Deatails have been published of the 2015 MANX HERITAGE TRANSPORT FESTIVAL - July 29th to August 2nd 2015. A leaflet detailing the event is summarised below - and full up-to-date information from the Official Website.
An original welcome
MER: (Timetable D/E)
• 09:00 depart Derby Castle
• 09:18 arrive Groudle (with photo stop at Lag Birragh) • 09:20 depart Groudle
• 09:33 arrive Derby Castle
A parallel run on the Manx Electric Railway with 1893-built Cars 1 and 2 taking a dual trip to the 1893 terminus of Groudle. Departure is from Derby Castle at 09:00 with photographic opportunties on the journey before returning by 09:35. Car No.1 will be available between 10:00 and 16:00 as an information booth (manned by Manxelectricrailway. co.uk stewards) providing information on the weeks events and staged Driver photography opportunities.
Normal fares apply and Explorer tickets accepted. Tickets available from Derby Castle.
The Douglas Bay Horse Tramway
A testimony to Victorian engineering and endurance; the Douglas horse trams have been in existence since 1876. Visitors can start their journey from either end of the Douglas Promenades. Tickets can be purchased on board.
Prices start at £3 for adults and £2 for children for a single journey. Go Explore cards also accepted. Trams run every 20 minutes from 09:00 to 17:20.
Groudle Glen Railway and Sea Lion Rocks Tearooms in operation
Victorian narrow gauge steam railway line running through the tree lined glen just north of Douglas out to cliff top tearooms.
Open in conjunction with MER evening services from 19:00 to 21:00.
Laxey Café
Laxey Station Café open 09:00 till 17:00 serving hot and cold snacks and refreshments made fresh daily. Eat in or takeaway. Enjoy a taste of Manx ice cream from our selection of Davison's ices. Souvenirs and guides available.
Guided walk from St Johns to Kirk Michael
Ramsey line walk (with IOM railway walks) using normal service bus connections. The walk starts at St. Johns and finishes at Kirk Michael.
Starts at 10:30. Meet at St John's opposite Tynwald Hill.
Snaefell Sunset Dinner
Relax, raise a glass and enjoy stunning sunset views whilst you dine at the highest point on the Isle of Man.
Telephone 01624 673631 to book.
Tickets £30 per person (tram travel included).
- Trams depart Derby Castle at:17:4018:40. Arrives Laxey at 18:10 19:10.
- Returning from Laxey at:21:25 22:25. Arrives Derby Castle 21:55 22:55.
- Trams depart Laxey for the Summit at:18:25 19:15. Arrives at 18:55 19:45.
- Returning from the Summit at :20:50 21:50. Arrives Laxey 21:25 22:25.
A Victorian Evening
An enhanced evening service will be in operation using victorian veteran cars 1 and 2 on three trips, the first to Dhoon Quarry, the second and third to Laxey.
Depart Derby Castle at: 17:00 19:35 21:15
Goods Train between Douglas and Port Erin
No.4 Loch will haul three goods wagons to Port Erin and back.
Depart Douglas 11:20, returning at 13:05. Normal fares apply.
Vehicle displays at stations
A selection of vintage vehicles will be on display at Castletown station. Members of tthe Cambridge Oxford Owners Club will display cars from 1953 to the 1980's at Douglas station.
Travelling Post Office
The 09:50 from Douglas and the 11:35 from Port Erin will also include a Travelling Post Office transporting special commemorative stamp covers. These limited edition covers, with Railway Letter Stamps and cancelled with railway station postmarks, will be available for both parts of the journey.
These can be ordered in advance from Ramsey Philatelic Services, 5 Windsor Road, Ramsey. IM8 3EG or will be available on the day from the TPO on arrival at Port Erin and Douglas stations. Steam Railway TPO Covers £4.75 each.
Pie and Mash supper on the Dining Car
Built in 1905 and lovingly restored by Isle of Man Railways in 2013, the beautifully appointed Dining Car is one of only a handful of narrow gauge dining cars in the world.
Pie and Mash suppers on the Dining Car (2 courses). £25pp inc train fare available in advance from 01624 697457. Departs Douglas 19:00 arriving Port Erin 20:15, returns 21:15 arriving Douglas 22:30.
Night at the museum, Port Erin
An informative evening with volunteers including video and audio presentations. New displays for Peveril, Knockaloe 15milgroup IOM model display
18:30 to 21:00, admission £2 or free with valid train tickets.
