx Electric Railway. Described by 'Eddie the Late' as one of the wonders of the world, the MER is certainly very impressive. Electric it may be, but it is also unique and quite historic. A quick view of a chilly Douglas prom before we left...

The ornate ceiling inside Tram Car No22, delivered in 1899...

Rather than being trains, these are also trams, running on 3ft gauge tracks and powered by overhead wires. At 17 miles long, the MER is a considerable undertaking and takes in some wonderful scenery as well as having fascinating infrastructure. Leaving Derby Castle past the depot, the trams use their 550v DC to climb a considerable gradient with some interesting road-side running. The trams wind their way up hill on double track, passing over residential roads just by whistling and then going for it. Some crossings have lights, others just have signage: its like going back in time. These trams use trolley poles to collect the current, now provided by the Manx grid rather than the railways own power stations...

Sea views whilst departing Derby Castle on a sharp climb...

Arnold enjoys the ride aboard the 1899-built No22, with Eddie looking on...

Through the window, looking onward...

We enjoyed a 30-minute or so ride along the route, with the trams seeming completely integrated with the road transport. Whistling and squealing, they make their way up and down various gradients and over many bridges and road crossings. Its a fantastic piece of engineering. At the busy station of Laxey, we switched trams to join the Snaefell Mountain Railway (our fourth railway - see next post). No22, seen from the SMR, would continue onwards along the MER route to Ramsey...

We had a great time on the SMR which then duly returned us to Laxey. SMR tramcars No1 & No6 await their next turn...

The next tram from Laxey towards Derby Castle would be the 3:55pm, made up of tramcar No22 again. The tram is spotted here arriving with its toast-rack trailer...

Vintage tram No22 pulls into Laxey below. Unfortunately the bodywork is not original as the former body was completely destroyed by a fire in 1992. The coach has been lovingly rebuilt by the MER and now looks as good as new...

It was at this point that tour operator 'Eddie the Late' said we should try out the toast-rack experience, so we did. Then the ridiculous pictures started...

I don't really know what is happening here...

The toast-rack trailers are an experience all on their own. In order to increase capacity, the MER trams drag along trailers. The toast-rack trailer we travelled in, number 44 I think, dates from 1903. They offer unrivalled views of the Manx Electric Railway...

As well as the views, the toast-racks also allow you to experience more of what is going on. The wind in your hair, the sounds, the smells, the views: its great...

The MER, though I'm not an electric train or tram fan, is just brilliant. The entire engineering aspect of it is impressive to say the least and the trams are lovingly kept. The operation is slick and the trams generally provide a great service for getting around the island. Considering it is probably the islands 'most modern' railway and dates from the late 1800s, it just goes to show just how historical and untouched the Isle of Man is. Its fantastic and I'm so glad I've now experienced it. We rode the 3:55pm Laxey - Derby Castle service as far as Groudle Glen, where the conductor summoned the driver to stop the train so that we could alight. A great trip and a lovely railway...

The Douglas Horse Trams...

Hi all. Next stop on our Isle of Man adventure: Derby Castle. Our taxi ride from the steam railway's Douglas Station took us along the Promenade, passing one of the trams on route. The timetable did not allow for us to use the tram itself but we did photograph the system before departure via the Manx Electric Railway. The horse trams have been a feature of Douglas promenade since 1876, and operate over a distance of 1.6 miles. A service has operated in various forms since the tramway was built, with tramcars hauled by countless horses. A seasonal service has operated since 1927. Operating at 3ft gauge, just like the steam and electric railways, the tramway has over 20 cars and over 40 horses...

There is a tramcar storage shed at Derby Castle and the door was left ajar, allowing a quick snap through the door...

The cars range from open saloons and toast-rack types, to enclosed types used in the winter or the wet weather. As we boarded the Manx Electric Railway's 1:40pm service towards Ramsey, one of the horses out today arrived with a tram...

A close up of the 'horsepower' for the service: "Charles"...

Our MER service duly departed whilst "Charles" looked on, awaiting his own departure. The horse tramway is an important part of the history of Douglas and I hope that they are not too affected by the upcoming road-works dispute. The promenade roadway is in quite a state and requires a complete resurface. However, due to the trams having to be suspended and the rails removed whilst the job is done, opposition has prevented a final plan being completed. The trams were due to end last year so the work could start, but the dispute has led to a year of reprieve, allowing the horse trams to continue for this season. We wish them well and hope that whatever happens, the horse trams return to Douglas Promenade. With a buzz from the conductor, away we went on the MER...

The Isle of Man Steam Railway...

Hi there. Picking up where we left off, we had just departed Ronaldsway Airport on foot, beginning our epic Isle of Man Adventure. Walking along the main road into Ballasalla, it wasn't long before we were greeted with a pretty sight from the level crossing: Ballasalla Station. This picturesque little village station embodies pretty much everything you would expect from a charming country halt: its lovely. Originally opened in 1874, the station has been modified a few times and, due to a timetable change, is no longer manned. This morning, the platforms stood quietly, awaiting the first train of the day in the sunshine...

