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Manx Electric Railway

Open: Mar 16th - Nov 4th 2018: Daily, See Rail Timetable
Price: PRICES FOR 2018

Returns from £4.40
Children 5 - 15 HALF PRICE
Children under 5 FREE (restrictions apply)
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.


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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Manx Electric Railway
Edward Gray
Northern Publishing Services, Hardcover, July, 1996
ISBN: 1899181121
List Price: £3.50
Buy Now More Info
Electric Tram - Manx Electric Railway

Electric Tram - Manx Electric Railway

Electric Tram - Manx Electric Railway

Electric Tram - Manx Electric Railway

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