The Douglas Bay Horse Tramway will celebrate its 140th birthday this weekend and everyone is invited to join in the celebrations.
The flagship event will be the 140th anniversary cavalcade of 10 trams, departing Strathallan terminus at 4pm on Sunday 7 August 2016. Special commemorative tickets can be purchased in advance from Derby Castle booking office, priced £4 for adults, £2 for children or just £1 each with a valid Go card or ticket. The commemorative tickets will go on sale at 10am on Friday morning (5 August 2016) at the Derby Castle ticket office.
Guided tours of the tram stables will be available at midday on Saturdays and Sundays from this weekend (6 August) until30 October. The Friends of Douglas Bay Horse Tramway are assisting Isle of Man Railways by proving knowledgeable enthusiasts to lead the tours to help raise the profile of the horse trams. New information signs have been fitted around the tram stables along with a photographic exhibition – put together from images taken of the horse trams in the 1970s by local photographer Brian Mitchell. Tours last about 30 minutes and can be booked in advance at Derby Castle ticket office, priced £2 for adults and £1 per child.
The special double decker service pulled by a pair of horses, which proved very popular last weekend, will be repeated at 0900 on Sunday. Standard fares apply.
Additionally, the pop-up gift shop and stables will open from midday to 4pm from Wednesdays through to Sundays from 6 August. New product lines to be unveiled this weekend include a brand new range of tea towels, priced £5 each, featuring horse tram and heritage railways imagery. There are lucky horse tram horse shoes, Bushy’s Tram-tastic stickers and hi vis vests. A limited number of the current tram stop signs will also be available at £20 each.
Full details of the 140th anniversary programme is below
Saturday 6 August
0900 to 1800 Timetable P during the day with services every 15 minutes
1200 Guided tour of the stables (book at Derby Castle ticket office)
1200 to 1600 Pop-up gift shop open
1800 to 2100 Evening service, every 20 minutes
Sunday 7 August – the 140th anniversary
0900 Okell’s double decker pulled buy a pair of horses
0900 to 1400 Tram services as per timetable P
1200 Guided tour of the stables (book at Derby Castle)
1200 to 1600 Pop-up gift shop open
1400 to 1530 Enhanced service with trams departing every 10-15 minutes
1545 Staff photo with cavalcade horses in front of Strathallan terminus
1600 140th anniversary cavalcade of all operational trams departs Strathallan
1800 Last tram departs Strathallan