 

Ballasalla would be the starting point for our journey along the Isle of Man Steam Railway. I have read about this line many times, and spotted it on countless television programs. Built to provide the Isle of Man with regular rail services, the 15-mile long section we see today was part of a larger network which no longer survives. The original line ran from Douglas to Peel and opened in 1873, with the section from Douglas to Port Erin opening a year later, in 1874. The line is 3ft gauge and is, unusually, now nationalised and owned & operated by the government. Naturally, through the course of its life, the railway has suffered cutbacks, the main one being the reduction of the network from 46 miles to 15 miles, but these things do happen. The system originally closed in 1965, though Lord Ailsa did attempt to keep services running by obtaining a lease of the metals, reopening services on all three routes in 1967. It was however financially unviable and 1971 was his last year in control. Over the next couple of years services were somewhat curtailed until the government stepped in, returning full services to the Port Erin to Douglas section by 1977. The railway was nationalised in 1978 and now operates seasonally with original locomotives and rolling stock.

 

Back to us, a steam whistle was heard in the distance as the arrival time of our train approached. Across the hills, we spotted a 4-coach train approaching behind Beyer Peacock No13 "Kissack" of 1910...

No13 "Kissack" arrives with our 10:20am train to Port Erin...

"Kissack" pulls into Ballasalla station...

The train was well loaded and we shared a compartment for the first section to Castletown. Our fellow compartment people then disembarked, as did many others. We then passed locomotive No4 "Loch" of 1874, which was returning to Douglas from Port Erin...

At Castletown, tour operator 'Eddie the Late' was explaining his interest in the Isle of Man Steam Railway and why it is so important to railway history...

The run from Castletown to Port Erin was great; No13 put in a great performance. These trains really do fly along, with perfect exhaust beats from the loco. Port Erin is the terminus of the line and passengers disembarked for tea & cake in the station buffet...

The crowds wandered up to the front of the train to photograph No13 and, alongside, sister No8 was spotted in steam on shed. No8 is named "Fenella" and was built in 1894...

"Fenella" was being prepared to work one of the railways Foot-Ex courses, known as the 'Ultimate Driver Experience'. The loco would soon move from the shed frontage to carry out her duties, allowing No13 to come on shed for water...

Another view of Beyer Peacock 2-4-0 No13 "Kissack"...

The Isle of Man Steam Railway locomotives were all built by Beyer Peacock of Manchester, between 1873 and 1926, resulting in 15 2-4-0s which were all pretty much of the same design. No15 "Caledonia" is the exception, an 0-6-0 tank and was built in 1885 for the Foxdale Railway, also on the island. This engine was built by Dubs & Co in Glasgow and when the two railways merged in 1905 the engine took up No15 in the Isle of Man fleet. The various engines of the fleet are, these days, in various locations and various states of repair. No6 "Peveril", of 1875, is currently a static exhibit in the Port Erin Railway Museum...

The last engine built by Beyer for the railway is No16 "Mannin", built in 1926. Also currently a static exhibit in the Port Erin museum, No16 has not been restored due to her 'non standard' design. She doesn't look completely like the original types admittedly, but was known as the most powerful of the 2-4-0s in the fleet, hauling the heavy Port Erin boat trains whilst in use, a job that used to be done by double-heading two of the original locos...

The Museum is well worth a look and has some very interesting photographs of various members of the fleet in action on all three of the original routes...

Leaving the museum, there was a chance to snap "Kissack" on shed. The engine returned to work in 2006 and has since been a regular performer on the railway. Boiler repairs were required in 2013, keeping her out of service until March this year. Her return to service has been successful and she is now earning her keep once more...

The stock for the 12:05 departure for Douglas waits patiently at Port Erin...

Ryton Tours operative Eddie then decided it was time to grab some breakfast so we headed off up the road in search of a café. On the way we passed through the impressive Port Erin Booking Hall, echoing days gone by...

Not to be outdone by us, 'Eddie the Late' then instigated a Breakfast Challenge. I'd already had a breakfast bap but, in the name of defeating the challenges, I had another! The breakfast was very pleasant and we returned to the station for our waiting departure...

A fed, watered and re-defeated 'Eddie the Late'...

No8 "Fenella" had now cleared the section with the Foot-Ex course and thus No13 could run round and get ready to leave...

With a right away from the Guard, "Kissack" got the 12:05 train underway with ease. The sharp bark on these antiquated 2-4-0s is really something to enjoy. The train then acted as a commuter working of yesteryear, accelerating sharply away from village station stops. The engine had a surprising turn of speed once again and was very impressive to listen to. The scenery was also a joy to behold...

At Castletown the engine pulled into the platform with No8 spotted in the bay with the Foot-Ex working. We would now await No4 from Douglas...

No4 "Loch" passes No13 "Kissack", watched by No8 "Fenella"...

No8 "Fenella" simmers away happily as sister No13 pulls us out of Castletown...

These engines are so pretty. They are very pleasing to the eye and also have cute little features such as the oil bottles riding on the front end, keeping themselves warm against the valve chest. The swinging front pony truck is also a pretty addition, the cylinders being inclined to allow the truck to swing into curves and points...
The scenery continued to be spectacular, with even a sea view...

Me enjoying the ride on the Isle of Man Steam Railway...

"On The Run" (Pic by Eddie the Late)

All too soon, we arrived at the terminus of Douglas. No13 duly uncoupled to run round...

A final view of our engine, the beautiful 2-4-0 No13 "Kissack"...

The engine soon steamed off into the distance and it was time for us to press on. The impressive station building at Douglas is spotted as we make our way out to our Taxi...

So, that's one down, four to go. The entire experience on the Isle of Man Steam Railway had been fantastic. Its wonderful, just wonderful. The period engines, the stock, the run, the speed, the stations; it can't really be bettered. I'm so pleased I've now visited it, and seen the lovely Beyer's in action. Really good; a lovely place. So, into the Taxi, onto the next...