With remarkably little fanfare or publicity, the Island's historic horse trams made their last journeys ever along the promenade tracks today. It is the end of almost 140-years of operation. The Douglas system was the last proper street horse tramway in the world.
Next year the trams will be suspended as major road works are begun to upgrade the entire promenade.
If everything goes according to plan, the horse tram tracks will be repositioned on a single track on the seaward side of the road as part of the refurbishment, with the service due to re commence in 2016.
Whilst the line may be restored as a single track (with passing loops) question marks hang over the fate of the Queen's Promenade stables (due to be sold off by the Corporation for redevelopment), the tramway depot at Derby Castle (to be altered to accommodate stabling for the displaced horses) and many of the tramcars for which there will no longer be space.
It was an emotional day for many of the hundreds of passengers who showed up for a final journey, and no doubt for some of the staff who have devoted a significant portion of their lives to this unique and much loved system - never to be the same again.
Trotting into History...