'The Dhoon Quarryman'
Photography tour with MER Car No.32 and two open wagons (Wagons 8 and 10). Wagon 8 has been returned to original guise and in use as such for the first time for 20 years.
Depart Derby Castle 10:00 to Lewaigue via Dhoon and Ballajora Quarries with photo opportunities. Back for 15:00.
Tickets £10 from Derby Castle booking office 01624 614687
Castletown coastal cruise aboard the M.V. Karina
(Event weather dependent)
Launched in 1946, the Karina is the Island's largest pleasure boat. The Castletown Cruise, leaves Douglas and heads south past the marine Drive, Port Soderick, Santon Head, Fort island, and Langness Lighthouse before entering Castletown Bay, then mooring at the harbour of the Island's ancient Captial Town. Almost always seals can be seen on Langness, as well as planes taking off and landing from Ronaldsway Airport.
Depart Castletown 12:30, arrive back in Douglas 14:00.
• Tea, coffee and a snack bar are available on board. • Departs Douglas at: 18:00, arrives back at: 19:30
Tickets £10 per person single leg or £15 return, please pay as you board the Karina.
Diesel Delivery at Laxey
No.34 'Maria' will work a special Derby Castle to Laxey service departing at 08:55, arriving in Laxey at 09:40. It will return from Laxey at 16:30, arriving at Derby Castle at 17:15.
Between 10:30 and 15:00 regular shuttles will operate between Laxey car shed and Dumbells Row with the MER's Simplex and locomotive LM344 'Pig'
The event also features MER Wickham and trailer and MER Simplex. There will be Snaefell railcars on display in Laxey station for photo opportunities.
Laxey Diesel shuttle trips £3. Tickets available on the day from Laxey Station. Tours around Laxey Car Shed and the old and new substations. Great Laxey Mine Railway will have locomotive 'Wasp' in operation.
Stamps on the MER
A special postal service will operate between Derby Castle Station, Laxey Station and Ramsey. The first service tram from Derby Castle will include the Manx Electric Railway's restored Mail Van No.16, for the delivery of limited edition railway letter covers cancelled with railway station postmarks. The covers will be on sale at Laxey on the Mail Van's return from Ramsey.
A special Railway Letter Service will also operate from the Summit on the Snaefell Mountain Railway to Laxey.
Both these covers can be ordered in advance from Ramsey Philatelic Services, 5 Windsor Road, Ramsey. IM8 3EG or will be available on the day at the Snaefell Summit Hotel and from the Sorting Tender on arrival at Laxey Station. MER and SMR Covers £4.75 each.
Vintage bus tour of closed lines
Book a seat on Leyland PD3 for a day out touring the Isle of Man Steam Railway's closed lines with guides from IOM Railway Walks.
The tour includes informative talks and photo stops (some on foot). There is an opportunity to buy refreshments and meet Artist Michael Starkey at Ballaugh, and a stop in Peel to purchase lunch.Tram return option from Ramsey for those not wishing to return by bus.
Meet at Douglas Railway Station at 10:00. (Return by 18:30) Tickets £15 from Douglas Steam Railway Station 01624 697457 (capacity 50)
Evening MER Tour – Delivering the Goods
Join MER historian Andrew Scarffe and the team from ManxElectricRailway.co.uk on their third Friday evening themed photography tour, this time providing an historical insight to the role the line provided in moving freight around the east of the Island. This journey marks the launch into service of the newly-restored Van No.16 for the first time in 40 years, and features Car No.33, Trailer No.44 and Van No.16 - the lines newest tram, trailer and van all on one train!
Departs Derby Castle at 18:00 to Ramsey with various stops of historical and photographic interest en-route. Returns to Derby Castle by 22:25. Tickets £10 from Derby Castle booking office 01624 614688
A one day only re-creation of the Northern Line with photo opportunities.
The Northern Line closed in September 1968 due to economic reasons, so as a tribute to the Manx Northern Railway we are dedicating a day to re-create the experience for those who were not lucky enough to travel on this service. This is for one day only and will create many unique photo opportunities.
Steam locomotives will be re-named and numbered. The day will also feature Fenella No.8, the Locomotive used the most regularly on the Manx Northern Railway, and the Manx Northern Railway Freight G Van which was originally built for the Northern Line.
