Isle of Man Guide

Open:	Summer Service: Mar 20th - Nov 7th 2010: Daily, See Rail Timetable
Price:	PRICES FOR 2010 Douglas to Onchan Head or Far End Adult: single £1.80 return £3.60 Child: single £.90 return £1.80 Douglas to Groudle or Eskdale Adult: single £2.20 return £4.40 Child: single £1.10 return £2.20 Douglas to Half-W-House, Baldrine, or Gartwick Adult: single £3.20 return £6.40 Child: single £1.60 return £3.20 Douglas to Ballabeg, Fairy Cottage, South Cape, Laxey, Minorca, Ballaragh or Dhoon Glen Adult: single £4.60 return £9.20 Child: single £2.30 return £4.60 Douglas to Glen Mona, Ballaglass, Cornaa, Ballajora, Dreemskerry, Lewaigue, or Ramsey Adult: single £5.40 return £10.80 Child: single: £2.70 return £5.40 Douglas or Ramsey to Bungalow or Snaefell Adult: single £5.40 return £10.80 Child: single £2.70 return £5.40 Laxey to Bungalow or Bungalow to Summit Adult: single £4.60 return £6.40 Child: single £2.30 return £3.20 Laxey to Snaefell Adult: single £4.60 return £9.20 Child: single £2.30 return £4.60 Children under 5: FREE. (limit 2 per paying adult as long as seat is not in use by another passenger.) The third (or subsequent) child under five must pay the child fare. One child (ages 5-16): FREE with each full paying adult. Explorer Tickets There are three different Explorer tickets available. 1 Day, £15.00 adult, £7.00 child 3 Day, £30.00 adult, £14.00 child 7 Day, £45.00 adult, £21.00 child Each Adult ticket also includes a child aged 5 to 15 travelling at the same time. On the 3 & 7 day tickets the days run consecutively. Isle of Man Railway Residents Tickets Adult: £50 Child: £25
Disabled:	Limited Access, steps
Parking:	Ample

History

Messrs. Bruce and Saunderson were behind the construction of the 3 feet track gauge railway, which first opened in 1893. The original line ran from Douglas to Laxey and in 1899 the line was extended to include Ramsey. The Manx Electric Railway holds to being the longest narrow gauge vintage railway in the British Isles. Over seventeen miles of line border the coastline between Douglas and Ramsey. All the operational trams are original, with the newest dating back as far as 1906. Trams 1 and 2 are the oldest dating back to 1893 earning them a place in the record books as the oldest regularly operated tram cars in the world. Sadly many trams were destroyed by a fire in 1930 at Laxey Depot.

The Isle of Man Tramways and Electric Power Co collapsed in 1900 following an expensive expansion programme, but by 1902 a new company with mainland funding had taken over and the Manx Electric Railway ran on till it was bought by the Manx Government in the early 1950's. Times were changing though and by the mid 1960's decline of tourism hit the railways. The mid 1970's almost saw the closure of the line, but opposition kept the trams running.

The Manx Electric Railway started out as public transport mainly for tourists, but also saw its lines used for the transportation of goods and animals. It became a part of island transport which managed to stand the tests of time and progress.

Location

Douglas:	Start/End Stop
Onchan:	Request Stop
Groudle:	Stop
Baldrine:	Request Stop
Ballabeg:	Request Stop
Fairy Cottage:	Request Stop
South Cape:	Request Stop
Laxey:	Stop
Minorca:	Request Stop
Dhoon:	Request Stop
Glen Mona:	Request Stop
Ballaglass:	Request Stop
Cornaa:	Request Stop
Ballajora:	Request Stop
Ballure:	Request Stop
Ramsey:	Start/End Stop

Travelling on the Manx Electric Railway

For the best coastal views there is no better way to travel then the Manx Electric Railway. It weaves its way up and down along the eastern side of the island. The sea is clearly visible for most of the way. The trams pass through countryside, glens and villages. It is a truly wonderful journey covering a total distance of around 17 miles. It is about a 45 minute ride from Douglas to Laxey and then another 45 minutes from Laxey to Ramsey. There are many interesting stops along the way, but most are by request and the conductor will need to be informed when he checks your ticket. There are often two options for seating, outside or inside. The inside seats are nice if it is cold or wet, but if you really want to take in the scenery then sit outside.

Events Dates: Saturday 02 October 2010 Description: Pie In The Sky. Manx Electric Railway Departing Derby Castle at 18.00. Arrive Laxey 18.30. Arrive Summit Snaefell 19.05. Hot pot supper and Apple pie. (vegetarian option available on request) Stargazing (if clear) or illustrated lecture (if cloudy) with the Isle of Man Astromical society. Depart summit 21.50 Arrive Laxey 22.25 Arrive Derby Castle 22.55. Event information supplied by the Isle of Man Department of Tourism & Leisure (01624 686766)

Publications Railways Of The Isle Of Man Beckmann Visual Publishing, VHS Tape, 08 March, 1993 List Price: £14.99 Third Party Price: £6.99 Buy Now More Info Manx Trains And Trams [2001] Charles Guard Duke Video, DVD, 19 April, 2004 List Price: £14.99 New Price: £14.99 Used Price: £20.83 Third Party Price: £9.74 Buy Now More Info Rails in the Isle of Man, a Colour Celebration R.Powell Hendry Midland Publishing, Hardcover, 22 April, 1993 ISBN: 1857800095 List Price: £14.99 Used Price: £7.00 Buy Now More Info Isle of Man Railways: A Celebration Richard Kirkman, Peter Van Zeller Raven Books, Board book, June, 1993 ISBN: 0952162407 List Price: £8.95 New Price: £10.94 Used Price: £4.99 Buy Now More Info Railway Track Diagrams: Scotland and the Isle of Man No. 1 (Railway Track Diagrams) John Yonge, Gerold Jacobs Quail Map Co, Paperback, 29 June, 2001 ISBN: 1898319510 List Price: £8.50 Buy Now More Info Manx Electric Railway Album R Powell Hendry, R Preston Hendry Hillside Pub. Co, Rugby, Hardcover, December, 1978 ISBN: 0950593303 List Price: £7.50 Used Price: £6.06 Buy Now More Info One Hundred Years of the Manx Electric Railway F.Keith Pearson Leading Edge Books, Paperback, 30 November, 1992 ISBN: 0948135387 List Price: £13.99 Buy Now More Info Manx Railways and Tramways (Sutton's Photographic History of Railways) Edward Gray Sutton Publishing Ltd, Paperback, 12 March, 1998 ISBN: 0750918276 List Price: £10.99 Used Price: £39.25 Buy Now More Info Manx Electric Railway: Official Guide Gordon N. Kniveton, Andrew A. Scarffe The Manx Experience, Paperback, May, 1991 ISBN: 1873120028 List Price: £2.75 New Price: £4.74 Used Price: £1.75 Buy Now More Info The Railways and Tramways of the Isle of Man Robert Smith, Barry Edwards OPC Railprint, Hardcover, 19 April, 1993 ISBN: 0860935078 List Price: £18.99 Used Price: £27.95 Buy Now More Info The Manx Electric Railway Barry Edwards B&C Publications, Paperback, April, 1998 ISBN: 095277562X List Price: £8.50 New Price: £10.49 Used Price: £6.75 Buy Now More Info Manx Electric Railway Edward Gray Northern Publishing Services, Hardcover, July, 1996 ISBN: 1899181121 List Price: £3.50 Buy Now More Info