The island’s heritage railways run their last services of the year this weekend, with special trains, trams and events on Saturday and Sunday, BBC News Isle of Man has reported.
On Saturday the Manx Electric Railway will bring out cars from its original 1890s fleet, and Car 2 will make one more return journey before being stood down for the winter. According to the BBC, two of the line’s oldest trams, dating from 1893 and 1894, will be in service. Cars 1 and 2 jointly hold the Guinness World Record as the oldest trams still carrying fare-paying passengers.
The Steam Railway has run between Douglas and Port Erin since 1874 and is the only surviving part of a network that once also served Peel, Ramsey and Foxdale. On Sunday it will mark 140 years since the Foxdale branch opened. Caledonia, the 1885 locomotive built for the steep climb out of Foxdale, will pull four trains that include a recently restored coach.
The Douglas horse tramway is also bringing its 150th anniversary season to a close. Saturday’s tram will be dressed for Hop-tu-Naa, and double-decker tram 18 will make special trips along the promenade with a pair of horses in harness.
Elsewhere over the weekend:
- Groudle Glen Railway and the Great Laxey Mine Railway: Hop-tu-Naa ghost trains on Saturday and Sunday
- Laxey station: a display of wagons from the Snaefell Mountain Railway collection
- Ramsey, Sunday: heritage bus trips run by Jurby Transport Museum from the Manx Electric Railway station, and an open day at the Queen’s Pier to show its restoration work
- House of Manannan, Peel: an exhibition marking 50 years of Bus Vannin in public ownership
Isle of Man Railways said it “looked forward to welcoming people to close the season”. After this weekend there will be no further heritage services until March, the BBC reported.
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