Stations along the line will be re-named for the day as follows:
Douglas /St John's
Port Soderick /St Germains Santon / Kirk Michael Ballasalla / Ballaugh Castletown / Wildlife Park Ballabeg / Sulby Glen Colby / Sulby Bridge
Port St Mary / Lezayre
Port Erin / Ramsey
"Food for Thought"
An update with Chief Engineer Peter Maddocks and Director of Public Transport Ian Longworth at the Port Erin museum.
Depart Douglas 19:00, arrive Port Erin 20:15.
Bar meals available on the train.
Northern Line commentary with Isle of Man Railway Walks en route.
Special One-Day "Manx Northern Line" Stamp Covers
The 09:50 from St.Johns (Douglas) and the 11:35 from Ramsey (Port Erin) will include a Travelling Post Office transporting one-day special commemorative stamp covers to mark the re-creation of the Manx Northern Line. These very unusual and limited edition covers, with Railway Letter Stamps, bearing Manx Northern Line station and ticket handstamps, will be available on the day.
These can be ordered in advance from Ramsey Philatelic Services, 5 Windsor Road, Ramsey. IM8 3EG.
Steam Railway "Manx Northern Line" Covers £4.75 each
Enhanced Sunday services
MER Intensive 5 car service using 1/2/16/32.
All American at Laxey
The trucks and equipment used on Cars 19-22, 32 and 33 are of American design and origin, the equipment being made by Brill of Philadelphia.
There will be full explanations as to the American equipment fitted to MER vehicles and a brief history of Brill, pictures of some American interurban crossbench cars etc.
'Drive the American Tram' with driver experiences using Car No.22
For the Family: A selection of American cars from the Cunningham collection, together with American themed characters and entertainment.
Isle of Man Railway Museum & Carriage Shed Tours, Port Erin
Steam celebrations for the birthdays of GH Wood and Peveril.
Tours start at: 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30 and 14:00.
Meet at the Museum in Port Erin for your tour to start.
Tickets £3 available in advance from 01624 697457, and from Port Erin station ticket office thereafter. (Maximum capacity 10 per group)
Laxey Café
Laxey Station Café open 09:00 till 17:00 serving hot and cold snacks and refreshments made fresh daily. Eat in or takeaway. Enjoy a taste of Manx ice cream from our selection of Davison's ices. Souvenirs and guides available.
Manxman Sunday lunch on the Dining Car
Built in 1905 and lovingly restored by Isle of Man Railways in 2013, the beautifully appointed Dining Car is one of only a handful of narrow gauge dining cars in the world.
3 course Manxman lunch £35 per adult. Tickets available in advance from 01624 697457. Departs Douglas 12:30, arrives Port Erin 14:00.
'Fourteen Railways' coastal cruise aboard the M.V. Karina
(Event weather dependent)
Launched in 1946, the Karina is the Island's largest pleasure boat. From Douglas Bay the Karina will head south to Port Soderick and then north to Groudle Bay. The on board commentary will point out 14 existing and former railways on the Island.
Meet in the departure lounge of Douglas Sea Terminal at 18:00.
• Tea, coffee and a snack bar are available on board.
• Departs Douglas at: 18:00, arrives back at: 19:30
Tickets £10 per person single leg or £15 return, please pay as you board the Karina.
Unless a separate ticket price is stated, Explorer tickets or standard fare tickets are required for all events. See below for information about Explorer tickets.
TRAVEL MORE AND SAVE MORE
GO EXPLORE CARD - unlimited travel on all scheduled bus and rail services for 1, 3, 5 or 7 days with a scenic image on the front of the card.
GO EXPLORE HERITAGE - 5 days unlimited rail travel and admission to Manx National Heritage attractions.
Go Cards are available to buy from the Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal, Douglas and all main railway stations. Available from March 2015, the card activation charge is £2 plus:
A family card is for two adults and up to three children aged 5 to 15 years. Children under 5 travel free.
1 Day Go Explore - available from any driver and any bus station, and don't require a Go Card.
FESTIVAL CONTACTS
For Ultimate Driving Experiences:
[email protected]
For Steam Dining:
[email protected]
For Rail charters:
[email protected]
For Snaefell Summit Dining:
[email protected]
For events information:
[email protected]
For railway philatelic covers and Railway Letter Stamps:
[email protected]
Services will be subject to operational constraints.
Pictures Isle of Man Transport
Full up-to-date information from the Official Website. Leaflets available from the usual outlets.