Manx Electric Railway

The Manx Electric Railway opened in 1893 and still runs seventeen miles from Derby Castle in Douglas along the east coast to Ramsey, and several of the cars in daily service date from the opening years, which makes them among the oldest tramcars anywhere still doing the job they were built for. The line climbs above the cliffs, crosses glens on stone bridges and connects at Laxey with the mountain line up Snaefell.

History

The railway was built by the banker Alexander Bruce, the civil engineer Frederick Saunderson and the landowner Alfred Jones Lusty, who formed the Douglas Bay Estate company to develop land north of Douglas. Construction began in 1893 with the short line from Derby Castle to Groudle Glen, and regular public services started on 7 September 1893 (Wikipedia, Manx Electric Railway).

The main sights

• The 1893 cars - original tramcars still running the line they were built for.
• The coastal route - seventeen miles above the cliffs between Douglas and Ramsey.
• The glen crossings - stone bridges over Groudle, Dhoon and Ballaglass.
• The Laxey interchange - the connection to the Snaefell mountain railway.

When to go

March to November is the operating season, with the fullest timetable in summer. Winter services are very limited or suspended. Autumn gives the best light on the coast.

What to expect

The full journey takes over an hour each way and the cars are unheated and open in places. Winter closures mean checking before travelling. It is slow, which is either the appeal or the problem.

Nearby

Groudle Glen is on the route, and Laxey Wheel is at the midpoint.

Key facts