Why join the MERS?

  • Successfully campaigned for the reinstatement and re-opening of the Laxey – Ramsey section of the MER during 1975–77.
  • Successfully proposed and lobbied for the 1993 "Year of Railways", a series of events to mark the Centenary of the MER — a template for years to come.
  • Successfully stopped a new competing bus service, the 11B, "the biggest threat to the survival of the railway since the Ramsey line closure."
  • Successfully campaigned — including an online petition which attracted more than 2,000 signatures — for Tynwald to approve funding of the restoration of the Horse Tramway to the Sea Terminal. Tynwald's decision was later ignored by DoI officials who spent the money elsewhere. The campaign continues…
  • FULL access to 2000+ pages of Manx Transport material on the society website. Full members receive free copies of the 100+ page Society journal MANX TRANSPORT REVIEW.

Our Latest Print Publication

Manx Transport Review No.103 - Winter 2025/26

Full news roundup from the Manx Electric Railway, Douglas Horse Tramway, Snaefell Mountain Railway and other Island transport. Historical feature articles - Full Colour - 108 pages. Copies are distributed FREE to Full Members of the Manx Electric Railway Society upon publication – visit mers.org.im…

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View more of our printed publications

The MERS has a large back catalogue of publications dating back to 1973, covering all aspects of the Island's transport…

Membership Applications & Renewals


Full Annual Membership subscriptions (those paid by Cheque/Postal Order/Standing Order) became due for renewal on the 1st April 2026. Full and On-line subscriptions (paid via PayPal) fall due on the first and successive anniversaries of first joining the MERS. On-line payment for membership applications and renewals can be made via the links at the top of this page, or by Cheque/Postal Order/Standing Order by downloading a renewal form HERE. For all membership enquires and further information, please contact the MERS Membership Secretary at: [email protected]

Recently updated pages:

Car 29
Updated yesterday

Car 29 mounted on the Corporation's road trailer and fresh from overhaul, makes it way down Broadway behind a DCT bus. The car is heading for Derby Castle during August 1976, ready to take its place in the horse tramway Centenary Procession a few days later. Until 1976 it was practice to overhaul h…

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Newslines

Road, Rail, Sea and Air

Guard calls for amendment to DoI motion

The twelve-page “Heritage Business Case - Douglas Bay Horse Tramway Continuation to the Sea Terminal” will be the subject of a Supplementary Order Paper at this month's sitting of Tynwald on June 16th. The Minister for Infrastructure, Tim Crookall MHK, is to move that ‘Tynwald notes the draft busin…

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NEWS…

‘MHKs Question Whether Horse Tram Costs Are a Bit of a Nonsense’

“MHKs have questioned the cost of reinstating the horse tram tracks along the full length of Douglas Promenade with one saying it's a ‘bit of a nonsense’. The Department of Infrastructure is now claiming it could cost up to £3 million to lay the section between the War Memorial and the Sea Terminal…

'Contingency Budget for Horse Tram Tracks Significantly Increased'

“The contingency budget allocated to the reinstatement of the horse tram tracks has been ‘significantly increased’. The Department of Infrastructure says it’s followed a Treasury recommendation because of the ‘volatile global financial climate’. It’s now estimating that it will cost £3 million to r…

‘£3m to Restore Horse Tramway’

“The DoI says it will cost over £3m to partially restore the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway to the Sea Terminal. While the historic double track has been consigned to the pages of history, a single track line is still proposed. The DoI’s business case recommends installing a single line of tram tracks f…

​‘A Saloon with a Number of Views’

World record breaking MER car No.1 has been in service today. David Umpleby has kindly made available these interesting and unusual photographs which were recorded during a journey over the MER’s spectacular Ramsey section. Car 1's beautifully varnished wooden interior The recently relaid track bet…

‘Horse Tram Debacle Trickles On’

Tynwald could be asked to approve a financial motion for the horse tramway in June, but only if outstanding design and feasibility work is completed in time. Treasury Minister Chris Thomas told the House of Keys that a capital funding request for the heritage rail project was received at the end of…

‘MHK Frustrated Doi Hasn't Yet Submitted Horse Tram Business Plan’

“A Douglas South MHK says it's unfair that the business case for the full reinstatement of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway is seeing yet more delays. Back in March, the Department of Infrastructure was tasked with returning to Tynwald this month with plans for the full line. However, the document has…


TODAY's featured

PAGES

The Lamb's Crossing Accident

THROUGHOUT its long history, the Manx Electric Railway has enjoyed an excellent and enviable safety record. Since the railway opened nearly 114 years ago, many millions of passengers have been carried and the trams have accumulated vast mileages in service. Although more accidents have indeed occur…

Snaefell Mountain Railway car 2

Snaefell Mountain Railway car 2 at Snaefell Summit on a cloudy day. The tram will later be called into the station in preparation for the decsent to Laxey

SMR Summit 2016

Mike Jones recently took a ride on the Snaefell Mountain Railway and has kindly supplied the following photographs which were taken during his trip. The views depict the remodelled Summit terminus, which received replacement track-work and new bespoke '3 Legs of Man' paving over the course of last…


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