THE SEVEN MONTH SCHEME to permanently repair Ballure Bridge outside Ramsey appears to have come to completion. At lunchtime on Friday May 29th the last of the contractors' boards were removed from the site. The £1,285,000 plan to make the necessary permanent repairs to Ballure Bridge began in November last year.
The 52-metre long bridge towers up to 16 metres above Ballure Glen. It was built between 1897 and 1899 and the riveted metal fabrication bridge was last repainted in 1981. Following an inspection in 2010, parts were found to be carrying up to 90% of their safe load during the passage of a standard MER tram. A number of timbers that support the rails on top of metal girders were renewed in 2011 and others in 2013 on safety grounds.
Since November, the bridge was surrounded by scaffolding (now removed) to allow severely corroded metal sections to be replaced along with 300 currently 'ineffective' rivets. All rail carrying timbers have been replaced and new rails and safety guard rails installed. The whole structure has been cleaned by grit blasting and painted with high integrity marine-standard coating.
The scheme was welcomed by Ramsey's MHK Leonard Singer who stated on Manx Radio that "to lose the service would have been a big blow to retailers in the town ... the work is long overdue." In October MERS Secretary Julian Nutter appeared on Manx Radio and outlined the economic importance of the MER to the Island's second largest town. "The MER is vital to the town of Ramsey, and is vital to the people who are trying to do small businesses there. It brings in tourists. People get on that tram in Douglas, and get off it with their tourist pound in Ramsey, and spend it in the shops."
"This has all happened before. Back in 1975 there was a proposal that was upheld to close the line to Ramsey.
"The consequences to the town were immense."
In February this year it was necessary to close the main road into Laxey, which resulted in the diversion of the main Douglas - Ramsey Bus services over the Mountain. A 'Short Service' was also operated on the coast road during the short closure period.
ABOVE: Mercedes-Benz Citaro 0530 No 228 working a Short Service as part of the MER crossing rail renewal work at Ramsey, Saturday February 7th.
ABOVE: Mercedes-Benz Citaro 0530 No 220 working the 3 Service, having been diverted over the mountain road Sunday February 8th due to MER crossing rail renewal work at Ramsey.
MERS would like to hear your views. If you have any comments or further information on this story, please email the Manx Electric Railway Society at [email protected]